Game 3: Phoenix Suns @ LA Clippers, Saturday, October 21st, 7:30 PM, PT

[bwgood77]

The Clippers home opener is today against the Suns despite beating the Lakers at STAPLES Thursday night. They are featuring Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari, Milos Teodosić, Lou Williams, and Austin Rivers on their home arena posters this season. The Clippers have covered the Laker banners each of Doc Rivers' five seasons as head coach in an effort to establish the Clippers' home arena identity.

[Saberestar]

This one is gonna be ugly, this Clippers team is a Top 5 team in the NBA IMO. They have a lot of great players in their prime and their starting frontcourt is probably the best in the league.

Good opportunity for Bledsoe to improve his PG's skills just watching closely Milos Teodosic. He is a maestro orchestrating the offense.

[bwgood77]

This one is gonna be ugly, this Clippers team is a Top 5 team in the NBA IMO. They have a lot of great players in their prime and their starting frontcourt is probably the best in the league.

Good opportunity for Bledsoe to improve his PG's skills just watching closely Milos Teodosic. He is a maestro orchestrating the offense.

I wonder if they will put Beverley on Booker. Also we are going to be hard pressed for rebounds and going against Jordan. He had like 24 rebounds the other night. Though our centers are usually better rebounders than what the Lakers have in Lopez....even though they haven't done much this year. I think Booker is our leading rebounder.

[NTB]

Normally Bledsoe should've been abusing Teodosic (if Bev guards Book) but i don't know anymore...

[ducler]

[HoopsMalone]

What is going on here fellas? Only had a chance to see a little of your Lakers game... how the heck is the Suns D THIS bad?

This team is really frustrating.. I like their draft picks every year but it's like they are making zero progress...

[Revived]

What is going on here fellas? Only had a chance to see a little of your Lakers game... how the heck is the Suns D THIS bad?

This team is really frustrating.. I like their draft picks every year but it's like they are making zero progress...

Coaching staff blows and can't develop any of those draft picks.

[bwgood77]

What is going on here fellas? Only had a chance to see a little of your Lakers game... how the heck is the Suns D THIS bad?

This team is really frustrating.. I like their draft picks every year but it's like they are making zero progress...

The D was really bad last year, but Bledsoe has regressed defensively every year, Booker is a terrible defender, Jackson is a rookie still getting acclimated, Warren is fairly bad but improving and Chandler is just old and not good defensively.

Then Marquese Chriss is probably our worst defender. Troy Daniels is not a good defender.

The only guy who looks decent defensively so far is Bender.

Dudley is probably one of our best defenders too and he is injured.

If we are going to win games, we are simply just going to have to outscore people like we almost did last night. If Bender plays more it helps and Jackson should be our other quality defender as the season progresses.

Our coaching isn't great either.

[ATTL]

Booker is questionable due to his back. Makes sense to hold him out after that fall.

[HoopsMalone]

I didn't realize Dudley was out, that certainly doesn't help.

Chriss completely sucks (no offense). When I said I liked your picks I should have said everyone but him. That goes without saying lol.

How has Jackson looked? I'm a big fan of his. Very active defensively but just a little lost?

[Damkac]

Replace Chriss as a probable starter with Josh Jackson.

[SunZel]

I agree with the Bledsoe, Booker Jackson, Bender, Len lineup. What i saw defensively from Tyson yesterday was atrocious and we need scoring off the bench.

[LV-Suns]

So Watson went dinner with Chriss and handed him back the starting spot? This team is very frustrating. Bender would have filled some of the blatant holes in the starting lineup.

[bwgood77]

So Watson went dinner with Chriss and handed him back the starting spot? This team is very frustrating. Bender would have filled some of the blatant holes in the starting lineup.

He did? I thought they went to dinner after the first game because Chriss was pouting and they told each other they loved each other and all was ok?

I know that sounds like a joke, but it's not.

If he is starting, it's probably because Booker is out and Jackson is starting at the 2.

Edit: If you're just going by ducler's graphic, I don't think he's up to date on the starting lineup yet...they've all been wrong. He's had Chriss in there every time.

[bwgood77]

I didn't realize Dudley was out, that certainly doesn't help.

Chriss completely sucks (no offense). When I said I liked your picks I should have said everyone but him. That goes without saying lol.

How has Jackson looked? I'm a big fan of his. Very active defensively but just a little lost?

Jackson has looked ok defensively and has shot well from deep (though just 40% overall shooting even though 50% from 3 I think). The surprising thing is that in 55 minutes he has only had 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 blocks and 1 steal. I expected him to rebound quite a bit and also get some assists and steals. But the lack of assists is partially because Bledsoe and Booker are very ball dominant.

[LV-Suns]

So Watson went dinner with Chriss and handed him back the starting spot? This team is very frustrating. Bender would have filled some of the blatant holes in the starting lineup.

He did? I thought they went to dinner after the first game because Chriss was pouting and they told each other they loved each other and all was ok?

I know that sounds like a joke, but it's not.

If he is starting, it's probably because Booker is out and Jackson is starting at the 2.

Edit: If you're just going by ducler's graphic, I don't think he's up to date on the starting lineup yet...they've all been wrong. He's had Chriss in there every time.

Got it, I was going by the graphic. I hope there is some change for tonight's game, Blake and DJ are going to have a field day on us otherwise.

[HoopsMalone]

I didn't realize Dudley was out, that certainly doesn't help.

Chriss completely sucks (no offense). When I said I liked your picks I should have said everyone but him. That goes without saying lol.

How has Jackson looked? I'm a big fan of his. Very active defensively but just a little lost?

Jackson has looked ok defensively and has shot well from deep (though just 40% overall shooting even though 50% from 3 I think). The surprising thing is that in 55 minutes he has only had 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 blocks and 1 steal. I expected him to rebound quite a bit and also get some assists and steals. But the lack of assists is partially because Bledsoe and Booker are very ball dominant.

Wow. Those rebounds are alarming as he projects as a really good rebounder. That's worth monitoring to say the least. Steals tend to come in bunches that might just be a fluke, but combined with the rebounds it certainly raises some questions about his supposed elite athleticism. This guy looked like a monster at Kansas on the floor though so I think it will come as his strength improves.

I think Bender is going to be a GREAT defender. He moves really well for his size. If he and Jackson grow up on that end that's a really nice front line on both ends. Particularly, since Jackson's shooting has improved immeasurably since the beginning of his freshman year.

[bwgood77]

So Watson went dinner with Chriss and handed him back the starting spot? This team is very frustrating. Bender would have filled some of the blatant holes in the starting lineup.

He did? I thought they went to dinner after the first game because Chriss was pouting and they told each other they loved each other and all was ok?

I know that sounds like a joke, but it's not.

If he is starting, it's probably because Booker is out and Jackson is starting at the 2.

Edit: If you're just going by ducler's graphic, I don't think he's up to date on the starting lineup yet...they've all been wrong. He's had Chriss in there every time.

Got it, I was going by the graphic. I hope there is some change for tonight's game, Blake and DJ are going to have a field day on us otherwise.

I'm not sure we have anyone who can stop Blake. The days of us being able to put PJ on anyone from Harden to Blake to AD have past.

[MrMiyagi]

So tonight is the night Doc Rivers can point at to justify paying his son to play basketball on an NBA roster.

[nevetsov]

Heading to the game soon with SDU and NeverFear, hope the kids at least put in some effort to justify the trip.