Preseason Game 3: Portland Trail Blazers @ Phoenix Suns

[grumpysaddle]

This is McD's MO.

Wait until there's nothing left, he has to overpay or the player gets pissed off. It's pretty much been accepted that we would have to overpay even a little because everyone knows the roster McD's built.

Honestly, I just don't imagine there are teams willing to trade a decent PG right now. That time has passed. This should have been addressed a long time ago.

This is why people were considering FVV.

Delon Wright played well tonight....at least last time I checked...maybe he is a guy but the thing is, most teams want nice PG depth...just because they have a starter they are not going to trade a productive backup for the hell of it.

The Clips are a little different, but they have two young guards but my guess is West wants them to see Beverley and maybe Teodosic as examples...same with Sexton/Hill.

Indiana has Collison, Evans and Joseph. I feel like they ought to be a potential trade partner as well.

Man, Collison would be awesome. Never happen though.

[lilfishi22]

It's preseason so it doesn't count but this is actually Bender's "career high" in getting to the line. 7FTA

[Saberestar]

The game is over. Nice.

[Book1Nation]

We are ass.

It was nice seeing Melton hit those 3’s late.

[lilfishi22]

As far as building a balanced roster goes, McDonough has proven that he can't find his ass with both hands and a flashlight. It's like he's a fantasy league fanboy with tourette's. One year, he gets a bunch of point guards - this year he uses assets and all the cap room to snag 3's.

Canaan looks like utter ****, can't attack to save his life **and he's the best 1 we've got**. How embarrassing is it that *none* of our 1's can make a post-entry pass?

I can only pray that McDonough is getting in on the Butler trade to snag Tyus Jones and to get rid of Harrison and Okobo - the latter of which looks like watching a f-ing slideshow while he herks & jerks with a team built to run. I swear I'll go Vesuvius if we ever get another Frenchman on the roster.....

There will be 10 starting caliber point guards available in free agency next summer. What's the rush to waste assets to get a mediocre PG right now? To win 33 games instead of 28? Our team will look MUCH better when Booker comes back.

For starters, to, you know, get the team acclimated to how an offense is actually run. To show the rest of the team that getting good position is **not** hopeless because your "point guards" are incapable of getting you the damn ball.

T.J. McConnell would be a perfect start and, with Fultz looking like a contributor, he could likely be had for cheap. Or, getting in on the Butler trade and getting Tyus Jones back. *Someone* who can run like their shoes aren't tied together.....

[JMac1]

Ayton: 19/14 with 3 blocks, an assist and a steal. 7-13FG, 5-6FT

Doncic: 11/6 with 3 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals. 4-11FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-6FT

Ayton is just ridiculous. His gravity is the whole offense with Booker out and he is getting 20 and 10 at will with no post game. Also, I like the fact he is getting his without ball stopping

[JMac1]

In three years..... "Game over."

[bwgood77]

I'm so glad this game wasn't televised so most non Suns fans missed it hopefully.

No one is watching the Suns except super die hard fans, and they should certainly be used to this.

If they are not expecting a bunch of blowout bad losses this year, I am not sure what to tell them.

We will be competitive sometimes and maybe surprise but we are going to look bad a lot. We are picked to finish with like the 3rd or 4th worst record, and while I think we very well could be better, it is going to be a tough season for us...not as tough as last, or probably the last 3, but tough....especially if we don't have a pg emerge or get traded for.

We are still really young. It will be interesting to see how engaged a guy like Ariza stays or if he will want to get traded around the deadline.

I certainly expected this team to finish with like 10th-12th seed in the West this season.

Which teams do you expect to finish behind us? I think we could surprise, but I think most other teams look like they could too outside of the Kings. If healthy, I definitely expect the Clips, Grizz and Mavs to finish ahead given their good vets..and they have nice rookie additions too. I think we could surprise, just hard without a PG.

It doesn't even look like we are running Koko's offense half the time. We really need a smart floor general, and Booker can help, but he really would be so much more effective off ball...not all the time, but in a secondary roll with a good floor general.

It's just too bad it seems we have a great coach, solid C, SG, a bunch of wings (so we should be able to plug in one or two effective guys per night there.....even if one plays PF) and some shooters.

I really just wish we had gone after Tyreke Evans instead of Ariza......seriously makes no sense....but maybe we knew he didn't have a desire to play with us through his agent....he is on a one year deal for 12.3 million.

I think having him out there right now would make a world of difference.

[SlovenianDragon]

Is there anyway to make this a sig?

[Revived]

No one is watching the Suns except super die hard fans, and they should certainly be used to this.

If they are not expecting a bunch of blowout bad losses this year, I am not sure what to tell them.

We will be competitive sometimes and maybe surprise but we are going to look bad a lot. We are picked to finish with like the 3rd or 4th worst record, and while I think we very well could be better, it is going to be a tough season for us...not as tough as last, or probably the last 3, but tough....especially if we don't have a pg emerge or get traded for.

We are still really young. It will be interesting to see how engaged a guy like Ariza stays or if he will want to get traded around the deadline.

I certainly expected this team to finish with like 10th-12th seed in the West this season.

Which teams do you expect to finish behind us? I think we could surprise, but I think most other teams look like they could too outside of the Kings. If healthy, I definitely expect the Clips, Grizz and Mavs to finish ahead given their good vets..and they have nice rookie additions too. I think we could surprise, just hard without a PG.

It doesn't even look like we are running Koko's offense half the time. We really need a smart floor general, and Booker can help, but he really would be so much more effective off ball...not all the time, but in a secondary roll with a good floor general.

It's just too bad it seems we have a great coach, solid C, SG, a bunch of wings (so we should be able to plug in one or two effective guys per night there.....even if one plays PF) and some shooters.

I really just wish we had gone after Tyreke Evans instead of Ariza......seriously makes no sense....but maybe we knew he didn't have a desire to play with us through his agent....he is on a one year deal for 12.3 million.

I think having him out there right now would make a world of difference.

Or Fred Van Vleet who was my number one target for the Suns. Some people here thought he will command the max but he ended up getting wayyyyyy less. Even assuming he would've asked for more to come to the Suns than staying in Toronto, I would've still paid him a good amount because he'd have filled many needs.

[lilfishi22]

Through 3 games

Ayton
21.3 PPG
12.7 RPG
6 FTA
2.7 fpg
3 BPG
1.7 APG
1.7 TO
31 MPG

.595 FG%
.777 FT%


Really really solid numbers. Granted it was against one non-NBA team and the Kings but he was productive even against the Blazers who was a top 10 defensive team last season.

[GDFTony]

Is there anyway to make this a sig?

This is beautiful yet unfortunate.

[lilfishi22]

No one is watching the Suns except super die hard fans, and they should certainly be used to this.

If they are not expecting a bunch of blowout bad losses this year, I am not sure what to tell them.

We will be competitive sometimes and maybe surprise but we are going to look bad a lot. We are picked to finish with like the 3rd or 4th worst record, and while I think we very well could be better, it is going to be a tough season for us...not as tough as last, or probably the last 3, but tough....especially if we don't have a pg emerge or get traded for.

We are still really young. It will be interesting to see how engaged a guy like Ariza stays or if he will want to get traded around the deadline.

I certainly expected this team to finish with like 10th-12th seed in the West this season.

Which teams do you expect to finish behind us? I think we could surprise, but I think most other teams look like they could too outside of the Kings. If healthy, I definitely expect the Clips, Grizz and Mavs to finish ahead given their good vets..and they have nice rookie additions too. I think we could surprise, just hard without a PG.

It doesn't even look like we are running Koko's offense half the time. We really need a smart floor general, and Booker can help, but he really would be so much more effective off ball...not all the time, but in a secondary roll with a good floor general.

It's just too bad it seems we have a great coach, solid C, SG, a bunch of wings (so we should be able to plug in one or two effective guys per night there.....even if one plays PF) and some shooters.

I really just wish we had gone after Tyreke Evans instead of Ariza......seriously makes no sense....but maybe we knew he didn't have a desire to play with us through his agent....he is on a one year deal for 12.3 million.

I think having him out there right now would make a world of difference.

I shake my head every time that name gets brought up

[bwgood77]

I certainly expected this team to finish with like 10th-12th seed in the West this season.

Which teams do you expect to finish behind us? I think we could surprise, but I think most other teams look like they could too outside of the Kings. If healthy, I definitely expect the Clips, Grizz and Mavs to finish ahead given their good vets..and they have nice rookie additions too. I think we could surprise, just hard without a PG.

It doesn't even look like we are running Koko's offense half the time. We really need a smart floor general, and Booker can help, but he really would be so much more effective off ball...not all the time, but in a secondary roll with a good floor general.

It's just too bad it seems we have a great coach, solid C, SG, a bunch of wings (so we should be able to plug in one or two effective guys per night there.....even if one plays PF) and some shooters.

I really just wish we had gone after Tyreke Evans instead of Ariza......seriously makes no sense....but maybe we knew he didn't have a desire to play with us through his agent....he is on a one year deal for 12.3 million.

I think having him out there right now would make a world of difference.

Or Fred Van Vleet who was my number one target for the Suns. Some people here thought he will command the max but he ended up getting wayyyyyy less. Even assuming he would've asked for more to come to the Suns than staying in Toronto, I would've still paid him a good amount because he'd have filled many needs.

Yeah, I was going to mention him too but he is less proven and would have really cost some money with a long term offer and a spike in play and we don't know if he was somewhat of a product of a bad system.

Tyreke was ROY at SAC, effective when healthy for the Pelicans, a stud on a bad team in Memphis last year shooting very well and passing...he is just obviously a guy who can direct the offense if you need and shoots well.

[Revived]

Through 3 games

Ayton
21.3 PPG
12.7 RPG
6 FTA
2.7 fpg
3 BPG
1.7 APG
1.7 TO
31 MPG

.595 FG%
.777 FT%


Really really solid numbers. Granted it was against one non-NBA team and the Kings but he was productive even against the Blazers who was a top 10 defensive team last season.

Going forward, I want to see him be productive in the beginning of games against good teams without getting in foul trouble instead of garbage time stats. He will get better, he's definitely trending upwards.

[grumpysaddle]

Through 3 games

Ayton
21.3 PPG
12.7 RPG
6 FTA
2.7 fpg
3 BPG
1.7 APG
1.7 TO
31 MPG

.595 FG%
.777 FT%


Really really solid numbers. Granted it was against one non-NBA team and the Kings but he was productive even against the Blazers who was a top 10 defensive team last season.

Going forward, I want to see him be productive in the beginning of games without getting in foul trouble instead of garbage time stats. He will get better, he's definitely trending upwards.

Did you watch the first two games? He got most of his points and rebounds in the first quarters of those games. He had decent stats in the beginning of this game too, just picked up fouls early, which he hasn't done until this game. So... not really garbage time stats, though preseason is technically all garbage time if you think about it.

[DirtyDez]

I vow to post more tanking gifs than @lilfishi22 this year.

Spoiler:

[Revived]

Through 3 games

Ayton
21.3 PPG
12.7 RPG
6 FTA
2.7 fpg
3 BPG
1.7 APG
1.7 TO
31 MPG

.595 FG%
.777 FT%


Really really solid numbers. Granted it was against one non-NBA team and the Kings but he was productive even against the Blazers who was a top 10 defensive team last season.

Going forward, I want to see him be productive in the beginning of games without getting in foul trouble instead of garbage time stats. He will get better, he's definitely trending upwards.

Did you watch the first two games? He got most of his points and rebounds in the first quarters of those games. He had decent stats in the beginning of this game too, just picked up fouls early, which he hasn't done until this game. So... not really garbage time stats, though preseason is technically all garbage time if you think about it.

Yeah I know, I was just talking about this game alone. I thought I bolded his post about the Blazers but I forgot.

[Revived]

Bridges is out for remainder of pre season. Sucks because he looked like he could desperately use the reps.

[lilfishi22]

Bridges is out for remainder of pre season. Sucks because he looked like he could desperately use the reps.

What happened? I must've missed something