Game 61: Phoenix Suns (11-49) @ Atlanta Hawks (19-40) - 7:00 PM ET

[sunsbg]

I think if TJ gets back and healthy they will win some. Was hoping he'd make it back for these last two.

TJ is completely unreliable with his mysterious injuries.

This is a bone bruise.

By the early reports I got the impression he was supposed to return probably a month ago, even started thinking they may hold him for tanking reasons, which will be remarkably dumb.

[bwgood77]

TJ is completely unreliable with his mysterious injuries.

This is a bone bruise.

By the early reports I got the impression he was supposed to return probably a month ago, even started thinking they may hold him for tanking reasons, which will be remarkably dumb.

They initially said 2-3 weeks which was about the time of the all star break, so I figured he'd come back after that, but they have since reported he still had some pain but was shooting. He's only been out a month.

[grumpysaddle]

I thought I liked Oubre as a player, but I'm starting to feel like he's actually a huge detriment to the team. He puts up his numbers, but on horrible efficiency and his +/- always seems to be among the worst for every game, at least for the ones I've watched. Hoping the Suns can build his value to a stupid team and use him in a sign and trade for someone.

[Bogyo]

I thought I liked Oubre as a player, but I'm starting to feel like he's actually a huge detriment to the team. He puts up his numbers, but on horrible efficiency and his +/- always seems to be among the worst for every game, at least for the ones I've watched. Hoping the Suns can build his value to a stupid team and use him in a sign and trade for someone.

That would be awsome - I'm just not sure that this front office has enough brains to come up with something like that, or will recieve an expiring trash player only.

[Saberestar]

Ayton played well the first quarter but after that he was invisible.

Booker with too many mistakes, he needs to be more efficient.

Bridges/Oubre/Jackson all with pretty bad performances. The team can not relay on them.

Bender played like Bender.

Tyler Johnson's game was the best thing out of this ****.

[Saberestar]

Someone got on Ayton's twitter account and retweeted stuff during the game lol

Ayton said to a fan (he was asking him to unblock him on Twitter) that he doesn't manage his Twitter page. It is probably managed by his agent or someone close to him.

But I am sure that Ayton himself thinks the same that was retweeted.

[Crives]

Someone got on Ayton's twitter account and retweeted stuff during the game lol

Ayton said to a fan (he was asking him to unblock him on Twitter) that he doesn't manage his Twitter page. It is probably managed by his agent or someone close to him.

But I am sure that Ayton himself thinks the same that was retweeted.

I remember this being said earlier in the season too. Can’t remember where.

[Kerrsed]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

[Bob8]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

Kokoskov is much more USA coach than Euro coach. He’s 20 years in USA and he haven’t had serious coaching job in Europe ever. National teams are 2 months together, if the team is qualified to the championship.
There is no classical C, who is not shooting for 3 to average much more than 16 points in Nba. So maybe expectations are to high for Ayton at the moment. The biggest help for Ayton would be, if his teammates were hitting those shots and defenses would need to defend those plays differently.

[bwgood77]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

LOL, the NBA is much more a league of bombing 3 pointers than the euro system. I don't even know what people mean by a euro system, but Igor ran a bunch of pick n roll with those guys and Anthony Randolph. He wants Ayton to roll hard to the rim after setting his screen. He just doesn't have any guards good at running it. Ayton doesn't roll hard often either.

He needs personnel and time.

But she says inside out which won't work if she means just throw it in the low post and let them go to work....it won't work as a primary option unless it's a clean look. His system is all about creating clean looks with lots of ball movement and misdirection when people can execute it. We don't have many high iq players or players who have had enough time to learn how to execute it well though.

I imagine if we get rid of him and Carlisle leaves he could go to Dallas and take them far as those guys would be smarter and better at executing it..or with many teams. Utah got good at moving the ball alot..they are not even a good 3 pt shooting team.

[bwgood77]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

Kokoskov is much more USA coach than Euro coach. He’s 20 years in USA and he haven’t had serious coaching job in Europe ever. National teams are 2 months together, if the team is qualified to the championship.
There is no classical C, who is not shooting for 3 to average much more than 16 points in Nba. So maybe expectations are to high for Ayton at the moment. The biggest help for Ayton would be, if his teammates were hitting those shots and defenses would need to defend those plays differently.

Yeah, when we don't have 3 pt shooters, Ayton just gets clobbered by defenders. And if he has a big quarter, he gets double teamed the next quarter and then a bunch of box score watchers yell at the clouds wondering why he didn't score as much in the next quarters, but of course then we hit more 3s because guys are more wide open because they are doubling onto Ayton.

[Saberestar]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

Kokoskov is much more USA coach than Euro coach. He’s 20 years in USA and he haven’t had serious coaching job in Europe ever. National teams are 2 months together, if the team is qualified to the championship.
There is no classical C, who is not shooting for 3 to average much more than 16 points in Nba. So maybe expectations are to high for Ayton at the moment. The biggest help for Ayton would be, if his teammates were hitting those shots and defenses would need to defend those plays differently.

Ayton needs to add a 3p shot and learn how to dribble the ball. He doesn't put the ball on the floor and it's something that he needs to do if he wants to create his own offense.

He is now WAITING for the ball because he can't create off the dribble. And he doesn't even need to dribble a lot, just a couple of moves from the high post or from the elbow. If he improves on that he would be better at going to the line too, he shoots very few free throws.

[Bob8]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

Kokoskov is much more USA coach than Euro coach. He’s 20 years in USA and he haven’t had serious coaching job in Europe ever. National teams are 2 months together, if the team is qualified to the championship.
There is no classical C, who is not shooting for 3 to average much more than 16 points in Nba. So maybe expectations are to high for Ayton at the moment. The biggest help for Ayton would be, if his teammates were hitting those shots and defenses would need to defend those plays differently.

Ayton needs to add a 3p shot and learn how to dribble the ball. He doesn't put the ball on the floor and it's something that he needs to do if he wants to create his own offense.

He is now WAITING for the ball because he can't create off the dribble. And he doesn't even need to dribble a lot, just a couple of moves from the high post or from the elbow. If he improves on that he would be better at going to the line too, he shoots very few free throws.

Yes, there’s a limit of shots, you can get, if you’re playing like Ayton, especially in bad shooting team.
Defenses know, what Ayton is capable of and what shooters are capable of. Coach cannot do wonders. There’s no team in Nba, who’s playing like some people believe Suns should to give Ayton more shots. And honestly 16/10 are great numbers for rookie C, the problem is that Cs have to be rim protectors to be really dominant in Nba. I’m sure Ayton will become better in offense, but his defense will define what player will he become.

[Kerrsed]

By what was retweeted (and later deleted) it wouldnt surprise me if Mama Holmes was in charge of the account. Pretty much right in line with what her outspoken ass was saying.

Its the euro system. Use the C to draw defenders, then have him kick it out to 3 point shooters. The part of that which sucks is that he is AMAZING at finishing around the hoop, while we suck at hitting those 3 point shots.

Kokoskov is much more USA coach than Euro coach. He’s 20 years in USA and he haven’t had serious coaching job in Europe ever. National teams are 2 months together, if the team is qualified to the championship.
There is no classical C, who is not shooting for 3 to average much more than 16 points in Nba. So maybe expectations are to high for Ayton at the moment. The biggest help for Ayton would be, if his teammates were hitting those shots and defenses would need to defend those plays differently.

Yeah, when we don't have 3 pt shooters, Ayton just gets clobbered by defenders. And if he has a big quarter, he gets double teamed the next quarter and then a bunch of box score watchers yell at the clouds wondering why he didn't score as much in the next quarters, but of course then we hit more 3s because guys are more wide open because they are doubling onto Ayton.

Its always a lose/lose for Ayton.

[lilfishi22]

I thought I liked Oubre as a player, but I'm starting to feel like he's actually a huge detriment to the team. He puts up his numbers, but on horrible efficiency and his +/- always seems to be among the worst for every game, at least for the ones I've watched. Hoping the Suns can build his value to a stupid team and use him in a sign and trade for someone.

Yeah if you watch him play closely, he plays like he's a #1 option. He has blinders on when he has the ball in his hands and takes ill-advised shots. I really don't like his style of play. I think he's much better suited as a 6th man spark plug type of role.

[bwgood77]

Kokoskov is much more USA coach than Euro coach. He’s 20 years in USA and he haven’t had serious coaching job in Europe ever. National teams are 2 months together, if the team is qualified to the championship.
There is no classical C, who is not shooting for 3 to average much more than 16 points in Nba. So maybe expectations are to high for Ayton at the moment. The biggest help for Ayton would be, if his teammates were hitting those shots and defenses would need to defend those plays differently.

Yeah, when we don't have 3 pt shooters, Ayton just gets clobbered by defenders. And if he has a big quarter, he gets double teamed the next quarter and then a bunch of box score watchers yell at the clouds wondering why he didn't score as much in the next quarters, but of course then we hit more 3s because guys are more wide open because they are doubling onto Ayton.

Its always a lose/lose for Ayton.

It will be until they get good 3 pt shooters. That's why Shaq had Horry, Fisher, etc, Hakeem had Cassell, Horry, Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Dwight had all those 3 pt shooters, even TD was always surrounded by shooters.

Ayton being on the worst 3 pt shooting team in the NBA does him no favors....especially one without a PG. Scoring 16 on his efficiency as a rookie under those circumstances is actually quite remarkable.