Game 46: Phoenix Suns (19-26) @ Memphis Grizzlies (21-24)

[SunsRback4Good]

Who: Phoenix Suns @ Memphis Grizzlies

When: Today, Jan 26th @ 4:00pm, FSNAZ

Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN






[b]Phoenix Suns starting lineup:

C- Ayton

F- Saric

F- Oubre

G- Booker

G- Rubio


Reserves: Bridges/Okobo/Carter/Diallo/Jerome





Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup:

C- Valanciunus

F- Jackson Jr

F- Crowder

G- Brooks

G- Morant



Reserves: Clark/Melton/Jones/Anderson/Hill


Good luck charm!!!

Spoiler:

Prediction: Suns 113 Grizzlies 107

Booker 23/7/5
Ayton 19/13/3 blks
Oubre 27/6

[Qwigglez]

Should waive the white flag before the game starts.

[Saberestar]

Valanciunas, JJJ and Clarke. That frontcourt is gonna be a problem.

Ayton needs to stay out of foul trouble, and I am afraid that he will play too passive not trying to foul on both sides of the court.

Hopefully Saric plays well again, we really need him with Baynes, Cam and Kaminsky out.

[Dual]

We only have 1 reliable bench player in Bridges and one so so in Okobo right now.
That's incredible being an NBA team, is clear for the FO this season is a transition one.

[hollywood6964]

The real guy to watch out for is Brooks, Booker tends to make him look like Mitch Richmond out there.

Suns need defensive effort. Without it, it's just going to be open 3s all day and the grizzlies are going to kill us.

[Saberestar]

We only have 1 reliable bench player in Bridges and one so so in Okobo right now.
That's incredible being an NBA team, is clear for the FO this season is a transition one.

We have 4 reliable bench players on the roster, but three of them are out with injuries.

Yeah, the FO can make a trade to get a solid backup PG/SG, I would love that, but it is not their fault that we have three players injured at the same time. The roster is not that thin IMO.

[KLEON]

Valanciunas, JJJ and Clarke. That frontcourt is gonna be a problem.

Ayton needs to stay out of foul trouble, and I am afraid that he will play too passive not trying to foul on both sides of the court.

Hopefully Saric plays well again, we really need him with Baynes, Cam and Kaminsky out.

He'll be too passive because he wants nothing to do with Valanciunas who is a very physical player,so don't expect Ayton to play big tonight which would be no surprise to me.

[Qwigglez]

I’ll be asleep for the game. Hopefully wake up to a win but I’m not counting on it. Booker needs to drop 50 for a win. Oubre and Ayton need 25 a piece just to make sure. And Okobo with 15 off the bench... Saric with another 20 points. Bridges with a new career high in points too. Rubio pulls a Shabazz Napier in his game last night.

[SunsRback4Good]

I’ll be asleep for the game. Hopefully wake up to a win but I’m not counting on it. Booker needs to drop 50 for a win. Oubre and Ayton need 25 a piece just to make sure. And Okobo with 15 off the bench... Saric with another 20 points. Bridges with a new career high in points too. Rubio pulls a Shabazz Napier in his game last night.

You're acting as if Suns gotta score 140+ points to win this game. 113 should be enough for a victory. Just need to make 10-13 3s and rebound a bit better and the game is ours. And why are you will you be sleeping at 4:00pm?

[BobbieL]

This would be a nice one to get obviously. Western Conference game - would split with Memphis. I know thinking about tie breakers is probably more wishful thinking but the Suns win tonight, they are a game back of the Grizzlies. They all count...

Will tough without Baynes, Cam and Frank... would be nice if Tyler gave some plus minutes for a change.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[hollywood6964]

It'll be huge if Crowder misses todays game. He provides them with a huge defensive presence.

[hollywood6964]

This would be a nice one to get obviously. Western Conference game - would split with Memphis. I know thinking about tie breakers is probably more wishful thinking but the Suns win tonight, they are a game back of the Grizzlies. They all count...

Will tough without Baynes, Cam and Frank... would be nice if Tyler gave some plus minutes for a change.

To me this is a near must win. I felt they needed to go 2-2 in these last four. A bit of an unorthodox way to get it if they can, but considering we are trash at home, I give us a good chance today.

[Revived]

It’d be nice for Ayton to have a good game against Jackson Jr and the Grizz.

There was a recent thread in which posters were debating who’s better, Trae or JJJ and some said how the Suns and Kings screwed the pooch badly by not only passing on Luka but another superior player in JJJ for Ayton & Bagley.

viewtopic.php?f=64&t=1933626#p81249456

Side note, last time these two teams met, an average C like Valaciunas kicked Ayton’s ass. If that doesn’t light a fire in him for tonight’s game then nothing will.

[SunsRback4Good]

With 37 games remaining we play 22 against teams over .500 and just 15 teams under .500. We'll probably go 15-22 rest of way finishing season with a 34-48 record. That would be a 15 game increase from 18-19 season.

[KLEON]

It’d be nice for Ayton to have a good game against Jackson Jr and the Grizz.

There was a recent thread in which posters were debating who’s better, Trae or JJJ and some said how the Suns and Kings screwed the pooch badly by not only passing on Luka but another superior player in JJJ for Ayton & Bagley.

Last time these two teams met, an average C like Valaciunas kicked Ayton’s ass. If that doesn’t light a fire in him for tonight’s game then nothing will.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Valaciunas will kick Ayton's ass again. I said this time and time again, Ayton wants nothing to do with physicality

[KLEON]

I’ll be asleep for the game. Hopefully wake up to a win but I’m not counting on it. Booker needs to drop 50 for a win. Oubre and Ayton need 25 a piece just to make sure. And Okobo with 15 off the bench... Saric with another 20 points. Bridges with a new career high in points too. Rubio pulls a Shabazz Napier in his game last night.

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[bwgood77]

With 37 games remaining we play 22 against teams over .500 and just 15 teams under .500. We'll probably go 15-22 rest of way finishing season with a 34-48 record. That would be a 15 game increase from 18-19 season.

Funny I was just looking at 538 and it had us winning 33, finishing 10th, right behind the Spurs and Grizzlies who finish we 34. I imagine we flip with Grizzlies if we win today in their projections.

[SunsRback4Good]

With 37 games remaining we play 22 against teams over .500 and just 15 teams under .500. We'll probably go 15-22 rest of way finishing season with a 34-48 record. That would be a 15 game increase from 18-19 season.

Funny I was just looking at 538 and it had us winning 33, finishing 10th, right behind the Spurs and Grizzlies who finish we 34. I imagine we flip with Grizzlies if we win today in their projections.

I figured we win at least 1/3rd of our games against + .500 teams and half vs below .500 teams. We just have such a difficult schedule to close out the season it's insane. 34 wins would likely be 10th seed, 36-37 9th seed and 8th will finish 40-42 maybe. There is not a ton room for error.