Game 5: Phoenix Suns (3-1) @ Utah Jazz (2-1) l Thur l 7:00pm l NBATV l FSNAZ

[bwgood77]

This team has 1976 NBA finals vibe.

We should finish more than 2 games over 500 though.

[KLEON]

Suns won't go far unless Ayton and Paul pick and roll starts clicking...

What will it take for this man to start playing aggressive? He looks lost on the offensive end

[SunsRback4Good]

This team has 1976 NBA finals vibe.

We should finish more than 2 games over 500 though.

I hope we do. Can't believe a team made the finals with just 2 games over .500. We may never see that again unless it happened already and I missed it.

[ATTL]

This team has 1976 NBA finals vibe.

We should finish more than 2 games over 500 though.

I hope we do. Can't believe a team made the finals with just 2 games over .500. We may never see that again unless it happened already and I missed it.

Closest I can think of is 99 knicks 4 games over .500

[SunsRback4Good]

We should finish more than 2 games over 500 though.

I hope we do. Can't believe a team made the finals with just 2 games over .500. We may never see that again unless it happened already and I missed it.

Closest I can think of is 99 knicks 4 games over .500

How could I forget those Knickerbockers they had a magical shortened year.

[SunsRback4Good]

Another game tomorrow they coming in bunches..

[Revived]

Really nice to see this team win with just its defense and rather mediocre at best offense (we’ve been hot from 3 thankfully though).

We’re winning in an ugly way and that’s a good thing for the future because imagine how good we will look once we’re clicking.

Utah is a good nice team so this was the best win of the short season. We showed we can keep up with a playoff team at full health.

[Revived]

Paul and Ayton 6 of 21, still up 14.

Ayton has basically been a non-factor offensively so far this season. Our wins didn't need his scoring contributions but his defence and rebounding have been invaluable.

I hope he understands this. For every bad game he has offensively, he should try twice as hard on defense protecting the rim. Didn’t watch much of the game and looked like Gobert had a ton of pts but at least didn’t go off completely like I thought he would.

[bwgood77]

I hope we do. Can't believe a team made the finals with just 2 games over .500. We may never see that again unless it happened already and I missed it.

Closest I can think of is 99 knicks 4 games over .500

How could I forget those Knickerbockers they had a magical shortened year.

I think they were the 8 seed too...that's gotta be the only time that's happened.

[spanishninja]

I would like to win at least one of the next two. Would be nice to end the week at 5-2

We need Paul to find his shot soon. We wont beat the Nuggets tomorrow this way

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I think it’s gonna be an uphill battle anyway. We’re playing on the 2nd night of a back to back on the road in high latitude. Denver gets Murray back for this game as well.

I would strongly consider resting the 35 yr old CP3 tomorrow and maybe even Booker since he played 35+ mins. Start Payne and Cam and who knows maybe they surprise us. Regardless the team would live to see another day win or lose.

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[grumpysaddle]

I would like to win at least one of the next two. Would be nice to end the week at 5-2

We need Paul to find his shot soon. We wont beat the Nuggets tomorrow this way

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I think it’s gonna be an uphill battle anyway. We’re playing on the 2nd night of a back to back on the road in high latitude. Denver gets Murray back for this game as well.

I would strongly consider resting the 35 yr old CP3 tomorrow and maybe even Booker since he played 35+ mins. Start Payne and Cam and who knows maybe they surprise us. Regardless the team would live to see another day win or lose.

Sent from my SM-G955U using RealGM mobile app

6-1 or GTFO.

[SunsRback4Good]

Fun fact: After 4 games Rubio is shooting 50% fg while CP3 at 38%. Obviously small sample size but still kinda interesting at the moment.

[SunsRback4Good]

Who: Phoenix Suns @ Denver Nuggets

When: Friday, January 1st, @ 7:00pm (9:00ET), FSNAZ

Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO






Phoenix Suns starting lineup:

C- Ayton

F- Crowder

F- Bridges

G- Booker

G- CP3


Reserves: Cam/Payne/Saric/Carter/Kaminsky



Denver Nuggets starting lineup:

C- Jokic

F- Millsap

F- Porter

G- Harris

G- Murray


Reserves: Barton/Dozier/Hartenstein/Campazzo


Good luck charm!!!



















EYE ON THE PRIZE

[Revived]

Fun fact: After 4 games Rubio is shooting 50% fg while CP3 at 38%. Obviously small sample size but still kinda interesting at the moment.

This comparisons is inaccurate without using context imo. A direct comparison, if you wanted, would be to compare Rubio’s numbers last season in Monty’s system to CP3’s numbers this season in Monty’s system.

Rubio shot 41% with the Suns while CP3 at 38% with the Suns.

I don’t say this as a slight to Rubio either, it’s just a better comparison because both players have vastly different roles on their current teams now. Paul’s role this season is way more similar to Rubio’s role last season. Rubio was my favorite player that we’ve had since Nash and I think he’s generally under appreciated by Suns fans here. Even Booker himself talked about how he will always be thankful for what Rubio did for his career and helping change the culture here.

Funny thing was that people last season complained about Ayton’s scoring productivity in the pick and roll and blamed it on Rubio doesn’t know how to throw lobs. And when we traded for CP3, they said oh Ayton’s gonna destroy the rims because CP3 is a great lob thrower since playing with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Yet Ayton’s scoring in the pick and roll with CP3 has been pretty awful so far lol. It’s opening up space for shooters which is great but we had that last season as well.

Overall, CP3 has been conducive to us being 4-1 and looked fine even with the bad shooting. Not worried about his stats, I just hope he continues to stay healthy.

[carey]

Bridges is playing like a guy that wants to get paid. He will get a bigger contract than Ayton if his current play is what you’ll see going forward.

What happens when Paul starts hitting his shots? What’s the ceiling of this squad? 3rd seed?

[Revived]

Bridges is playing like a guy that wants to get paid. He will get a bigger contract than Ayton if his current play is what you’ll see going forward.

I think that’s a given at this point.

Ayton probably gets a Saric type contract at best. Maybe a lil more at $10M-$11M/yr at the most. I don’t think he will have that big a market either, most teams with cap space when he hits free agency already have Cs that are better.

After the Andrew Wiggins debacle, I think most teams are done paying max deals to top overall draft picks for their “potential” and not their actual performance.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Some defensive metric rankings:

2P% Defense - 19th
Opposition FT Rate - 19th
Opposition Turnovers - 12th
Defensive Rebounds - 6th
3P % Defense - 2nd

Some offensive metric rankings:

FT Rate - 29th
Offensive Rebounds - 22nd
2P% - 13th
3P% - 8th
Turnovers - 6th

[Slim Charless]

Bridges is playing like a guy that wants to get paid. He will get a bigger contract than Ayton if his current play is what you’ll see going forward.

What happens when Paul starts hitting his shots? What’s the ceiling of this squad? 3rd seed?

Thats why they need to play cp3 trmw. I'm curious just like you all are I'm sure about how we stack up to the Western conference elite. This stretch is gonna be telling. 4 very good teams we're gonna be playing. 1 down, 3 to go.

Also I had to work so didn't see this game but wanna wish all you guys a happy new year!! Go Suns.

[grumpysaddle]

Bridges is playing like a guy that wants to get paid. He will get a bigger contract than Ayton if his current play is what you’ll see going forward.

I think that’s a given at this point.

Ayton probably gets a Saric type contract at best. Maybe a lil more at $10M-$11M/yr at the most. I don’t think he will have that big a market either, most teams with cap space when he hits free agency already have Cs that are better.

After the Andrew Wiggins debacle, I think most teams are done paying max deals to top overall draft picks for their “potential” and not their actual performance.

Remember when Anthony Bennett went 1st? That was crazy.

[Revived]

Bridges is playing like a guy that wants to get paid. He will get a bigger contract than Ayton if his current play is what you’ll see going forward.

I think that’s a given at this point.

Ayton probably gets a Saric type contract at best. Maybe a lil more at $10M-$11M/yr at the most. I don’t think he will have that big a market either, most teams with cap space when he hits free agency already have Cs that are better.

After the Andrew Wiggins debacle, I think most teams are done paying max deals to top overall draft picks for their “potential” and not their actual performance.

Remember when Anthony Bennett went 1st? That was crazy.

Yeah that was a horrible draft. Only Giannis and Gobert became better than average starter type players from it. Even that is only McCollum, Oladipo, Adams and Schroeder, the rest of the players are basically hot trash.

2018 looks like it could be one of the best especially with how some the lesser known players like Miles Bridges, Gary Trent Jr, Collin Sexton, Lonnie Walker all off to terrific starts as well. This draft may produce 5+ perennial All Stars over the course of time.