Game 15: Phoenix Suns (11-3) @ Dallas Mavericks (9-5) l Fridayl 10:00pm

[King4Day]

Looks like we didn't have a thread for this one.

I want to get peoples thoughts. We looked a step behind a lot in this one and they made a ton of 3's again. A semi near mirror image to the game Wednesday.
Something to be concerned about or is it OK because we learned to close again?
Any fears when we play the better teams (including Dallas with a healthy Luka)?

[dremill24]

We showed again that we struggle to score against switching defense because our guys can't create enough separation in isolation and we don't have a lot of off ball actions in the bag to beat it either. We scored well when forcing misses or turnovers and did enough of that to win today.

[Bogyo]

Looks like we didn't have a thread for this one.

I want to get peoples thoughts. We looked a step behind a lot in this one and they made a ton of 3's again. A semi near mirror image to the game Wednesday.
Something to be concerned about or is it OK because we learned to close again?
Any fears when we play the better teams (including Dallas with a healthy Luka)?

We don't care about better teams, they will be injured too. See: Nuggets, Denver. Playing with them Sunday, they'll be without Jokic too. (Most likely)

[spanishninja]

Looks like we didn't have a thread for this one.

I want to get peoples thoughts. We looked a step behind a lot in this one and they made a ton of 3's again. A semi near mirror image to the game Wednesday.
Something to be concerned about or is it OK because we learned to close again?
Any fears when we play the better teams (including Dallas with a healthy Luka)?

We don't care about better teams, they will be injured too. See: Nuggets, Denver. Playing with them Sunday, they'll be without Jokic too. (Most likely)

i wouldn't count on it. Joker will be ready and he will be trying to kill us. he still remembers the sweep.

[Bogyo]

Looks like we didn't have a thread for this one.

I want to get peoples thoughts. We looked a step behind a lot in this one and they made a ton of 3's again. A semi near mirror image to the game Wednesday.
Something to be concerned about or is it OK because we learned to close again?
Any fears when we play the better teams (including Dallas with a healthy Luka)?

We don't care about better teams, they will be injured too. See: Nuggets, Denver. Playing with them Sunday, they'll be without Jokic too. (Most likely)

i wouldn't count on it. Joker will be ready and he will be trying to kill us. he still remembers the sweep.

So it's only Porter and Murray

[Ghost of Kleine]

Phoenix Suns (@Suns) Tweeted:
Another milestone for DA.

Congrats, Big Fella! https://t.co/LIHSJDStvZ

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Ghost of Kleine]

StatMuse (@statmuse) Tweeted:
Chris Paul is the only player this season to average:

10+ PPG
10+ APG
2+ SPG

A couple grays in the beard but his game doesn't age. https://t.co/Nk1neCT6oN

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[sunsbg]

We don't care about better teams, they will be injured too. See: Nuggets, Denver. Playing with them Sunday, they'll be without Jokic too. (Most likely)

i wouldn't count on it. Joker will be ready and he will be trying to kill us. he still remembers the sweep.

So it's only Porter and Murray

Sucks if Jokic doesn't play. I was waiting for this stretch to see some exciting games. I'm sure our players would raise the level playing Doncic and Jokic, especially Ayton, who loves to play against both of them. You play who's infront of you though, injuries happen.

[sunsbg]

CP3 leading in steals is special at his age. Not sure how he manages to get 2.5 while Mikal is at 0.9. I wouldn't say he gambles for steals more.

[Saberestar]

No one even comments in the game threads anymore, we are so good that we fans are just waiting for the playoffs lol.

Eleven games winning streak. Crazy. And I have the impression that we can get better than we are now.

[King4Day]

NBA radio this morning talking about how the Suns are a legit title threat.
I still need to see more. I need us against a couple healthy teams (GSW for one) and to see if we compete or if our flaws are exposed.
As great as this streak has been, I still don't like a lot of what I've seen during this stretch. I am pretty sure we haven't put together a full game yet. Hopefully it's just that they need to continue to grow and build chemistry with the new guys.

Could just be me too. Maybe I'm overthinking things

If we beat Denver, we'll have avenged our 3 losses this season.

[King4Day]

No one even comments in the game threads anymore, we are so good that we fans are just waiting for the playoffs lol.

Eleven games winning streak. Crazy. And I have the impression that we can get better than we are now.

I think this one was forgotten simply because we had the first game thread against the Mavs still lingering.
I'm still pretty burned out from last year. I watch ever game but just don't have the same excitement as I did last season.
Games against the bigger teams are when it'll get real (Warriors, Nets, Bucks, etc)

And I think we can def get better. Question is, how much?

[Bogyo]

NBA radio this morning talking about how the Suns are a legit title threat.
I still need to see more. I need us against a couple healthy teams (GSW for one) and to see if we compete or if our flaws are exposed.
As great as this streak has been, I still don't like a lot of what I've seen during this stretch. I am pretty sure we haven't put together a full game yet. Hopefully it's just that they need to continue to grow and build chemistry with the new guys.

Could just be me too. Maybe I'm overthinking things

If we beat Denver, we'll have avenged our 3 losses this season.

Well, both can be right, and I think both are right this case: we are a legit title threat AND we rightfully did not like a lot what we have seen during this (otherwise awsome) strech. Nothing wrong with seeing the flaws and mistakes in really good but not "championship-great" basketball which need to be ironed out in order to really have a good chance, and win the title finally.

We can, and I'm sure we on this forum do enjoy the games until then too.

[Saberestar]

NBA radio this morning talking about how the Suns are a legit title threat.
I still need to see more. I need us against a couple healthy teams (GSW for one) and to see if we compete or if our flaws are exposed.
As great as this streak has been, I still don't like a lot of what I've seen during this stretch. I am pretty sure we haven't put together a full game yet. Hopefully it's just that they need to continue to grow and build chemistry with the new guys.

Could just be me too. Maybe I'm overthinking things

If we beat Denver, we'll have avenged our 3 losses this season.

Nowadays it's really strange to play against a fully healthy team in the NBA, basically it's not happening.

It is part of the game and I think that for teams and coaches it is not even a big deal anymore because they are so used to deal with it.

We have an important bench player out for the season. We already have had Payne, Shamet, Kaminsky and Ayton out with injuries.

I will not cry because other teams are dealing all the time with the same recurrent problem. All 30 teams have the same issue, so who cares.

[sunsbg]

Yeah we had DA miss almost half the games, but according to some he sucks, so I guess it doesn't count.

Bucks are 8-8 not playing great, so we probably should not count them as contenders.

Can't expect the team to be giving it all at start of 82 games season with a 36yo leader. Most important thing is making it injury-free into the playoffs. Once there all our players have proven to raise their play.

[matt131]

I was finally able to make a game last night. Huge crowd which was awesome to see.

Frustrating first 3 quarters but man we turned it on in the 4th. CP3 was straight surgical with his shots and assists in the 4th. Booker's block and then three point shot had the crowd so hyped. I say we actually won by 15 since we were up by 15 with 2 minutes left and then started to just kind of give up but the Mavs kept trying. Monty putting in a bench squad that could barely inbound the ball when we were only up 8 with 1 minute left was.....dumb.

Also the line was PHX -8.5 and Nader missed BOTH free throws with a chance to push our lead over the 8.5 hahaha if people didn't hate him before they sure will be mad at him now.

[Jdiddy701]

I was finally able to make a game last night. Huge crowd which was awesome to see.

Frustrating first 3 quarters but man we turned it on in the 4th. CP3 was straight surgical with his shots and assists in the 4th. Booker's block and then three point shot had the crowd so hyped. I say we actually won by 15 since we were up by 15 with 2 minutes left and then started to just kind of give up but the Mavs kept trying. Monty putting in a bench squad that could barely inbound the ball when we were only up 8 with 1 minute left was.....dumb.

Also the line was PHX -8.5 and Nader missed BOTH free throws with a chance to push our lead over the 8.5 hahaha if people didn't hate him before they sure will be mad at him now.

A spread higher than 2 or 3, people need to stay away. A lot of apps allow you to take alternate spreads. Definitely recommend doing that. Anyone that bets a high spread deserve to lose. There’s always a back door play at the end of a game that will cause someone to lose. That’s my gambling advice lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[handsome salary]

On one hand... yeah they've been playing a ton of bad and shorthanded teams. Hasn't really made for a ton of must see viewing.

On the other hand...they've been taking care of business like a top team should in this situation. Riding it to an 11 game win streak. Plus looking really composed with their play the games I have watched. No panicking or scrambling even when down or losing a lead.

Thumbs up so far this season.

[matt131]

I was finally able to make a game last night. Huge crowd which was awesome to see.

Frustrating first 3 quarters but man we turned it on in the 4th. CP3 was straight surgical with his shots and assists in the 4th. Booker's block and then three point shot had the crowd so hyped. I say we actually won by 15 since we were up by 15 with 2 minutes left and then started to just kind of give up but the Mavs kept trying. Monty putting in a bench squad that could barely inbound the ball when we were only up 8 with 1 minute left was.....dumb.

Also the line was PHX -8.5 and Nader missed BOTH free throws with a chance to push our lead over the 8.5 hahaha if people didn't hate him before they sure will be mad at him now.

A spread higher than 2 or 3, people need to stay away. A lot of apps allow you to take alternate spreads. Definitely recommend doing that. Anyone that bets a high spread deserve to lose. There’s always a back door play at the end of a game that will cause someone to lose. That’s my gambling advice lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Haha yeah I stayed away. 8.5 is too high but mavs fouled at the end to give is a chance.

I placed two bets:

1) bridges 3+ threes and suns win
2) Paul 12+ assists and suns win

I feel like those props and parlays are a lot more fun than the spread. Creates a game within a game and something extra to root for. The FanDuel sports bar at the arena is pretty neat. I didn't realize you could go there for free during games even without tickets. A fun place to hang for sure.

[bwgood77]

NBA radio this morning talking about how the Suns are a legit title threat.
I still need to see more. I need us against a couple healthy teams (GSW for one) and to see if we compete or if our flaws are exposed.
As great as this streak has been, I still don't like a lot of what I've seen during this stretch. I am pretty sure we haven't put together a full game yet. Hopefully it's just that they need to continue to grow and build chemistry with the new guys.

Could just be me too. Maybe I'm overthinking things

If we beat Denver, we'll have avenged our 3 losses this season.

Yeah, I certainly have not been impressed in overall play outside of 4th quarters. But we started slow last year so I'm not going to worry about it, and we are winning nonetheless.

And if the way we win is to just hang with teams until the 4th and then turn it on, so be it. Makes it harder for them to do halftime adjustments if they don't know what we got coming in the 4th (kind of joking there..we are simply just stepping up, playing better, executing better, and somehow hitting more or our shots in the 4th).

But the main reason I'm cautiously optimistic is that SOS.

We haven't played any of the other teams in the top 13 (record wise) other than Denver, who beat us pretty easily, without Murray, and the Doncic-less Mavs, who hung with those for most of the game without one of the best players in the league.