Game 2: LA Lakers @ Phoenix Suns, Friday, Oct 20th, 7PM PT

[bwgood77]

[Walt_Uoob]

I kinda want to lose a lot this year but I'm definitely rooting for a bounce back and a win tonight to restore the good vibes at least. Go Suns!!

[NTB]

Must win.

[RaisingArizona]

Put Jackson on Ball! Do what Beverly did to him!

[JMac1]

Color me excited!!!!' Gotta record the game tonight. Can't wait to get home to watch it!!! Just hope they keep Josh involved. Booke need to let the game come to him and not force it. It's like the game was going to Josh early and our dumb team took it out of his hands and took him out of his groove.... take what they give you. First game though.

[i505]

Good luck girl for tonight.

[RedIndian]

Is Len back for this?

[Kerrsed]

Is Len back for this?

Alex Len (left ankle sprain) is listed as probable in the game notes for Friday's matchup vs. the Lakers.
It's only a game notes designation, so we'll take it with a grain of salt. However, it is encouraging news after Len was sidelined for the Suns season opener on Wednesday. We should have confirmation from coach Earl Watson after the team's shootaround on Friday morning.

[NTB]

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[WeekapaugGroove]

I would tell bledsoe if he doesn't try to take it to Lonzo tonight that they won't trade him this year. That should light a fire under his ass

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[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Len could make himself a ton of money tonight. Would love to see Bender have a great game. Bled, Ulis and Daniels all better watch out because if things start going downhill, Mike James will come in and rescue this team. If that happens tonight, I will begin to expect fireworks before the trade deadline.

[NTB]

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[bwgood77]

Good luck girl for tonight.

She should still have all her clothes on.

Obviously people would have had to see the movie to understand that.

[Saberestar]

Everything would be OK if we win this game.
But if we lose...oh my....I do not want to study players for the next draft that early, it is so boring at this point.

Please get a **** win!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Bledsoe has the most to lose tonight. After the whooping P Bev put on Lonzo last night, people will expect Bledsoe to do something similar. If Bled instead loses this matchup... well that would be bad for Bled and for us.

[bwgood77]

Len could make himself a ton of money tonight. Would love to see Bender have a great game. Bled, Ulis and Daniels all better watch out because if things start going downhill, Mike James will come in and rescue this team. If that happens tonight, I will begin to expect fireworks before the trade deadline.

I think it might take Len more than one game to make money. I thought when you said that it might mean we were on national tv, especially since playing the Lakers.

Then I noticed the Cavs game and Warriors game are the ones on national tv. That's good, I was hoping they'd be on sometime this year so I could see them.

[bwgood77]

Larry Nance, Jr had 12 boards last night too. Hopefully some of our guys can get some boards tonight. Last game our only big to get a decent number of boards was Bender, with 7 in 21 minutes. Chandler and Chriss combined for 4.

[Jarlaxle0204]

Hoping for a bounce back game. Can't be any worse than the opener. **** the Lakers!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Larry Nance, Jr had 12 boards last night too. Hopefully some of our guys can get some boards tonight. Last game our only big to get a decent number of boards was Bender, with 7 in 21 minutes. Chandler and Chriss combined for 4.

Bender's rebounding the last several games has been extremely encouraging. It will be interesting to see who, between he and Len, will have more success against Brook Lopez tonight.

I absolutely do not want to lose this game. That would suck. Boo!!!

[bwgood77]

Larry Nance, Jr had 12 boards last night too. Hopefully some of our guys can get some boards tonight. Last game our only big to get a decent number of boards was Bender, with 7 in 21 minutes. Chandler and Chriss combined for 4.

Bender's rebounding the last several games has been extremely encouraging. It will be interesting to see who, between he and Len, will have more success against Brook Lopez tonight.

I absolutely do not want to lose this game. That would suck. Boo!!!

Well, Lopez isn't really a rebounder, and Len should have more success defensively due to experience and muscle. But now that Lopez shoots 3s, Bender might be the more effective defender on the perimeter that could at least have the length to at least bother his shot, if not block it.

It also appears they've worked with Bender on trying to reduce his fouls by just sticking his arms up around the basket at times, which, in and of itself, is pretty disruptive. But against Utah he had zero fouls in 25 minutes in the first game, 2 fouls in the second game, and 1 in each of the three Portland games playing between 21 and 26 minutes. So an average of a foul a game against NBA competition in over 20 minutes is a nice change after watching him get in foul trouble so much before. He had 3 against Brisbane in 32 minutes, which isn't bad either.

If he's quickly learning how to cut down his fouls when necessary, he can go back to being a little more aggressive defensively on the interior, but he also probably needs to bulk up a little more to be really effective inside defensively. He still looks good on the perimeter most of the time, sometimes even directing others on where to go.