r/suns • u/ajteitel Otter Pop • 4h ago
Final game's notes
GOAT
- Bouyea: THE GREATEST garbage time 1ST OPTION IN NBA HISTORY! Love my guy lamo
Starters
- Booker: He's still fundamentally solid, but he just looks old. Slower, less explosive, less verticality on his shots. He needs to find a new way to impact the game, I don't think he's getting his legs back.
- Brooks: Black hole shooter doing blackhole shooter things lamo. It works, until it doesn't. Tonight it did. But even when it doesn't, he's still a physical threat on both ends.
- Green: Again, the problem has consistency, not talent. That question won't be answered in preseason, but he's looking very controlled. Playing team ball while getting his own, not going full hero. I'm encouraged.
- Bridges: Played exactly how you want. Doing the little things, taking the open shots, and playing solid team defense. Didn't fill up the stat sheet, but looked good on court. At least before the 1st/2nd unit sat.
- Maluach: Being the biggest guy against the M A S S I V E Jizz lineup, dude held his own and then some. Even on offense, that putback through four defenders? Ayton would never. One more offseason in the weight room, I see top 10 center potential.
Bench
- Goodwin: Jordan Goodwin.
- Gillespie: Hasn't looked great this preseason. Controls the 2nd unit offense, but with on ball so often, he hasn't gotten separation to iso like last year. Granted, the Jizz are M A S S I V E. Probably his worst matchup.
- Dunn: He couldn't stay on the court last year because he kept fouling so quickly. That hasn't been a problem until tonight. Hopefully this is the exception. Doing the little things doesn't matter if you foul out.
- Reath: On the perimeter, he was looking quite good. Spacing, setting good screens. But in the paint, he's a horrible "center". I like his game, I don't like the role he'd be asked to play with us.
- Fleming: Dude's processor is slower than a GPU from the 2000s playing GTA. There's some skill, but he is not remotely playable right now. He's also not super young and inexperienced.
- Peat: Linebacker style has not translated as expected and his defense has been meh. But he's 19, has a lot more time to cook.
- Brea: He was on the court.
- Spencer: His facial hair > basketball skills.
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u/Apprehensive-Use-981 3h ago
A major factor in Gillespie getting that spacing last season was the fact that he was playing off Oso's screening and handoffs. No Oso today, and Maluach's screening + passing is nowhere near as clean. There were a couple of times tonight where Colin probably would have gotten a better shot had he been playing off Oso. So I'm not too worried about his shot coming back.
Also indeed, Jordan Goodwin. I do concur.
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u/Gratitude15 2h ago
Another reason I think oso better off bench
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u/Apprehensive-Use-981 1h ago
I agree. The Oso/Gillespie 2-man game was cooking switch-heavy defenses last season. They maximize each other and if the Suns are smart they play them together as much as possible.
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u/Maytricks96 Wet Like I'm Book 3h ago
You just accidentally mispelled Jazz a couple of times right?...Right?!
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u/Eternity_And_A_Day 2h ago edited 2h ago
Went to the game (lower level row 6) and while the bench left much to be desired, I’ll say I was impressed how physical everyone was getting after the ball for a final pre-season game.
Bouyea doing his thing is even more impressive in-person. When he’s dialed in, he just pulls out surprises from nowhere. Alongside Goodwin, these are my favorite additions to practically any team. They just never back down with the intensity and it’s awesome.
Whatever they’re doing with Maluach, KEEP DOING IT! 🔥His off-season development is crazy considering how few minutes he played last season. Love Willams and can’t wait to have him back, but damn is Maluach’s potential exciting.
Bridges really impressed me with the minutes he was given. I wasn’t sold on his trade but I’m cautiously optimistic now.
Fleming played minutes... And I was just as confused watching him during that time. 🤷🏻
And Brea, you have potential but you can’t be afraid to take that final shot. Yeah, Bouyea was cooking in the 4th, but that second guessing will be a death blow in the regular season and beyond.
And I see you Pat Spencer, and salute that incredible facial hair. Style it however you want, just keep up the drive from this point on. Nice addition to the team, for sure.
While I still have no expectations this season, you can see glimmers of the team Ott wants to build and when dialed in, we could be making deep post-season runs.
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u/lilafterthought 2h ago
I felt like Bouyea and Goodwin were hustling on the court today. They didn’t let up. Not sure what was going on with Rasheer.. I’m just telling myself it was a preseason game. Looking forward to this season!
Did anyone catch what Booker said to the fan on the sideline? And vice versa?
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u/OneOfTheManySams Devin Booker 1h ago
I think we have seen the right flashes heading into the season. With Williams going down there was a lot of pressure on Maluach being ready early in the season for legit minutes and he undoubtedly is. That's a massive win what could have been a half a season centre weakness will be a strength compared to last season.
Jalen Green also looks much more fluid with the ball and is the scoring threat we know him to be. If that carries on into the season we will be a lot more dynamic.
Miles Bridges hasn't played too much this preseason but does look to fit in better than expected, definitely adds a bit more physicality too this team.
Overall I think we actually have a pretty strong 10 man rotation. But I think we really do lack 3rd string depth, we could be one injury away from this tight balance falling apart.
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u/Apprehensive-Use-981 1h ago
3rd string is looking pretty spooky. Hopefully/thankfully, these guys will never see the court together.
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u/CNSrooster Archie Goodwin 4h ago
This whole thing lives and dies by Green and ManMan become our best players over the next 3-4 years the way I see it now. They have flashed a lot of very good things this pre season.
Book has been disappointing. Had 2 games rest and still looked slow and tired in the 2nd quarter.
Book will find his points. Like the OP said though, he needs to find other ways to impact the game when his shots not falling. But does he have the conditioning to impact in those other areas? We will see.
Very excited for what ManMan and Green show over the first 15 games.