Game Thread GAME# 66: SUNS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 9, 2019 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[kjironman1]

If teams shoot well you have a chance now to make noise in the playoffs.
It used to be Defence won Championships I believe it’s more offense now.

There are certain times that shooting wins you the game. If a team plays well and shoots lights out it is indeed tough to beat any team.
The difference in the playoffs though is well documented. Games are called different. The defense is allowed to play tighter. Shooters usually do not shoot as well because of it. Games mean more and pressure takes it's toll. A strong defensive team will usually prevail in the playoffs. But yes you must be able to score the ball. This game in the end is about "Buckets!".

 

[B-Roy]

Sorry but Collins was in the game up until the last 4 minutes. If you are trying to say that Collins was playing well then you are flat out wrong. Try reading the comment. Or is your point that Skal was the soul reason the Suns worked back into the game? Sorry but that would be wrong also.
Even if your +- metric actually meant anything and you were right would you not suggest the a 30 point lead cut to 19 would be just as important?

Game set match bro. See ya.

You saying Zach is what let them back into the game makes no sense considering Zach came out when the Blazers were up 19. How is that not obvious to you? It was a 25 point game at the start of the 4th. So 6 points were lost while Zach was in the game in the 4th. The Blazers then lost 12 (and 14 at one point) after he came out.

I'm just pointing out the flaw in your logic. I wasn't trying to make a point, or imply anything.

It was never a 30 point lead.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

 

[Strenuus]

LOL How does Meyers get a -20 in 9 minutes?

 

[theprunetang]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

Exactly. He is the Center version of Booker.

 

[H.C.]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

I think he's young and needs good coaching.
One of the first possessions of the game Portland ran a P&R and he picked Lillard up at 15ft. He was able to force Lillard to take a baseline 12ish footer instead of allowing him all the way to the rim.
I don't think I've ever seen KAT make that play on a guard of Lillard's caliber.

I don't believe Ayton will ever be as skilled offensively as KAT is.
But if he develops a 15-20 foot jumper and stops being lazy at times in the game. I think he has the ability to turn into a legit scoring big.
But due to him not having the stroke of a guy like KAT. He's going to have to get it done defensively. Otherwise he'll just be another Greg Monroe.


He also needs to get stronger and fill his body out. Right now I bet Aminu or Harkless could force him off his spots if they wanted to.

 

[Chris Craig]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

He has a lot of developing to do. In a couple seasons he is going to be solid.

 

[Chris Craig]

I think he's young and needs good coaching.
One of the first possessions of the game Portland ran a P&R and he picked Lillard up at 15ft. He was able to force Lillard to take a baseline 12ish footer instead of allowing him all the way to the rim.
I don't think I've ever seen KAT make that play on a guard of Lillard's caliber.

I don't believe Ayton will ever be as skilled offensively as KAT is.
But if he develops a 15-20 foot jumper and stops being lazy at times in the game.
I think he has the ability to turn into a legit scoring big. But due to him not having the stroke of a guy like KAT. He's going to have to get it done defensively. Otherwise he'll just be another Greg Monroe.


He also needs to get stronger and fill his body out. Right now I bet Aminu or Harkless could force him off his spots if they wanted to.

Yeah, he looked weak out there. He needs pack on some muscle. I think confidence is part of that too.

 

[Chris Craig]

LOL How does Meyers get a -20 in 9 minutes?

Because he came in and the Suns scored 20 points

 

[Mediocre Man]

Zach with 0 points on 0-5 shooting and 3 turnovers in 16 minutes of play, against the Suns..

Pillar

 

[Orion Bailey]

Pillar

He woudl have to be thicker.

More like:

Stilts

 

[jlprk]

Zach was a bit out of sync.

He always is. Shoulda kept Ed Davis.

 

[BonesJones]

Zach played bad last night. Hes young, has irregular minutes, needs to add strength and be coached up to be stronger inside. Doesnt have much confidence right now, but over the 1st month of the season we saw what he could be.

 

[bobf]

Good game by just about everyone up until the scrubs.

Zach was off though. Is it just me or does Zach get stripped of the ball a heck of a lot. He can’t seem to hang on to it. It’s like he has no hands at all.

 

[Orion Bailey]

He always is. Shoulda kept Ed Davis.

Zach played bad last night. Hes young, has irregular minutes, needs to add strength and be coached up to be stronger inside. Doesnt have much confidence right now, but over the 1st month of the season we saw what he could be.

Mi dont think he played thst bad.

His positioning was good. He missed a three thst was in and out. He missed a rebound that just went past his fingertips.
He had a ticky tack foul against him.

He needs to control the emotions more thiugh. After the first timeout where he was scored on. You could see the frustrstion o nthe walk to the bench and his posture after he sat.

His movement on the court was still good.
Ball just bounced the other way on him tonight i think.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Did something happen to Hood? He only played like 9 minutes.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Did something happen to Hood? He only played like 9 minutes.

Went out with a sore hip in the first half and announced he wouldnt return for the game. Didnt hear anything else on it though.

 

[kjironman1]

You saying Zach is what let them back into the game makes no sense considering Zach came out when the Blazers were up 19. How is that not obvious to you? It was a 25 point game at the start of the 4th. So 6 points were lost while Zach was in the game in the 4th. The Blazers then lost 12 (and 14 at one point) after he came out.

I'm just pointing out the flaw in your logic. I wasn't trying to make a point, or imply anything.

It was never a 30 point lead.

Like i said go back and re read the statement. Nowhere in any stretch of any human comprehension does it say Zach was the only issue. He was one of the issues. Simply put the third unit plus Zach was the issue.
Honestly how are you getting all of this from a statement about Meyers?

 

[kjironman1]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

Not yet maybe. But that dude has some serious skills and when the Suns put another solid player around him they will be a good team and will win some games.

 

[kjironman1]

That's kind of why i said it wasn't exactly all Meyers's fault that the Suns worked their way back at the end. Zach was a bit out of sync.

Well, considering Zach wasn't in the game, that seems like a whole lot of nonsense.

Skal played the last 4 minutes, and was a -12. We won by 7, so Zach came out when we were up 19.

You see why i am saying read the post? I wasn't even really trashing Zach. He just didn't really look to be playing well. The entire third unit was not making things happen out there. I guess because they are third unit it stands to reason.

 

[James lamphear]

Zach didn't have a good game and he get stripped a lot because of his strength especially his hands. But he did 6 rebounds and 1 was offense rebounds off free throw that led him to a bucket for us with a assist he had 2 of them. So he wasn't totally trash. But to me this is a big off season for Zach.

 

[BonesJones]

Zach didn't have a good game and he get stripped a lot because of his strength especially his hands. But he did 6 rebounds and 1 was offense rebounds off free throw that led him to a bucket for us with a assist he had 2 of them. So he wasn't totally trash. But to me this is a big off season for Zach.

It's mostly where he brings the ball.

 

[kjironman1]

It's mostly where he begins the ball.

Nurk goes through that also. Brings the ball down to jump. Zach is getting better but they both need to watch Jake grab a rebound and go back up.
Big guys need to really work on core strength to get that motion. Very tough for a 7 foot guy to move like that.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Nurk goes through that also. Brings the ball down to jump. Zach is getting better but they both need to watch Jake grab a rebound and go back up.
Big guys need to really work on core strength to get that motion. Very tough for a 7 foot guy to move like that.

Part of the difference is that Jake's 2nd, 3rd jumps are so quick, Zach's are fairly quick, and Nurk's are not quick...

 

[hoopsjock]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

To me he plays as old as he looks. It seems like he's a 35 year old center with knee problems that have taken away his bounce. Maybe it's just the wear of his rookie season.

He also seemed to be super passive, especially considering at one point he hit several turn around jumpers and then didn't seem to care that he didn't touch the ball much after that.

 

[jlprk]

It's mostly where he begins the ball.

What a ridiculous thing to say. It's when he ends the ball.

 

[Labinot41]

To me he plays as old as he looks. It seems like he's a 35 year old center with knee problems that have taken away his bounce. Maybe it's just the wear of his rookie season.

He also seemed to be super passive, especially considering at one point he hit several turn around jumpers and then didn't seem to care that he didn't touch the ball much after that.

Haha yeah when i saw him for the first time i couldn't belive that he's 20 years old. He looks like 40

 

[CupWizier]

Great bounce back game last night. End of bench made it interesting. Tied with OKC again with some key games this week. Going to be a wild ride to the end.

 

[Hoopguru]

How do you guys feel about Ayton?
My take, he reminds me of KAT, good numbers but just doesnt seem like he has “it”, like I feel like he doesnt seem to effect winning and losing much.

20 years old and average double double isn't two shabby.
They got some young talent on that team!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

20 years old and average double double isn't two shabby.
They got some you talent on that team!

Im not a huge fan of Booker or Ayton, I just dont feel like they play winning basketball. Could be coaching and youth, there is talent there, neither are very good at defense.