Lakers @ Suns Thursday Game Thread, 2-26-2026

[Superbone]

Any idea on what Jordan Goodwin's status is? You know he'd love to stick it to the Lukas.

Yeah, a little less than 1-2 weeks away from evaluation.

 

[leclerc]

F the Lakers. Sorry Brian, got to get into the mood.

 

[Dback Jon]

F the Lakers. Sorry Brian, got to get into the mood.

Agreed!!!

F the Lakers!
F Luka!
F LeBron!!

 

[mjb21aztd]

Agreed!!!

F the Lakers!
F Luka!
F LeBron!!

And f ayton lame num 1 pick ((

 

[Dback Jon]

And f ayton lame num 1 pick ((

100%! (Although most Laker fans agree with that)

 

[AzStevenCal]

I just want to see good effort throughout, win or lose. No standing around. No one-on-one play unless you have an advantage and do take advantage. I'm talking to you, Jalen Green.

I'm sure we'd all want that and if effort were all it took, I'd like our chances. But it's almost impossible to appear to be giving full effort when you're playing a team that pretty much bests you at each position. IMO if we stay within 40 points, the Lakers should apologize to their fans for playing so poorly against what clearly is not an NBA lineup.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm sure we'd all want that and if effort were all it took, I'd like our chances. But it's almost impossible to appear to be giving full effort when you're playing a team that pretty much bests you at each position. IMO if we stay within 40 points, the Lakers should apologize to their fans for playing so poorly against what clearly is not an NBA lineup.

If the Suns can't stay within 40 points of the Lakers, they should apologize to their fans.

The Magic just recently beat them.

 

[Superbone]

I'm sure we'd all want that and if effort were all it took, I'd like our chances. But it's almost impossible to appear to be giving full effort when you're playing a team that pretty much bests you at each position. IMO if we stay within 40 points, the Lakers should apologize to their fans for playing so poorly against what clearly is not an NBA lineup.

I don't know about that. I think effort shows win or lose. Williams seemed to get beat in every category by a center on the Celtics that I had never heard of before.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If the Suns can't stay within 40 points of the Lakers, they should apologize to their fans.

The Magic just recently beat them.

I didn't say we couldn't win the game, I just don't believe it will be "great effort" that decides this contest. In order for us to win it will take great effort by the Suns AND a total lack of focus and preparation on the part of the Lakers. The talent disparity is too great to be overcome simply by effort and coaching, we need the Lakers to come into town fat and lazy expecting to coast to victory. And if we don't get that, we'll get blown out and fans will blame it on lack of effort.

I love this team. They are all heart AFAIC. But with Collin and Grayson playing injured and so many others out, we have a scary lack of weapons. Unless we can buy a few of those refs, we're in trouble even against the lowly Lakers.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Even though Ayton probably has his best game of the year in a W for the Lakers tonight (because that is our lot in sports life), I can only chuckle reading articles like this about how he’s “the x-factor”, if only he’d show up with intensity, night in, night out…

“Trying to Make Me Clint Capela”: Deandre Ayton Voices His Frustration With the Lakers

The Lakers lost for the third time in four games last night, and it was a particularly brutal one. L.

www.yahoo.com

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't know about that. I think effort shows win or lose. Williams seemed to get beat in every category by a center on the Celtics that I had never heard of before.

Okay but that happens and not just to us. We usually think matchups in terms of position but the best player on the team gets more attention than the lesser players do. And when our best players are out, Williams and other lesser talents become the primary focus of the defense.

Again, I'm not saying we can't win this game. I just believe that the Lakers will almost surely determine the outcome more than us. Other than Williams and maybe Bouyea, I'm not sure we have another player that would make the Lakers rotation.

Even if the Lakers sleepwalk through the first half, I'm not sure we have enough talent to steal a victory by effort. Now, if Grayson and Collin are all of a sudden fully healthy, that changes things a little although the talent advantage still lies with the LA group.

 

[Covert Rain]

Even though Ayton probably has his best game of the year in a W for the Lakers tonight (because that is our lot in sports life), I can only chuckle reading articles like this about how he’s “the x-factor”, if only he’d show up with intensity, night in, night out…

“Trying to Make Me Clint Capela”: Deandre Ayton Voices His Frustration With the Lakers

The Lakers lost for the third time in four games last night, and it was a particularly brutal one. L.

www.yahoo.com

Ayton made himself Ayton.

 

[Mainstreet]

I didn't say we couldn't win the game, I just don't believe it will be "great effort" that decides this contest. In order for us to win it will take great effort by the Suns AND a total lack of focus and preparation on the part of the Lakers. The talent disparity is too great to be overcome simply by effort and coaching, we need the Lakers to come into town fat and lazy expecting to coast to victory. And if we don't get that, we'll get blown out and fans will blame it on lack of effort.

I love this team. They are all heart AFAIC. But with Collin and Grayson playing injured and so many others out, we have a scary lack of weapons. Unless we can buy a few of those refs, we're in trouble even against the lowly Lakers.

It's not about wins and losses for me at this point. I haven't seen the heart in a long time, though.

 

[Mainstreet]

Cole Anthony joining the Suns has not been ruled out. They remain in contact although nothing appears to be in the works at the moment.

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[Mainstreet]

Here is the Suns injury report.

As expected, Booker, Brooks, Goodwin and Highsmith are all OUT.

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[AzStevenCal]

It's not about wins and losses for me at this point. I haven't seen the heart in a long time, though.

You see lack of heart, I see lack of ability.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

might miss the start of the game tonight

 

[Mainstreet]

You see lack of heart, I see lack of ability.

I see both. The lack of heart is the most problematic as far as I am concerned.

If they don't show the effort, I'd rather see the rookies play.

 

[Mainstreet]

These are the starters.

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[AzStevenCal]

I see both. The lack of heart is the most problematic as far as I am concerned.

If they don't show the effort, I'd rather see the rookies play.

I want to see the rookies play. Regardless. But we disagree about player effort. No team gives 100% effort every minute of every game but we look more invested nightly than we have in years and that's still true right now even with most of our better players injured. JMO.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

nice pass dunn!

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

hey we're moving the ball

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

DUNN 3 BALL

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

gillespi3

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are off to a quick 17-9 lead.