Clippers @ Suns Thursday game thread, November 6th, 2025

[95pro]

Also, Allen is night and day from last season with his hustle.

Maybe it is because he is an off ball guy and last season, running around off the ball was just cardio... or maybe it's because he skimmed off his dad bod and his new dad life is probably less hectic.

He changed how he approached this season. Reports are that he focused on being in game shape right off the bat, getting the cardio up. Another thing i noticed is that he didn’t bulk this season. And last there’s been lots of talks about players focusing on leg strength this season.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a comparison of Devin Booker stats to Jalen Green stats.

Jalen Green vs. Devin Booker: Head-to-Head Stats Comparison | Stathead

Compare Players: Check out the head-to-head stats of Jalen Green and Devin Booker including their awards, honors, championships, playoff and regular season stats, and much more on Stathead

www.sports-reference.com

 

[Mainstreet]

He changed how he approached this season. Reports are that he focused on being in game shape right off the bat, getting the cardio up. Another thing i noticed is that he didn’t bulk this season. And last there’s been lots of talks about players focusing on leg strength this season.

There was a play or two where he looked like Devin Booker driving to the basket. I think playing alongside Booker has upped his game.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Here is a comparison of Devin Booker stats to Jalen Green stats.

Jalen Green vs. Devin Booker: Head-to-Head Stats Comparison | Stathead

Compare Players: Check out the head-to-head stats of Jalen Green and Devin Booker including their awards, honors, championships, playoff and regular season stats, and much more on Stathead

www.sports-reference.com

Maybe a better comparison to make is to Beal. Green is legitimately better through his first four seasons than Beal was. Only question is if he will have at least one significant leap going forward.

Bradley Beal (2013-2016) vs. Jalen Green (2022-2025): Head-to-Head Stats Comparison | Stathead

Compare Players: Check out the head-to-head stats of Bradley Beal (2013-2016) and Jalen Green (2022-2025) including their awards, honors, championships, playoff and regular season stats, and much more on Stathead

www.sports-reference.com

 

[Mainstreet]

Jordan Ott may be playing small out of necessity. This is why we are seeing Oso get consistent minutes.

Unless the Suns can develop the players on their bench, they don't have much depth upfront.

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe a better comparison to make is to Beal. Green is legitimately better through his first four season than Beal was. Only question is if he will have at least one significant leap going forward.

Bradley Beal (2013-2016) vs. Jalen Green (2022-2025): Head-to-Head Stats Comparison | Stathead

Compare Players: Check out the head-to-head stats of Bradley Beal (2013-2016) and Jalen Green (2022-2025) including their awards, honors, championships, playoff and regular season stats, and much more on Stathead

www.sports-reference.com

If Jalen Green can stay healthy, I'd gladly take a young version of Bradley Beal.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If Jalen Green can stay healthy, I'd gladly take a young version of Bradley Beal.

I'm not aware of any big injury problems with him but I'm always leery of someone who has a hamstring or groin problem that seems to linger. Hopefully the extra time ramping up will work for him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not aware of any big injury problems with him but I'm always leery of someone who has a hamstring or groin problem that seems to linger. Hopefully the extra time ramping up will work for him.

When it comes to hamstrings and athleticism, I tend to think of Kevin Johnson. Green has the athleticism part of it.

I'm hoping the hamstring is not a long term issue as well.

 

[Covert Rain]

Jalen has only played one game. There is still a long way to go. However, if he can play at a high level? He looks every bit the #2 draft pick and a young guy who looks like he can get better IMO. Couple that with the acquisition of Williams if he can stay healthy? You are talking about acquiring two legit starters to play alongside Book. Those could be two steals that could impact the franchise for a long time. We shall see. The sample size is small.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jalen has only played one game. There is still a long way to go. However, if he can play at a high level? He looks every bit the #2 draft pick and a young guy who looks like he can get better IMO. Couple that with the acquisition of Williams if he can stay healthy? You are talking about acquiring two legit starters to play alongside Book. Those could be two steals that could impact the franchise for a long time. We shall see. The sample size is small.

Mark Williams, Jalen Green and Devin Booker are star level players, not that all three will be making an All-Star team.

However, I do not consider Mark Williams a physical center.

When the Suns start small lineups around him, they have to hit shots and swarm on defense to win. Lack of size and depth is a real issue. If the Suns could fix this, I like where they are.

 

[Ronin]

NBA Today showed highlights of the game. Perk said our backcourt is underrated. Whhhhaaaat?

 

[Ronin]

Green shines in Suns debut

Noah Rubin breaks down Jalen Green's 29-point performance in his debut with the Suns, explaining why the former Houston Rocket has the potential to play the "best basketball of his career" in Phoenix.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Ronin]

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[Covert Rain]

Mark Williams, Jalen Green and Devin Booker are star level players, not that all three will be making an All-Star team.

However, I do not consider Mark Williams a physical center.

When the Suns start small lineups around him, they have to hit shots and swarm on defense to win. Lack of size and depth is a real issue. If the Suns could fix this, I like where they are.

Yet I don't consider him soft like Ayton could be. I have seen Williams be more assertive than Ayton on both ends of the court.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yet I don't consider him soft like Ayton could be. I have see Williams be more assertive than Ayton on both ends of the court.

He is plenty physical. He doesn't shy away from contact. He is just not a bruiser. So, yes, I agree with you. He is far from soft.

 

[angel_ofthe_south]

Obviously, Jalen Green was great on offense; but how was his defense? Some of us seem to have worried that he would be a terrible defender.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yet I don't consider him soft like Ayton could be. I have see Williams be more assertive than Ayton on both ends of the court.

I didn't mention Ayton. Simply pointing out that Williams is not physical center compared to a player like Zubac.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think we'd need to define "physical". He is definitely not a bruiser/ bully, but he doesn't shy away from contact, so it really comes down to how we define "physical." I don't think Williams has the strength of Zubac, much like Zubac doesn't have the length and athleticism of Williams. I personally have no complaints when it comes to his (Williams') physicality. Guys like Ivica, Jonas, etc are simply stronger, but guys like that are few and far between in today's NBA. I am beyond happy with Williams. When healthy, he is a very solid starting center in the NBA. He rebounds, defends, has great hands, dunks the ball, blocks and contests shots.

 

[Vacard]

Obviously, Jalen Green was great on offense; but how was his defense? Some of us seem to have worried that he would be a terrible defender.

He was disrupting passing lanes constantly. He was like white on rice on his matchup. The announcers said that Ime focused on coaching up his defense and it has improved.

 

[Hoop Head]

Never even thought of Cleveland, but I think they are a decent comp for this team. Couple good scoring guards surrounded by scrappy shooters and a couple good bigs. We don't quite match them in the bigs department but may well be better in the scoring guards department. I think this team could be surprisingly good with good health and consistent hustle.

Ott was tasked with the guards in Cleveland last year and helped turn Mitchell into an average defender while Garland is good on occasion. Of course they have 2 bigs behind them in Mobley and Jarrett Allen to clean things up. We have Williams who is a very good shot blocker and good rim protector but are lacking that weak side help Mobley provides. Offensively though I see no reason we can't resemble Cleveland. Green is much better at attacking the basket than either Garland or Mitchell while Williams is content playing inside. Dunn and DeAndre Hunter are similar players. There's a lot of similarities between our clubs. We aren't as complete as Cleveland as far as roster construction but not all that far either.

We just need to get something extra from our PF spot or acquire one in a trade. Thankfully we didn't spend too much on Kuminga because I believe we should have options if Royce and Grayson continue at even 75% of what they have.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Ott was tasked with the guards in Cleveland last year and helped turn Mitchell into an average defender while Garland is good on occasion. Of course they have 2 bigs behind them in Mobley and Jarrett Allen to clean things up. We have Williams who is a very good shot blocker and good rim protector but are lacking that weak side help Mobley provides. Offensively though I see no reason we can't resemble Cleveland. Green is much better at attacking the basket than either Garland or Mitchell while Williams is content playing inside. Dunn and DeAndre Hunter are similar players. There's a lot of similarities between our clubs. We aren't as complete as Cleveland as far as roster construction but not all that far either.

We just need to get something extra from our PF spot or acquire one in a trade. Thankfully we didn't spend too much on Kuminga because I believe we should have options if Royce and Grayson continue at even 75% of what they have.

I think Dunn provides some of that weak side help, not quite to the level of Mobley, but still pretty good.

 

[BirdGangThing]

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[Mainstreet]

I think we'd need to define "physical". He is definitely not a bruiser/ bully, but he doesn't shy away from contact, so it really comes down to how we define "physical." I don't think Williams has the strength of Zubac, much like Zubac doesn't have the length and athleticism of Williams. I personally have no complaints when it comes to his (Williams') physicality. Guys like Ivica, Jonas, etc are simply stronger, but guys like that are few and far between in today's NBA. I am beyond happy with Williams. When healthy, he is a very solid starting center in the NBA. He rebounds, defends, has great hands, dunks the ball, blocks and contests shots.

Zubac is one of my favorite underrated players. Too bad the Suns didn't draft him, when they were chasing after Bender and Chriss.

He was selected by the Lakers at #32 in the 2016 draft and later traded to the Clippers for Mike Muscala who I believe is an assistant on the Suns coaching staff.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Jalen jacked my hope meter up 10 points

 

[AzStevenCal]

Zubac is one of my favorite underrated players. Too bad the Suns didn't draft him, when they were chasing after Bender and Chriss.

He was selected by the Lakers at #32 in the 2016 draft and later traded to the Clippers for Mike Muscala who I believe is an assistant on the Suns coaching staff.

He sure plays like a star when he's facing Phoenix.