Nuggets @ Suns Friday game thread, 12-1-2023

[BirdGangThing]

I don't necessarily like - but can appreciate our bench having to play with only one of our big three playing so often

It's a whole different set of responsibilities - they aren't just side dressing - they're as much of a factor as KD or Book and more importantly they're learning to play with each other

Goodwin for instance - without Book and Beal being banged up we probably wouldn't know just how good he can be if he were only playing a few minutes

Sure - I'd rather have our badasses available - but when it comes to optimism and our bench - I don't see it as being half full or half empty - I see it as damn near full

 

[Mainstreet]

You’d think they need at least half a season to really dial in the chemistry before the playoffs.

I agree. Let't hope the injury bug is an early season thing and the Suns are a better team for it.

 

[DJ Tabooh]

Book officially ruled out tonight. I’d be surprised if the Suns won tonight but would like to see someone come alongside and help KD with the scoring load.

 

[Mainstreet]

No Devin Booker tonight but Bradley Beal and Booker getting up shots.

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[Cheesebeef]

I'm relieved Booker won't play. I don't care if his ankle is only slightly hurt (if it is) and he wants to play through the injury, I want his health to be treated conservatively like Bradley Beal's. No running him into the ground like the SSOL suns used to with Steve Nash.

Don't I want the Suns to win, you ask? Yeah, sure--I want them to win the Finals.

they shouldn't have put him back in the game in the first place. this team should have learned their lesson after putting Beal back in after tweaking his back, putting him on the shelf for another 3 weeks.

 

[Suns_fan69]

they shouldn't have put him back in the game in the first place. this team should have learned their lesson after putting Beal back in after tweaking his back, putting him on the shelf for another 3 weeks.

100%. The coaching and training staff have to protect players from themselves.

 

[Proximo]

Book stepped on a guys foot -- how does that make him injury prone or fragile? He may be, but this latest thing shouldn't be considered a symptom of that.

Exactly.

I know some players like Mikal seem to miraculously never seem to even turn an ankle but they are a complete aberration. Normal players will turn their ankle at least once a season.

 

[Ronin]

Kind of takes the fun out of tonight's game, but it is best that Booker sits.

 

[Phrazbit]

Exactly.

I know some players like Mikal seem to miraculously never seem to even turn an ankle but they are a complete aberration. Normal players will turn their ankle at least once a season.

I think some guys have a spacial awareness and body control that helps them avoid injury, also knowing how to land to protect yourself. This is something that can be improved upon... Curry used to hurt his ankles constantly but now when he goes up in traffic he seems to always come down in a way that he can sort of "lay out", not even in a flopping sense but he tries to not come forcefully down on his feet in traffic. I've seen Booker do it too, especially on threes, when he feels people around him he will set himself up to land sliding on his butt rather than directly through his legs.

In football you can see it a lot... some guys know how to angle their body to take a hit, and some don't. Tony Romo probably would have been a hall of fame QB, but he constantly was breaking his collar bone and screwing up his shoulders because of how he flayed out while going down, Matt Leinart also took bad injuries at a high rate.

Back to Booker... he certainly isn't a tank. He isn't made of glass but he seemingly gets dinged up and misses a bit of time once every couple months the last few years, including all 3 playoff runs. IMO, sometimes he asks more of his body than it is capable of, going for full sprint chase down blocks and things of that nature.

 

[Phrazbit]

Kind of takes the fun out of tonight's game, but it is best that Booker sits.

Yeah, I am bummed. I have tickets tonight and was really looking forward to it earlier this week.

Not only are the odds of victory significantly diminished but this offense simply is not very fun to watch when Booker is not on the court, lots of ISO and 3 point chucking.

 

[Phrazbit]

Aaron Gordon is out, which is very good news for us. He gave Durant serious problems in the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here are the Suns starters.

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[Mainstreet]

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are both OUT per Nuggets coach Mike Malone.

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[Mainstreet]

Frank Vogel says Bradley Beal is making progress and will be evaluated again next week as part of the process.

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[BirdGangThing]

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are both OUT per Nuggets coach Mike Malone.

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It's officially a bench/supporting cast contest tonight - and I like our chances

 

[Mainstreet]

Devin Booker has been getting treatments twice a day.

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[Mainstreet]

It's officially a bench/supporting cast contest tonight - and I like our chances

I'm ready for some basketball. Losing is a real downer.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Devin Booker can play against Memphis he will. This is good news regarding the ankle injury.

It sounds like the Suns want to be hitting on all cylinders (as many as possible) against the Lakers.

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[Sunstroke]

'Brooklyn Nets West' and with a weak bench. Kudos to KD with limited games missed.
Big Three indeed...

 

[BirdGangThing]

I forgot Nurk and Jokic were drafted in the same year and by the same team - with Nurk being selected in the 1st and Jokic in the 2nd - that's just wild

 

[Mainstreet]

I forgot Nurk and Jokic were drafted in the same year and by the same team - with Nurk being selected in the 1st and Jokic in the 2nd - that's just wild

It shocked me when the Nuggets traded Nurkic for Mason Plumlee. I thought they traded low.

Now we know Jokic was that good.

 

[BirdGangThing]

There not going to stop until we all hate sweet Caroline

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe the Suns throw a curveball at Jokic and give Bol Bol some minutes.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tip-off.

 

[Mainstreet]

And Nurkic scores over Jokic.