Suns @ Hornets Wednesday game thread 3-1-2023

Carolinacacti

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Poor Hornets, No Ball, PJ Washington, Bridges, Cody Martin and the center they just traded to Clips. Hope they have a good draft pick and resign Bridges.
Rozier, Hayward and Oubre Jr should not be carrying a NBA team. Good role players.
 

Sparky16

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People really don't like Booker outside of Phoenix from what I've seen. Maybe its social media but they called him out for empty stats before we were good and now they hate his jawing with virtually everyone. Dating a Kardashian didn't help either.

Suns fans love him but few do outside of the Suns bubble. He's a young star though so his legacy is being written but he's not a fan favorite nationally.
The talking heads on ESPN/TNT like him... I didnt like Kobe in his prime either... so theres that. FYI i think Kobe was a stud now looking back on it
 

Sparky16

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Guys - chill with the hand wringing. We more than covered the spread on the road integrating a superstar. We’re good
Watching KD go on a minni run @ the start of the 4th with just him and scrubs before DB, CP and DA came back in was nice. Its sad but i am almost ready for Shamet to come back, Payne is awful. He is a black hole and just a chucker when he is in. Need to have Ross and Warren on the floor with the 2nd unit taking ALL OF THE SHOTS. I am alos ready to see some more of Biyombo, Landale has been soft lately and lookied like he was nailed to the floor last night
 

Finito

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I know some fans were speculating this would become Durant’s team but I watched the opposite tonight. It appears Durant is going to defer to Book and pick his spots.

It’s going to be interesting to see if that holds up. I fully expect Durant to takeover when needed though.

Durant isn’t a bus driver he’s perfectly content with Booker taking the lead
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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Payne is still getting back into the flow of the game after injury but he only has 2 assists in the last three games.

The Suns could use someone more steady to run the team, especially when Paul is off, but it's probably going to have to be done by committee.
Payne has been terrible since his return. Poor shooting, doesn’t look quick and awful decision making.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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Watching KD go on a minni run @ the start of the 4th with just him and scrubs before DB, CP and DA came back in was nice. Its sad but i am almost ready for Shamet to come back, Payne is awful. He is a black hole and just a chucker when he is in. Need to have Ross and Warren on the floor with the 2nd unit taking ALL OF THE SHOTS. I am alos ready to see some more of Biyombo, Landale has been soft lately and lookied like he was nailed to the floor last night
Been saying it for awhile now, landale stinks.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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Fun to see how automatic KD is with the midrange. Good to see book get untracked. Okogie definitely looked like he didn’t know his role.
 

PHI PHX PHAN

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I know some fans were speculating this would become Durant’s team but I watched the opposite tonight. It appears Durant is going to defer to Book and pick his spots.

It’s going to be interesting to see if that holds up. I fully expect Durant to takeover when needed though.
I see the same thing playing out. He's going to be a complimentary superstar who helps Booker ascend to that level and elevate the team as a whole. It works perfectly because he doesn't have to be the leader as in the epitome of the word. He can defer in a lot of areas and simply provide the additional elite level talent.
He can be effective in that role for years
 

PHI PHX PHAN

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Watching KD go on a minni run @ the start of the 4th with just him and scrubs before DB, CP and DA came back in was nice. Its sad but i am almost ready for Shamet to come back, Payne is awful. He is a black hole and just a chucker when he is in. Need to have Ross and Warren on the floor with the 2nd unit taking ALL OF THE SHOTS. I am alos ready to see some more of Biyombo, Landale has been soft lately and lookied like he was nailed to the floor last night
I'm really interested to see a 2nd unit of Payne, Ross, Craig, Warren, Biz. Shamet will get mixed in as well but I like Ross to have the better impact. Either way I think we have formidable complimentary pieces to hold it down when we're not staggering the main stars as often in the playoffs. I like okogie as the 5th starter because of his defensive presence with that unit.
 

itlnsunsfan

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I'm really interested to see a 2nd unit of Payne, Ross, Craig, Warren, Biz. Shamet will get mixed in as well but I like Ross to have the better impact. Either way I think we have formidable complimentary pieces to hold it down when we're not staggering the main stars as often in the playoffs. I like okogie as the 5th starter because of his defensive presence with that unit.
I think that unit would be heavy negative +/-.
 

JCSunsfan

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People really don't like Booker outside of Phoenix from what I've seen. Maybe its social media but they called him out for empty stats before we were good and now they hate his jawing with virtually everyone. Dating a Kardashian didn't help either.

Suns fans love him but few do outside of the Suns bubble. He's a young star though so his legacy is being written but he's not a fan favorite nationally.
I think he is talking about other players and execs. Jealous posters on other message boards count for little. They ALL would love to have him on their team.
 

JCSunsfan

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I know some fans were speculating this would become Durant’s team but I watched the opposite tonight. It appears Durant is going to defer to Book and pick his spots.

It’s going to be interesting to see if that holds up. I fully expect Durant to takeover when needed though.
First night for KD in a Suns uni. Don't think that tells us everything. Although that scenario is not unreasonable
 
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Payne has been terrible since his return. Poor shooting, doesn’t look quick and awful decision making.

Agree. This is why I've always wanted another point guard capable of running the team beyond Paul and Payne.
 

Covert Rain

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Agree. This is why I've always wanted another point guard capable of running the team beyond Paul and Payne.
Let's face it. Aside from a moment here or there? Payne hasn't been the same since before the playoffs LAST season.
 

JCSunsfan

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without any doubt whatsoever. He can just get himself and others better shots than anyone else on the team.
the luxury is that we have both Durant and Booker who are quite capable in that situation. No opposing team can focus on just one.
 

ASUCHRIS

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Nobody on Damion Lee here? Guy had a terrible February, and can't guard anyone. Unless he starts hitting 3's, he'll find himself out of the rotation.
 

Cheesebeef

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the luxury is that we have both Durant and Booker who are quite capable in that situation. No opposing team can focus on just one.
Booker really isn’t close to the same level as KD there. Which is NOT a slam against Booker. It’s really incredible praise of KD and his unicorn size, athleticism, natural handles/passing ability that makes him one of the top 15 players of all time.
 
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GatorAZ

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Nobody on Damion Lee here? Guy had a terrible February, and can't guard anyone. Unless he starts hitting 3's, he'll find himself out of the rotation.
I’m actually hoping Shamet gets back which is scary. I don’t want Payne or Lee getting significant time in the playoffs.
 

ASUCHRIS

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the luxury is that we have both Durant and Booker who are quite capable in that situation. No opposing team can focus on just one.
Yesterday, it seemed the strategy was to stagger Book/Durant, with one or the other almost always on the court - it'll be interesting to see if that holds.
 

95pro

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Nobody on Damion Lee here? Guy had a terrible February, and can't guard anyone. Unless he starts hitting 3's, he'll find himself out of the rotation.

I’ve been on him all season. I also said Shamet and Ross over him any day. Once Lee enter the game our team defense goes to crap and we ended losing the some of the lead we just built when he comes in.

And I get tired of theatrics. Last night he acted like he got hit in the face and took two plays off standing there with face in palms.
 
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