Suns @ Spurs Monday game thread 11-22-2021

[Mainstreet]

James Harden has had an outstanding NBA career. ASU even retired his number. While I may not be a fan of his style of play, I'm proud of his accomplishments as an alumnus.

 

[Yuma]

No, then you trade your surplus for another’s surplus. Best example ever was the 80s cavs. Already had nice deep backcourt but at #7 the best player available was kj. They traded him for the PF they had been seeking, Larry nance.

Except we all went through who was available and we know that wasn't really happening without trading away a piece we did not want to trade.

 

[Yuma]

It was easy BEFORE the draft as many here had those two guys above stix.

Except like I said, we were never going to pick either guy. We needed size.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

starting to see things from Ayton on offense that I’ve been waiting for for a couple years. He’s starting to seal smaller guys with more regularity. He is that one play on the elbow where he started to drive, got stopped, did a fake one way and rise for an open hook for a bucket and FINALLY made himself an option on the play at the FT line with the fake handoff to Book and take to the basket.

If he can keep making strides there this offense becomes unstoppable... able to play multiple styles and go to something when 3s aren’t falling.

Yup that’s been the most exciting development for me this season (mcgee being the second).

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The offensive skill separating DA from someone like Giannis or AD is his ballhandling (well, that and the mental drive/focus). If he can continue to build on that and become more comfortable handling the ball for more than a single dribble without turning it over it would open up his game so much more.

It would also result in more trips to the charity stripe and likely foul trouble for those guarding him instead of just him getting in foul trouble. Can’t understate how important that is. Giannis neutralized Ayton by sending him the bench with fouls - imagine if Ayton could level that playing field by drawing fouls in giannis?!?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The aggression is miles apart also tho. Giannis wants to CRUSH people on his drives, throwing the ball down with authority or at least going up to which is why he draws the fouls Ayton doesnt.

Even in the nice fake handoff to Book at the FT, he still went up so soft before getting fouled. Ended up missing 1 of the FTs when if he was really aggressive, he would have flushed that ball on the defenders head.

Yup the announcers made that comment that either book or Paul (think it was book) was in his ear likely saying dunk that). Difference between a 3 point play and a 1 pt play.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yeah, I definitely undersold the gulf of difference between the two. Feels like the team is trying to push him there, and while that isn't new, it feels like a more concerted effort. Seeing more entry passes when he's switched on to smaller defenders since he's been back.

But he’s effectively sealing defenders and actually catching passes and doing both much deeper in the paint. It’s fantastic.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Except we all went through who was available and we know that wasn't really happening without trading away a piece we did not want to trade.

First, we don’t really know who is “available.” Back then I think the nance trade came outta left field. It’s not like he was a disgruntled guy. In the internet age we all think we know all there is to know, but truth is we likely only know a smallish percentage.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Except like I said, we were never going to pick either guy. We needed size.

Only to a gm with limited thinking.