Trail Blazers @ Suns Tuesday game thread, 11-21-2023 - In-Season Tournament #3

[Mainstreet]

After two wins over the Jazz the Suns return home for two games.

They play back-to-back games against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday and the Warriors on Wednesday.

Portland is an In-Season Tournament game.

When: Tuesday, 11-21-2023

Television: Suns Live, Arizona's Family 3TV / Arizona's Family Sports

Radio: KMVP 98.7 / S: KSUN

Time: 7 PM Arizona time

 

[Chaplin]

This is the first game that I really want not just a win but a pasting. I really want Nurk to go 18 and 12, because you know Ayton ain’t going to.

 

[BirdGangThing]

We should do Ayton a solid and foul him all damn night

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don’t care what Ayton does. But this is an awful Blazers team and if this team has any hopes of being more than mediocre this season, they should pulverize Portland.

 

[Proximo]

We very much need this to be a blowout.

Especially since it is the first game in a back to back.

 

[Superbone]

We very much need this to be a blowout.

Especially since it is the first game in a back to back.

And if we want to have any chance at the tournament.

 

[Ronin]

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[Mainstreet]

Here is where the Suns stand in In-Season Tournament play.

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[Mainstreet]

This is the Trail Blazers injury report. They are without Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons among others.

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[Ronin]

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[mjb21aztd]

Lets goooooo suns need to destroy ayton blazers!!! Noooo letdown gm after jazz wins

Want to see big gms by nurik kd dbook eric 3pt gordon

My bong will be rdy fingers crossed.

 

[DJ Tabooh]

I think this is a game where Book comes out super aggressive. He’s had a couple of off-shooting nights but I think he locks into this matchup, especially with DA on the other side.

Would be nice to put together a full 48 minutes especially with the Dubs coming in town tomorrow. Leggo Suns

 

[Dr. Jones]

This is the first game that I really want not just a win but a pasting. I really want Nurk to go 18 and 12, because you know Ayton ain’t going to.

We very much need this to be a blowout.

Especially since it is the first game in a back to back.

And if we want to have any chance at the tournament.

If we don't win by 20+ this tourney is probably toast for us. I think we have one more against Memphis to get to 3-1 which gets us 2nd in the group unless the Lakers blow one.

But point differential is key here.

 

[Proximo]

I think we already are out of the Tournament but I still want to paste somebody.

I just can't believe how pathetic Ayton has been so far this year. He is a certified loser officially at this point it seems.

 

[Superbone]

I think we already are out of the Tournament but I still want to paste somebody.

I just can't believe how pathetic Ayton has been so far this year. He is a certified loser officially at this point it seems.

It won't be easy but we have not been mathematically eliminated.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Somebody on the Suns reddit posted a pretty good breakdown of the viable scenarios for the Suns to advance:

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TLR - Suns need to beat the next 2 IST by a significant margin to get the point differential out to have a shot, regardless of what happens.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns will have a tribute video to Deandre Ayton tonight. Talk about class.

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[Mainstreet]

Yuta Watanabe's got a "deep thigh bruise" is described as significant and painful.

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[Mainstreet]

The Suns court for the game tonight.

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[BirdGangThing]

The Suns will have a tribute video to Deandre Ayton tonight. Talk about class.

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idk yall this might get embarrassing

 

[Cheesebeef]

Would anyone be surprised if Ayton was a sudden scratch?

 

[Mainstreet]

idk yall this might get embarrassing

Hopefully not. I'm in full agreement with the player friendly, respectful environment Mat Ishbia is trying to create.

 

[Raindog]

Hopefully not. I'm in full agreement with the player friendly, respectful environment Mat Ishbia is trying to create.

I agree... it's very smart. You want to create an environment where other players from around the league want to come and be a part of the franchise. Unlike the quite unpleasant vibe Sarver had created here.

 

[Phrazbit]

The Blazers have the worst offense in the NBA. Hoping our defense can use this to tune up a bit... stop being trash.

We have a lot of bad defenders on the team but a good system can cover for it, in theory.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree... it's very smart. You want to create an environment where other players from around the league want to come and be a part of the franchise. Unlike the quite unpleasant vibe Sarver had created here.

There were times I wanted Goran Dragic to return as a player after his second time with the Suns but I knew that was unlikely to happen. Former GM Ryan McDonough was not good at this.

It's smart to never burn bridges.