For Phoenix Suns Fans...

[Durbansandshark]

Great and surprising win out on the road for the Phoenix Suns in their first ever visit to the brand, spanking new Chase Center in San Francisco! Didn't expect them to defeat, actually smash, the NBA juggernaut. On Devin Booker's 23rd birthday, the birthday boy treated himself to a sublime 31-point explosion including 6 of 10 threes along with 5 assists for the dominant 121-110 win, and he's already in his fifth NBA season. The Suns just exploded on the Warriors offensively in the first half, rocking out to a 50-19 first half lead that was carried by a 34-4 first quarter run. Everybody on Phoenix was striping it! Booker's legend will only grow henceforth:
https://www.nba.com/suns/features/de...y-23-years-old
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...rs/4106772002/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...state-warriors

But that's not what is constantly talked about regarding this game. Booker's performance is getting lost save for Suns fans. It's because of the recent championship pedigree from the Golden St. Warriors. The basketball gods seemingly are shaming the Warriors or being jealous of them, so they're punishing the Dubs. Kevin Durant ruptures his Achilles in Toronto during the NBA Finals and took his talents to Brooklyn as a free agent. Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 but manages to make his free throws before being done--and likely not appear for this season. Andre Iguodala traded and Shaun Livingston retired. Kevon Looney out. Now Stephen Curry broke his left wrist and hand when centre Aron Baynes, splitting the defender, accidentally fell on his hand and wrist on from behind after Curry flipped over on him in a play with Curry driving to the basket. Out for Now GSW becomes even smaller and were playing listless last night with their most important player now hurt--and their playoff hopes now vanquishing. With no Klay and Kevin around, Steph got banged around more physically. It'll be tough to win without Steph. ESPN's Jay Williams and a growing number of NBA pundits suggest Golden St. should shut down their playoff aspirations this season and focus instead on developing their younger and lesser-known players, like calling up their G-League Santa Cruz players, and newcomers like D'Angelo Russell to give them playing experience, minutes, and more acclimation to the Warriors system. And just refocus and regroup for next season better than ever. Just tank. Get a high lottery draft pick too like perhaps a small forward. Sad to see this happen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wcNX173p64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_mgHSbv11c (has the Curry injury from 6:27-6:56)
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401160707

Felt good for at least the first weekend of the NBA regular season to see the Phoenix Suns momentarily atop of the Pacific Division standings ahead of the Clippers, Golden St., and especially the Now Deservedly Crumbing Evil Lakers Empire at 2-1 with wins on Sacramento and Los Angeles' REAL and only NBA team (we'll get to that later). We'll take our happiness wherever and whenever we can find them. But they are right now definitely playing like one of the best Western Conference teams. Our three teams that we beat got blasted by Phoenix with a combined 48 points, a tell-tale sign of tremendous progress. Devin The Birthday Boy happily leads the way with little changes to his game. Now with seemingly savvy arrivals of more mature, bigger, experienced, and more defensive position players like Aron Baynes, Dario Saric, and Frank Kaminsky who can set screens for Book to get open. Defensive performances help them move into the 8th spot in the NBA being more locked in and committed. Several players are having career years right now. Now Phoenix is dishing it on the upper echelon NBA teams and will continue to do so. Gotta remind ourselves we're only into five games though:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...not-going-away

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix visits Memphis and takes care of the rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night in another well-played game 114-105. Yet the Grizzlies teased a second half comeback. Aron Baynes has now scored 20 games in 2+ consecutive games the first time in his pro career with his 20 in Memphis and raining threes with 4 assists and 1 steal. Kelly Oubre heated up in the second half after only 2 points at halftime. And Devin Booker? Got another big night with 21 points Javon Carter has become a steal in the Sun acquisitions through this trade as a cap-space clearing deal in his first game against the Grizz. His play so far this season "has reshaped the narrative of the trade" with his defense and shooting. Downplayed the revenge aspect:
https://www.nba.com/suns/postgame/ba...over-grizzlies
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...es/4120616002/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15Jc7aFXIwU
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...ord-to-4-2-nba

Back home tonight under a key 6-game home stand with another of the sterner tests so far coming up having already dispatched the Los Angeles Clippers in their third game with the Philadelphia 76ERS present in the Valley of the Sun. Minus Joel Embiid. What could've been billed as a Ayton-Embiid big man duel will not happen until both are in Philly on March 27 as both are suspended right now. But for different reasons: Embiid for fighting against Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Toews in Philadelphia serving the second half of the 2-game suspension. Ayton is gone for 25 games for drug suspension (we'll get to that next post). Nonetheless, Philadelphia is still expected to defeat the Suns like when Ben Simmons plays big whenever Embiid is not around. This could be the game tonight the Suns could steal from the 76ERS.
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...s-booker-oubre

Yes, I'm starting to believe in them again. Now they're 4-2 and third in the Pacific Division behind the two LA teams--although only one of them is truly deserving of this distinction to be above us. That team NEVER WEARS PURPLE! Phoenix's +55 win margin is second in the entire NBA and off their best start since Steve Nash returned in 2004 after being blown off the court the past two years. Spending more time in double digits than trailing in double digits. Just enjoy the now because our fandom can still come crumbling down soon:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...r-baynes-oubre

[Durbansandshark]

5-2 now for Phoenix! The surprising Suns defeated the last remaining undefeated NBA team in Philadelphia without Joel Embiid last night with that 114-109 home win at home. Passed another strong test on a 3-game winning streak. Stole this one! Rubio was tremendous with 21 points and 10 points. Franchise guy Devin Booker dropped 40 points and shot from every corner of the basketball court. Getting serenaded with MVP chants as he not just became the eighth-youngest player in NBA history to reach 6,000 with 6003 but takes sole possession of second place in the Phoenix Suns' alltime franchise player points total. Aron Baynes finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He was 3 of 5 from 3-point range and also effective defensively against fellow Aussie Ben Simmons, rendering him nearly useless at just 6 points in keeping him out of transition.

Last season, it took the Suns up to December 13 to get its 5th win of the regular season. Team still impresses on defense, checking on Philly's iso and halfcourt help defense. Only downer was the third period fouling and reviewing and arguing on fouls:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...rs/4162344002/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...ia-76ers-world
https://www.tsn.ca/devin-booker-scor...loss-1.1392739
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW64OM5NBFQ

[Durbansandshark]

5-2 Phoenix, who should be tops in the Pacific right now, tonight faces the Miami Heat, a team very similar to Phoenix in several ways in that the Heat are also young playing with the same style of play--moving the ball, share the possessions, play defense, display versatility, and can shoot well. They too missed the NBA postseason last time but were much closer to it than Phoenix ever was (and for the moment both share the same 5-2 record):
https://arizonasports.com/story/2147...ng-young-star/

[Durbansandshark]

Oh well. Miami wins 124-109. Aron Baynes continues to play well in Ayton's suspension with 24 points. But when I was talking about the value of Phoenix's vets on a young team like Rubio, Kaminsky, and Baynes. They are newcomers onto the Suns as opposed to Miami having Goran Dragic, Udonis Haslem, Kelly Olynyk, and Dion Waiters who are mainstays on the the Heat for several years (not counting free agent Jimmy Butler, who just joined the team). They help provide an even greater mix of veterans with the rising youth. Booker got double-teamed, a sign of what will surely come for him as the season rolls along. And it was former Phoenix Suns player Goran Dragic who plays so well whenever he returns to Phoenix like last night. He's a sign of what we Suns fans still could've have had he stayed.

Just another lesson for the largely young Suns to learn from.

[Durbansandshark]

Another brilliant performance from Phoenix to almost close up their home stand at Talking Stick against Brooklyn. Every Suns starter finished in double figures in scoring! They are so much fun to watch with their convincing 6th win of the season--135-105 win.

Now they face our vicious oppressors in our house for the first time this season with some of those wrongful worshippers working to fill it but we will win against them! We must never allow them to outnumber us! Talking Stick is our damn house! Everything is energized. I quote Dave King from Bright Side of the Sun: "Don’t let the [worshippers of evil] take over Talking Stick Resort Arena like they usually do with their yellow jerseys all over the arena. And don’t let [those misguided worshippers] cheer louder for the [Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire] than Suns fans cheer for the Suns. This is PHOENIX! Make it your town. Your crowd." Must tell you this: at six of those NBA titles the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire got actually belongs to Phoenix! They should be hanging above the Talking Stick rafters in the Valley like, say, 2010's. This Suns incarnation this season is more than up for the challenge tonight for this sternest test yet
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...r-rubio-baynes
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...angeles-lakers
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...hoenix-buzzsaw
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...rs/2563951001/

Monty, you may not think that way as far as allowing options. But surely a lot of Suns fans--myself included--are damn glad it turned out this way, even with the dysfunctions that were going on and still reeling during the offseason surrounding the Suns. The NDCELE IS EVIL SCUM and already displays dysfunction of its own right now and shouldn't be "surprised" he chose a far better team than them!
https://arizonasports.com/story/2153...his-offseason/

[Durbansandshark]

TNT comes to bless the surprisingly good Phoenix Suns with a national TV game against New Orleans at home. But they have been sunk a bit now at 7-6 when they, if not the Clippers, should be atop the Pacific Division with afew more wins--we'll turn to the NDCELE next time. Not happy about it! Problem is, they're going to have to win without Aron Baynes (right hip flexor strain--painful), who, like Phoenix as a team, pleasantly surprised everyone with his play starting in DeAndre Ayton's suspension. So the Baynes-less Suns are thinner at center and interior defense until 13 more games to go for Ayton's return.

One of the last things we Suns don't want now is seeing them revert to the horrific losing from the last several years with earlier on here turning out into a tease. Not just him but Rubio, Frank The Tank, Cam, and Ty Jerome also pulling up lame. With no C or PG, things don't end well:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...elicans-on-tnt
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...st-test-awaits
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2019/11/...-gaurd-center/

[Durbansandshark]

And it didn't end well last night with a win:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...st/4267885002/

[Durbansandshark]

Back to .500 again at 8-8 with the Minnesota Timberwolves win in Minneapolis and then another loss to the Denver Nuggets, playing again against them without the suspended Ayton. Paul Millsap scored 23 points and Jamal Murray and Will Barton had 22 apiece in the Denver Nuggets' 116-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday nigh. Denver wins its 5th straight. More will come like links at this very post after the new week or on Saturday:
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401160880

[Durbansandshark]

The Phoenix Suns would be a great and definitely the best team for Kevin Love to join now that Cleveland admits to planning to ship him off. He should've been with them a few years ago! Moves Dario Saric, while playing admirably this season, to the bench. He'd certainly help out greatly with the frontcourt depth for his NBA championship pedigree as someone young enough to both produce and mentor Ayton and even Baynes. "His screen-setting and pick-and-pop prowess would mesh wonderfully with Booker, his floor-spacing would fit well next to the pick-and-rolling Deandre Ayton (due back from suspensions soon) and his scoring would give Phoenix a legitimate No. 2 option to get buckets"--and the Suns don't have to give up a lot for him! Just Tyler Johnson and some additional cash. Think about that Larry Nance-Kevin Johnson, Mark West 1988 trade in how that mutually worked for both teams:
https://hoopshype.com/2019/12/07/kev...ets-suns-jazz/

Phoenix visits Houston at the Toyota Center tonight in completing their 4-game road trip after the Rockets beat Toronto Thursday night to give the defending champs its second consecutive home loss of the season at the Scotiabank Arena. Expect a track meet in H-Town with former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. And still without not just the suspended Ayton but also Baynes with his strained right calf:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...-and-westbrook

[Durbansandshark]

Well, that's okay in not making trades for him. Our young frontcourt should really be up and running again well into DeAndre Ayton's return from his 25-game suspension on December 17 and be on par with the Los Angeles Clippers and that wrong and evil other one. This teams needs some young defenders. Getting Love would help at least in the short term though, IMO. Many in a BSOTS pool say they don't Kevin Love with them at 80%. James Jones agrees with them:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...love-no-trades

All that major hype and promotion Kawhi Leonard's reunion with the NBA champions Toronto Raptors in Toronto today. Phoenix meets Memphis, Toronto's former Canadian expansionists from Vancouver, at home later tonight after impressing against Minnesota at home. Should be an easy beat now that Phoenix is more at fuller strength with the likes of Aaron Baynes and Ricky Rubio back. Gotta keep the momentum going to return to .500 with a new statement to put some distance from Sacramento since Memphis can't stop the Suns defensively with their offense. It's just disappointing Frank Kaminsky can't finish his shot and find a consistent role he can thrive under:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...ntum-grizzlies
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2019/12/...eak-grizzlies/

Really does offer an indictment about the recent Suns dysfunction during this decade when in the Fansided 250, two WNBA teams (Washington Mystics and Las Vegas Aces) make the cut instead of the Phoenix Suns and three other NBA teams. Furthermore, as this piece explains, the Phoenix Suns have existed far long enough in their 52 years to connect ties with the locals, natives and transplants alike, in a heavily transplant city unlike their more recent top pro sports brethren the Cardinals, Coyotes, and Diamondbacks. None of them still haven't got enough time to firmly establish themselves even after 30 years when those three arrived to loyally grow up with them:
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2019/12/...sided-ranking/

[Durbansandshark]

Was wrong. Expected another Suns W to return to .500, but Memphis' Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had other ideas in store last night in avenging their home loss to Phoenix. Not a good loss and "inexcusable", a game Ricky Rubio calls "the worst loss of the season" (I call losing to the NDCELE the worst loss of the season). Morant's dunk at 9:05 was sick though! Furthermore, Memphis is among NBA leaders in paint points and Phoenix couldn't keep them off there against the Grizz's tall, physical, and athletic frontcourt talent with their 50 (not to mention their 32 bench points), all lessons in improvement there for Phoenix to adhere to after Ayton returns with its frontcourt. Couldn't maintain a lead. Aron Baynes is not a strong rim protector or a shot blocker, especially true when going against his Memphis counterparts. Frank Kaminsky scored a season-high 24 for the Suns while Ricky Rubio added 22 and eight assists. Devin Booker managed only 15 points on 17 shot attempts (he only made six). So now Phoenix falls to 11-13:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...zzlies-115-109
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...t-happen-again
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2019/12/...his-grizzlies/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ss/4405630002/
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401161005
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLr2IQti61g

Onwards to Mexico City for a Saturday night game at the Mexico City Arena with the San Antonio Spurs.

Since he missed a lot of games due to the 25-game suspension, it's only wise as a second-year player that Ayton gets eased back into the starting lineup and develop the chemistry with the starters. We know he's itching to play. Monty Williams says "about 10 games" back in are needed to gauge how Ayton meshes to assess how they truly are as a team and adjust to Suns team concepts. Can potentially pair up with Baynes since both can shoot if Saric and Bridges are at the 3-5:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...on/2628366001/

Phoenix, yes, is definitely going to be a playoff team in the Western Conference this season and looks ready. Soon as DeAndre Ayton returns and gets his sea legs back. But we must admit the Suns have some good fortune it's using to its advantage with Golden St. plummeting hard in their new Chase Center with key injuries and departures. Minnesota, Portland, and Sacramento are disappointments. Only thing it would make things better for Phoenix right now if they were atop the Pacific Division and not the NDCELE (although I would accept the Clippers)!:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...fs/4382633002/

Frank Kaminsky definitely needed this game to prove he belongs following a slow start. He's drawn the ire of Suns fans on social media but he's earned this spectacular week he has. He kept them afloat versus Memphis with his 24 points in his 9-for-12 shooting. He's only thrust into the starting lineup for 11 games because of all those injuries and Ayton's suspension despite not really starting material with all those unrealistic expectations. Defensively he's terrible and is no rim protector and is ill-equipped to handle bigger responsibilities aimed at him to counter being a streaky shooter. After Ayton gets back, it's out of Frank's hands in his fate:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...rom-slow-start

[Durbansandshark]

So our beloved Phoenix Suns are in Mexico City right now getting their international flair on ready to take on the San Antonio Spurs at the 22,300-seat Mexico City Arena. This is the Suns' third regular season Mexico City trip and fourth overall. The two teams previously played together in the Mexican capital before back on January 17, 2017 with the Suns edging San Antonio 108-105 during their awful season. This time it's during the festive Navidad season, which can get stretched out more so onto January than in the US and Canada. And it's different and interesting this year even with the preceding Detroit Pistons-Dallas Mavericks game because Mexico City is now more fully part of the NBA because of its G-League expansion into Mexico City in taking a team from its domestic LBNP next season.

For all its recent struggles, the Phoenix Suns, who will aptly sport their Los Suns Noche City Edition uniforms tonight, are very popular in Mexico given that Phoenix and the border state of Arizona have lots of Mexicans and other people from Spanish-speaking nations. Let's not forget that Devin Booker has a following here partly because his mother is Mexican and Puerto Rican. But the Suns upped its Spanish quotient now that 2019 FIBA WBC MVP Ricky Rubio is on the team and from Barcelona, Spain. So are the Spurs (and the Mavs) for similar reasons and a known and strong international rep over the years but with no Spanish-speaking players in SA but Dallas has Luka, who lived in Spain as a teen. But both seemingly are heading in opposite directions from recent years past. Mexico City fans know their NBA stuff and will turn up more so in their arenas than some of the NBA's own team. Winning should help the Suns' Latinx profile and booming market more, but they can always do more to tap into the Latin market:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...et/4360420002/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ty/4416145002/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ty/4412810002/

While on the subject of Booker, his appearance tonight in Mexico City is in doubt due to a "day-to-day" forearm contusion. Bothering him all week, which could explain his performance versus Memphis. As of right now, Phoenix is holding onto the #8 seed in the Western playoffs picture. Suns should win this with the Spurs sputtering:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...earm-contusion
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2019/12/...ity-questions/

[Durbansandshark]

If DeAndre Ayton couldn't come back soon enough. Phoenix loses in Mexico City to San Antonio and then to Portland. Booker couldn't play due to a forearm contussion. Loss those two closely and frustatingly. Here's the Mexico City highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9z4n43k8nY

He's actually set to return tonight in Los Angeles against LA's only and real NBA team the Clippers. Suns really need his energy with Book out:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...ns-shot-energy

[Durbansandshark]

Ayton comes back from his 25-game suspension to play only his second game of the season and puts up 18 points as a starter, his first road game. But Los Angeles' real, true NBA team, and my pick for the NBA title, overpowers the Phoenix Suns 120-99 after they come back from Mexico City. Paul George scored 24 points, Kawhi Leonard added 20 and the Los Angeles Clippers returned home after two weeks away. All the Clippers need is JaMychael Green to complete themselves. Phoenix now loses 4 straight to 11-16, and the Sacramento Kings are now above them in the Pacific standings at 12-15:
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401161048

How DeAndre Ayton coped in his relationship with the team while under the suspension:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...lesson-learned

[Durbansandshark]

This is how the Phoenix Suns should be playing consistently all season long in being in the playoff chase!
https://www.tsn.ca/devin-booker-kell...zers-1.1420486

[Durbansandshark]

You let that emissary of evil LeBron James, the former king, go off on an undeserved triple double with Anthony Davis further oppress you and let the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire win to start the new year and decade in that House of Evil in continuing their oppression on the Suns. Your first New Year's Day game since 1983. Like dropping the New Year's Ball. NO EXCUSES!!! I don't care if you came back from a 36-point deficit to come within seven in the fourth quarter with Devin Booker scoring a game-high 32 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. adding 26. You're supposed to DEFEAT EVIL "with purpose, focus and energy"! You should take this one personally when you come home!
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ss/2793145001/
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401161149
https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/...ers-beat-suns/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...oenix-suns-run
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...es-lakers-26-7
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/01/...new-years-day/

Starting point guard Ricky Rubio feels he has a hip injury that he suffered in the fourth quarter that would've completed the rally and is unsure he'll play against the New York Knicks Friday night:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...-status-knicks

Phoenix got its eye on Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari now and more as a target than Kevin Love. Maybe send a first-rounder with Tyler Johnson. Danilo would be an upgrade over Dario Saric, better as a quality backup, and better from a basketball standpoint from Johnson. Same age as Love like a scoring option and does many of the same things he does as a stretch four:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...er/2792074001/

But Adam Stratten from Valley of the Suns says Phoenix should not pursue Gallinari believing that the Suns would have to sign his expiring contract at the expense of a first round selection when the Suns presently aren't quite within striking distance of a playoff spot:
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/01/...ilo-gallinari/

Maybe see a Kentucky-Phoenix Suns reunion Karl-Anthony Towns with Devin Booker? The two are linked in more ways than one than just Big Blue Nation and Nike. Phoenix does have a strong background and history with Kentucky players on its rosters like in recent years with Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Rex Chapman, Tony Delk, Archie Goodwin, Kyle Macy, Brandon Knight, Walter McCarthy, Tyler Ulis, and Rick Robey. Word is, KAT is increasingly unhappy in the Twin Cities, and the Suns could use an elite center to counter what the NDCELE:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ns/2783628001/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...s-trade-rumors

[Durbansandshark]

Trae Young goes on one of those hot streaks with Kevin Heurter when Young scores 21 points in the fourth quarter on the Suns and pulled away late to beat the Phoenix Suns 123-110 on Tuesday night in Atlanta's State Farm Arena. Thus frustratingly lose to the worst team in the NBA, a place where Phoenix's oppressors from LA should always be at instead of ATL. A really bad loss. Ricky Rubio wasn't in Atlanta due to the impending birth of his child but likely couldn't guard the entertaining Young. Baynes has been cold in his shooting lately. Kelly Oubre Jr. suffered a concussion from this. Still should've won:
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401161240
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/01/...orst-team-nba/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...s-hawks-booker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNfGT9zFnIY

Frank Kaminsky still sidelined indefinitely with his right patella stress fracture (a broken knee cap). We don't know when he'll return, and his absence damages Phoenix in terms of frontcourt depth. Likely 6-8 weeks:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story?id=28...ly-knee-injury
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/01/...-phoenix-suns/

Another young NBA veteran player is being looked at by Phoenix for big-name trade interest this season along with Kevin Love and Danilo Galinari: Germany's Denis Schroder from the Oklahoma City Thunder and use him as a backup point guard. Could require letting go Dario Saric and Cheick Diallo (or any other minimum salary cap player). And a serious change in how they want to play with Dennis being a shoot-first guard. Not to mention demanding a starter's salary:
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/01/...nnis-schroder/

Phoenix Suns currently playing in New York against the Knicks right now at MSG in a game they really need to regain some momentum in this defining stretch after that embarrassing Atlanta Hawks defeat:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...ith-knicks-nba

[Durbansandshark]

New York will come later, likely on this post, come Tuesday. But I gotta alert to you about the weird but stellar performances the Phoenix Suns starters all had in their huge shock win in Boston. This or either the Toronto at Minnesota game should've been aired on ABC Saturday night. They almost coughed this up in the two since both last meet. Yet the young vets are mentoring their young Suns teammates like even the even-headed Devin Booker on how to win games. They are maturing. Was the site of Devin's legendary 70-point performance. But he scores 39 this time:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...cs/4514063002/
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/01/...oston-celtics/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...er-ayton-bayne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWjtSzQareU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNq7qwkynw

[Durbansandshark]

Another delay on the games including the great Phoenix Suns blowout on Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and the Dallas Mavericks in the Big D but...

Devin Booker wasn't selected once again as a reserve to go the All-Star Game in Chicago. He may still as an injury replacement but unlikely. He finished 6th among Western Conference guards. The NBA on TNT made the official announcement before its doubleheader coverage and Charles Barkley, along with Shaquille O'Neal, interestingly both said Memphis rookie Ja Morant, not Devin Booker, was the biggest snub in the West. Sure he's exciting and turning Memphis around but Book's been carrying the Suns on his back for several years:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...er/2855136001/

[Durbansandshark]

Devin Booker is finally going to be an NBA All-Star in Chicago after all!!! Oh joy! Book becomes the first Phoenix Sun since Steve Nash in 2012 in Orlando to play in it. The basketball gods finally blessed him to play with this much-deserved hono(u)r! Looked for a serious while the dark clouds continue to hover us in the Phoenix Suns world. If Phoenix finished with a much better record--above .500 and even better finishing first in the Pacific instead of the NDCELE--he'd be in already.

Unfortunately, this admission comes at Portland's Damian Lillard's expense last night because of a pulled groin in Memphis. To be fair, Dame Dolla actually recommended Devin Booker postgame as a replacement for not just the NBA All-Star Game but also for the Mountain Dew 3-Point All-Star Contest on NBA All-Star Saturday. This was overdue for Devin. He was already planning to head for "an off going of the grid vacation" with his name not being selected. A needed morale boost for him and the Suns and its fans. Booker is the first Suns' NBA All-Star injury replacement in franchise history and will play for Team LeBron.

I mean, if Atlanta's Trae Young could be one from a team that's faring even worse than Phoenix in his second NBA year, why couldn't Devin from Phoenix? A team that can and should get into the playoffs after the break.

Chicago didn't have a Phoenix Suns player at the All-Star Game last time it was played there in 1988. The team was bad as it was rebuilding from that drug scandal at the time, although it did had Craig Hodges in the 3-Point Shootout. Did have two in the previous one before that in 1973 with the late Connie Hawkins and Charlie Scott, also playing for the West as always for the Suns:
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2020/02/...oker-all-star/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...me/4748886002/
https://arizonasports.com/story/2261...e-distraction/
https://arizonasports.com/story/2261...all-star-game/
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...rst-since-2012

DeAndre Ayton was previously selected to play in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge Friday night at the Chicago United Center and later slated to join him on the World Team playing for The Bahamas. Because of Ayton's bothering left knee soreness causing to miss the last two Suns games, he had to pull out and will be replaced by New Orleans forward Nicola Milli from Italy has replaced. This makes Booker the only Phoenix Suns All-Star Weekend representative:
https://arizonasports.com/story/2261...ng-stars-game/
https://arizonasports.com/story/2247...ng-stars-game/
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/02/...ficial-release

[Durbansandshark]

22-33 at the NBA All-Star Break. Actually coming out of it. Third in the Pacific Division. Ideally, they should be ahead of the NDCELE right now with the playoffs comeback firmly in sight. 27 games to go to start the second half. It's possible to get seriously back into contention. But the Phoenix Suns must fight like hell against Memphis (who surprisingly "hit the gas pedal hard to create distance in the race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference), New Orleans, and injury-riddled Portland and overcome them all. These Suns want to win now--and must have a way above .500 record to do this at a time when fans seem to neglect playoff hopes. Phoenix thumped the Warriors, who certainly will be back next season, and All-Star Devin Booker certainly isn't raising the white flag. No one is. Monty Williams will have them experiment more later on. DeAndre Ayton is playing 40 minutes plus in 4 of his last 8 Suns games. The youngsters are getting better and have a far better record than the last two seasons at this stage. So there's progress.

Second half starts tomorrow. Toronto awaits as NBA defending champs at the Scotiabank Arena. In Toronto. My second favo(u)rite NBA team. Or first depending on my mood at the time. Expect Ayton, Aaron Baynes, and Dario Saric to return the lineup then with maybe Tariq Owens getting some court burn. But the Toronto Raptors are too tough at home in Ontario, Canada and would like to kickstart another winning streak and take it out on Phoenix:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...n-phoenix-suns

Can they remain healthy on the nearly insurmountable playoff push during the major turnaround? That can help them steal some games they're seen they shouldn't win. Predicting the rest of the way:
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...-post-all-star

More to come in a matter of a few days.

[Durbansandshark]

Yes! The Phoenix Suns will see some postseason action of sorts for the first time in a decade thanks to being within 6 games from the #8 seed in the West when they play at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando! Anything can happen given this year. Will pose some challenges but can be up for it with everybody in the Suns healthy. More later...

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix Suns remaining regular season/postseason schedule in Orlando, starting with Washington on July 31 and later with Dallas, LA Clippers, Indiana, Miami, Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City. Will be tough but it can be accomplished:
https://www.lineups.com/nba/schedule/phoenix-suns

[Durbansandshark]

NAZ is no more with the Phoenix Suns. The Northern Arizona Suns got sold out of Prescott Valley in July after 3 years to the Detroit Pistons by its parent club that actually started out back in the ABA nearly 20 years ago as the Long Beach Jam when it had Dennis Rodman before joining the NBDL having since moved as the Bakersfield Jam. Its remaining seven games of the season with Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, the Evil Laker Empire NBDL Chapter, Stockton, Santa Cruz, and Memphis were all cancelled as NAZ was in the midst of a 14-game losing streak. The NAZ Suns last franchise win was January 23 beating the Agua Caliente Clippers 117-88 on the road--its 8th for the season. Detroit, craving for a team of its own with all due respect to the Grand Rapids Drive, renamed them this past weekend as the Motor City Cruise for 2021-22 with Wayne St.'s new gym ready to welcome them:
https://www.dcourier.com/news/2020/j...me-phoenix-ar/
https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/nba...uns-basketball
https://arizonasports.com/story/2334...?show=comments
https://www.dcourier.com/news/2020/j...fter-2020-21-/

Now Prescott Valley fans are wondering aloud why would PHX would cut loose on its G-League investment there in the community after three years. Sure they were largely awful but there's nothing that a turnaround and consistent winning could fix:
https://www.dcourier.com/news/2020/j...-leaving-comm/

Former Suns GM Ryan McDounogh questions this move via Twitter:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...am/5547696002/