Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:28 am

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Friday, October 20, 2017, 7:00 PM PDT
Talking Stick Resort Arena • Phoenix, AZ

Referees: Scott Foster (#48), Kevin Scott (#28), Jonathan Sterling (#26)

Line: Suns -3

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GAME PREVIEW: LAKERS AT SUNS


by NBA.com

PHOENIX -- High draft picks Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson will begin what could become a beautiful rivalry Friday while hoping to flush the detritus of their pro debuts.

Ball's Los Angeles Lakers and Jackson's Phoenix Suns will meet for the first time in their four-game season series at Talking Stick Arena, and they appear likely to be adversaries for years to come.

Ball was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, a point guard taken by a point guard -- Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, who traded another point guard (D'Angelo Russell) to create space for Ball.

Jackson, a small forward, was the fourth player taken. The Suns are so enamored of him that they did not engage when the Cleveland Cavaliers asked about him as a possible piece in a potential Kyrie Irving trade last summer, according to reports.

"He has that aggressive mindset to take on any challenge. He wants it," Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said of Jackson.

The Suns can only improve from the mess that was their home opener, a 124-76 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the worst loss in franchise history and the worst opening-day loss in NBA history.

"We just got our (butts) kicked from beginning to end," Phoenix guard Devin Booker said.

The Suns shot 31.5 percent from the field and were outrebounded 57-33.

"Embarrassed is more the word," Suns coach Earl Watson said.

Jackson had 11 points, two rebounds and an assist while starting on a front line that included two small forwards -- Jackson and TJ Warren. Jackson made 1 of 2 3-point attempts in 32 minutes.

Ball had three points (on his lone basket, a 3-pointer), nine rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes in his NBA debut Thursday, a 108-92 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was held out of the last four preseasons games because of an ankle injury he sustained Oct. 2 before scrimmaging for the first time again Tuesday.

"He made the right pass eight, nine times," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "We missed layups. We missed open threes. That's not on Zo."

While the Suns made few roster moves in the offseason, the Lakers reshuffled around Ball. They traded Russell, who was the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, among others and added veterans Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers also made sure to maintain enough cap room for next year to be able to afford potential free agents such as LeBron James or Paul George, whose contracts expire after this season.

"We got blown out, so I didn't play too well," said Ball, who also was heckled and hectored by Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, a top defender.

Watson, who also attended UCLA and runs youth teams in Los Angeles, goes back a long way with the Ball family.

"I saw Lonzo first play in the eighth grade," Watson said. "I saw Lonzo run the point guard position and the fastbreak better than anyone I've ever seen at his age. I tried to recruit him to my travel team. It didn't work. (Ball's father) LaVar wanted to coach. We don't have parents coach, so it was non-negotiable."

Of Jackson, Watson said: "We know he's a rebounder. We know he runs the court, multi-talented, very quick. His shot is progressing quicker that we thought it would. We also know in transition, he needs opportunity and experience to read the floor.

"He's going to make some mistakes, but he's always making an aggressive mistake. What I don't want to see happen is for him to start thinking the game too much. That's where he makes most of his turnovers, he overthinks the game."

Lopez scored 20 points against the Clippers and power forward Larry Nance Jr. had 14 while starting ahead of Julius Randle.

Caldwell-Pope will miss his second straight game Friday while sitting out a two-game suspension imposed by the league for being arrested and pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated.

Suns reserve center Alex Len did not play in the opener because of a tender left ankle. He is day-to-day. Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe, who shot 8 of 35 from the field in preseason, made 5 of 18 field-goal attempts and led the team with 15 points against Portland. Booker had 12 points on 6-of-17 shooting.


http://www.nba.com/games/20171020/LALPHX#/preview
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:50 am

Hopefully we get a W tonight. I think Lonzo will play better tonight. People trying to compare Lonzo to Magic Johnson is ridiculous - Byron Scott.
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:54 am

I feel bad for young players today because everyone wants to compare them to Magic, Jordan, or Larry. Unfair. Kobe was the closest thing to Jordan so he proved his worth but most of these guys will never come close. LeBron is a Beast and has held own as well.
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Fri Oct 20, 2017 2:34 pm

3Peatkb24 wrote:I feel bad for young players today because everyone wants to compare them to Magic, Jordan, or Larry. Unfair. Kobe was the closest thing to Jordan so he proved his worth but most of these guys will never come close. LeBron is a Beast and has held own as well.


Fans in my section were both annoyed by the horrible play and we were all perplexed by Luke's rotation decisions and the utter lack of any semblance of an offense. However, unlike the critics who bashed Lonzo Ball's performance, overall we weren't horrified by Lonzo's performance. We also agreed not to be judgmental until about a third of the way into the season and that the kids were obviously uptight and nervous, so we flushed it. I think Lonzo will be special. I do not think it is a good idea for Magic Johnson to put too much pressure on Zo ("face of the franchise"), Ingram (team leader and closer) and Clarkson (6th man of the year). Let them have fun and develop. Luke should know better, but perhaps he is feeling pressure from above, too. Let's play loose tonight! I will record the game and watch it after the Yankees win!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Fri Oct 20, 2017 3:03 pm

KobeMVP888 wrote:
3Peatkb24 wrote:I feel bad for young players today because everyone wants to compare them to Magic, Jordan, or Larry. Unfair. Kobe was the closest thing to Jordan so he proved his worth but most of these guys will never come close. LeBron is a Beast and has held own as well.


Fans in my section were both annoyed by the horrible play and we were all perplexed by Luke's rotation decisions and the utter lack of any semblance of an offense. However, unlike the critics who bashed Lonzo Ball's performance, overall we weren't horrified by Lonzo's performance. We also agreed not to be judgmental until about a third of the way into the season and that the kids were obviously uptight and nervous, so we flushed it. I think Lonzo will be special. I do not think it is a good idea for Magic Johnson to put too much pressure on Zo ("face of the franchise"), Ingram (team leader and closer) and Clarkson (6th man of the year). Let them have fun and develop. Luke should know better, but perhaps he is feeling pressure from above, too. Let's play loose tonight! I will record the game and watch it after the Yankees win!


Oh I agree, I think Lonzo will be a Star, 1 game isn't nothing. He did have 9 Rebounds and had some smooth passes. I just don't like it when people try to compare him to Magic, that is a lot of pressure. People do with that Luck to Peyton as well. I say let these kids be their own selves and develop.
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby lakerevolution » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:09 pm

Over here having dinner with my family to celebrate my son's 20th birthday, sorry for the late check-in . . looks like we're up late vs. the Kleenex Sons!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby lakerevolution » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:28 pm

Had to know we were gonna let it get close. C'mon Lakers!!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby lakerevolution » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:42 pm

Ridiculous. Where's Kobe when you need him?
LAKERS WIN!!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby Lakers4Life » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:44 pm

The refs tried to gift this game to the suns. They “reviewed” that play which basically gave the suns a free time out to set up a play.
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby Lakers4Life » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:44 pm

LAKERS WIN!!!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby Lakers4Life » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:45 pm

lakerevolution wrote:Over here having dinner with my family to celebrate my son's 20th birthday, sorry for the late check-in . . looks like we're up late vs. the Kleenex Sons!



Happy Birthday to Lil Rev!!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby Lakers4Life » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:46 pm

Lonzo Ball messes around and (almost) gets a triple-double!!!
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Fri Oct 20, 2017 11:00 pm

Is it me or was Lonzo Ball the best player on the floor and the biggest difference maker in this game!!! The Suns didn't have a clue what to do with him. He's only going to get better, too. 29-11-9. Holy shit! Ingram bounced back, too, and Nance, Lopez, Brewer, Clarkson and Kuzma were all solid. I thought Randle was going to be the square peg this season. Who knows what will become of him by the trade deadline, but it looks like he's going to have a hard time finding minutes unless there are injuries.
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:47 am

KobeMVP888 wrote:Is it me or was Lonzo Ball the best player on the floor and the biggest difference maker in this game!!! The Suns didn't have a clue what to do with him. He's only going to get better, too. 29-11-9. Holy shit! Ingram bounced back, too, and Nance, Lopez, Brewer, Clarkson and Kuzma were all solid. I thought Randle was going to be the square peg this season. Who knows what will become of him by the trade deadline, but it looks like he's going to have a hard time finding minutes unless there are injuries.


29-11-9 for Lonzo, that is great stuff! Very nice win. I had company over so couldn't Post during the game, glad we were able to hang on.
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Re: Game 2: 10/20/17 Lakers at Suns GAME THREAD

Postby Julius Russell » Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:50 pm

Lonzo was special.
Ingram was focused.

Truly everyone played well
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