Who: Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs
When: 7:30 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Suns+, ESPN 2
Listen: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM, SiriusXM
Two preseason video games down. Three to go. Tonight will be the home (preseason) opener for the Suns after they return from their journey(s) to Detroit and Chicago.
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Phoenix dropped their first 2 preseason video games, but that’s not what’s important about the preseason. Jordan Ott is attempting to determine out which mixtures work best and who he can trust.
It stays to be seen what rotations will look like on both sides for this one, but if Wemby fits up, it could be a sport where we see a lineup change with Khaman getting the begin to deal with the measurement. Miles Bridges seems to be just effective, but he may not go well with up due to an ankle damage in Chicago. Plenty to monitor tonight!
Tale of the Tape
All of the statistics listed below are from last season.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
We shall see if Miles Bridges fits up. It would not be shocking to see Phoenix relaxation him as a precaution, with it being the preseason and all.
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Mark Williams — OUT (Torn Left Labrum)
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Miles Bridges — DTD (Ankle)
Spurs
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Tobias Harris — DTD (Calf)
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Maliq Brown — DTD (back tightness)
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Jayden Quaintance (knee surgical procedure rehab)
What to Watch For
There are quite a few place battles all through the roster; that’s where a lot of focus will be. Between Oso and Maluach for the beginning middle job, and which of the trio of Dunn, Fleming, or Peat cracks the rotation for that tenth spot, with the high 9 seemingly locked in, barring damage.
Whoever begins in Bridges’ place (if he misses the sport) will tip Ott’s hand to who they really feel best about. Or possibly it’s just continued experimentation of teams and mixtures collectively. Who knows!
Devin Booker’s capturing woes are a storyline as effectively. I’m not studying into a tough capturing evening in a highway preseason sport in October, but you know how that discourse goes. Coach Ott instilled religion in him, saying, “If he sees the rim, let it go.”
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How will they guard Wemby? How will they deal with the trio of guards that begin? It could even be a sport where we see Jordan Goodwin get a beginning nod due to the lineup construct of the Spurs, with Wemby being surrounded by shooters and fast combo guards.
Key to a Suns Win
Winning in the preseason is subjective.
It’s a win if the younger guys show progress. It’s a win if everyone leaves the sport healthy. It’s a win if the starters click on again early on. It’s a win if the second and third items show a little more unity.
The remaining rating does not matter to me, but the course of of how we got there does. We only have two more of these issues after this one, so we could see more of a sense of urgency from the guys battling for spots, minutes, and many others.
Prediction
My prediction? There will be 48 minutes of motion (unless we’re tied). Basketball will be performed. And people will overreact to whatever occurs. Thus is the life of preseason basketball in the affiliation.
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I’ll repeat what Voita said in his first prediction. The preseason is not about wins and losses. It’s about the development that happens along the method.
Let’s get our first win of the preseason, of us. How about in a thriller on a Jamaree Bouyea buzzer-beater?
Suns 117, Spurs 116
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