Phoenix Suns (0-0) v Portland Trailblazers (0-0)
Tuesday 10/3/2017 7pm
Moda Center, Portland, OR
NBATV/Arizona Sports 98.7FM
2016-17 Season Series – Portland won 3-1
All-Time Series – Phoenix leads 120-99
Last Matchup – March 12, 2017 Portland won 130-117
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to the Sacramento Kings 129-104
Blazers’ Last Game – loss to the Golden State Warriors in game 4 of the First Round 128-103
2016-17 Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.7 (9th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 113.3 (30th of 30)
2016-17 Blazers’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.9 (8th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 108.5 (25th of 30)
Preview
We’re finally here! It’s been quite a while since the last time we had a game preview, but boy oh boy isn’t it great to be back and talking about NBA basketball and actual games on the court!
This offseason has been one of immense intrigue for the Phoenix Suns. For a team that tanked for much of last season, they were tied to a lot of players that seemed to be of the kind that could make a bad team into a competitive one, even in the insanely deep Western Conference. Of course there were the hopes and prayers that the Suns could finally win the lottery and land the number one pick in the draft with the opportunity to either select Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball, but those hopes were dashed when the Suns – who finished with the second worst record in the league last season – dropped back two spots to fourth overall. Fortunately some Ryan McDonough political intrigue with Josh Jackson and the Boston Celtics landed Phoenix the potential top prize in the draft anyway – Josh Jackson – and all is well with the NBA world.
Phoenix Suns
Then of course there were the rumors that the Suns would be meeting with both Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap – which fortunately neither came to fruition – and then the seemingly endless talk that the Suns might land Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Again, most Suns fans signed in relief as he was dealt to the Boston Celtics.
In the end, aside from their three draft picks – Josh Jackson, Davon Reed, and Alec Peters – fliers on Peter Jok, Mike James, and Anthony Bennett, as well as the last minute trade for Troy Daniels to add depth because of the loss of Reed for the majority of the season, the Suns made no impactful moves to add to the roster which, aside from injuries, is otherwise exactly the same as the basic core of last season’s team.
For Portland, the Blazers were on the verge of spending an obscene $40M in luxury taxes this season if they didn’t cut the fat, so cut the fat they did. Adding no one of real value or worth to their roster this offseason aside from Caleb Swanigan and Zach Collins in the draft, the Blazers in turn said goodbye to Allen Crabbe, Festus Ezeli, Andrew Nicholson, and Tim Quarterman. Granted none of those guys are make or break players the way Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic are, but from a depth perspective losing Crabbe and Ezeli in particular is sure to hurt.
The Blazers finished a mild 41-41 in 16-17 but finished the regular season on a 17-6 run flipping a 24-35 record into the .500 finish in only 23 games, while losing their regular season closer that would have allowed them to finish above .500. That fantastic stretch boosted them into the playoffs as the 8th seed, and the inevitable First Round sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.
With the insane re-vamping of the Western Conference it might be very difficult for the Blazers to reach the playoffs once again. With the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Minnesota Timberwolves all finishing behind them in the regular season standings but considered improvements over last season, the Blazers might be out of luck and end their current four consecutive seasons with a playoff appearance streak.
Three Interesting Stats
Phoenix Suns
1. If you read this site last season you know that I mentioned the Suns’ poor defensive points allowed many, many times. It was awful. They finished the season averaging 113.3 points allowed per game, the worst for the franchise in 30 years. The only special point I have with this one is: they can only get better this season, right?
2. In 2016-17 the Suns finished their preseason with a 4-2 record, although they lost their only matchup against the Blazers, 110-115.
3. In that game Devin Booker scored 34 points, which had the stats counted, would have been one off of his rookie year high of 35 set against the Denver Nuggets on March 10. This was, of course, a sign of things to come as Booker would score 30 or more points 14 times during the 16-17 regular season. He even had a streak of 16 games from January 3 through February 4 where he scored 20 or more points in each game averaging 26.6 points per game during that stretch.
Next: Suns 50 for 50: Reviewing the 1968-69 season
Portland Trailblazers
1. If, as I basically predicted above, the Portland Trailblazers miss the playoffs this season, it will be the first time since 2013. However, they have only made the playoffs seven out of the last 14 seasons, getting out of the First Round only twice during that period. In the prior 27 seasons beginning in 1976-77 – their first ever playoff team and the year of their only championship – they missed the playoffs only once, in 1981-82.
2. Unlike the Phoenix Suns who fire head coaches with the change of the weather, Terry Stotts is entering his sixth season as the Blazers’ Head Coach. Portland has had only 11 full-time Head Coaches in their 48 year history – with four interims – one who was eventually hired full-time – Rick Adelman. The Suns have had 10 full-time Head Coaches since 1992-93 alone – with eight interms – seven of whom went on to take the position full-time.
3. Last season the Blazers led the league in minutes played at 19,930 throughout the regular season. This included nine overtime games, including one double overtime game. The Suns played in three overtime games in the season’s first six games, and finished with six total.