Phoenix Suns post game grades: Few positives against Portland Trail Blazers
The Phoenix Suns were beyond disappointing in their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers and the player’s post game grades reflect it.
In a night that was suppose to be full of excitement for the Phoenix Suns, celebrating a historic 50th season, soon became a night of historic dread. The loss to the Portland Trail Blazers was the worst in franchise history and as someone who watched the game, it was painful. There were very few positives from this game, but grading the players performance will help ease the pain the Suns fans are feelings.
Grade: A
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Not many players get an A for obvious reason, but there are two that performed very well in the losing effort. Fourth overall pick Josh Jackson did work in his first night on an NBA court. He ended the night with 11 points, two rebounds and one assist while shooting 40 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the 3-point line. Now this is a modest stat line, but he played hard and provided the only real highlight for the Phoenix Suns in the game. Hopefully, the rookie can build on the season opener.
The other player that gets an A for his play is fellow rookie Mike James. In 11 minutes of play, James had 12 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal while shooting 5-10 points from the floor and 2-3 points from behind the arc. James played at the end of game when the game was well out of hand and the Blazers had their reserves in the contest. Even considering all that, James played hard and led the team like a true professional.
Grade: B
Devin Booker may not have had a big impact on offense that fans are accustomed too, but with two steals and a block on the defensive end, he more than made up for it. If he can keep up defensive stats like this for the season, then Booker would have fulfilled the bold prediction I had made about him prior to the start of the season. The 12 points, while converting 6-17 from the floor, is more than disappointing and that is why he did not get an A for the game.
As Booker’s backup, Troy Daniels came in and did exactly what the Suns needed him to do. He made 50 percent of his 3-point shots and had six points. If Daniels provides anything more than that, fans should consider is a plus. Normally a performance like this would get a C, but because of the poor overall play of the team, his average performance gets an above average grade.
Grade: C
Dragan Bender only gets this average grade based on his terrible offense, because he had a solid game defensively. Bender ended the contest with two points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block while making none of his five shots from the field, although he converted both of his free throw attempts.
Alec Peters came in and did what the Suns had hoped he would do when they drafted him. He stretched the floor going 1-2 from the 3-point line. He also grabbed three rebounds and blocked one shot. Yet because this was against the bench unit of the Blazers, one would hope that Peters could have shown off his skills set more.
Grade: D
At times Eric Bledsoe appeared to be disinterested in playing team ball and that, along with a mediocre game for his standards, is why he get such a low grade. On the night Bledsoe shot 5-18 from the field while stuffing the stat book with 15 points, two assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block, it made little difference in the end result. The Suns needed to pass the ball more in general in the loss, but that starts with Bledsoe and he didn’t deliver in the ball movement area of the game.
It might be time to say it, Father Time has finally caught up with Tyson Chandler. Chandler looked tired before the end of the first quarter. Maybe it has to do with the shortened training camp, maybe not. As the season moves along, the answer will become more clear. Chandler should be able to produce more than four points, three rebounds, one steal and one block in 23 minutes of play. Hopefully, this is just a hiccup and Chandler can produce more in the future.
T.J. Warren got the surprise start, but did not capitalize on the opportunity. He squandered it by producing eight points, four rebounds and one block while shooting just 3-11 from the floor. Maybe it was the season opening nerves or maybe playing the power forward position, but Warren did not do well. Maybe a move to the bench could help the young forward in the future.
Grade: F
Tyler Ulis, Derrick Jones Jr. and Marquese Chriss combined shooting was 1-9 from the field. Both Ulis and Chriss looked like they were rookies playing in their first game. The Suns and their fans were expecting more these second year players. For all the hype around Jones during the preseason, he should have been able to show off some of his skills against the Blazers’s bench unit. If these players continue this trend, fans shouldn’t be surprised if this group of second year players lose time on the court.
Next: Where should the Suns be “Power-Ranked”?
The Phoenix Suns and their fans shouldn’t dwell on this game. With the threat of the Los Angeles Lakers looming, the Suns need to refocus themselves for their next opponent quickly if they want to avoid a disaster like opening night.