I asked Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark about becoming the fastest
#WNBA
rookie to reach 300-plus points, 100-plus assists and 100-plus rebounds and Christie Sides’ goal for her to take at least 15 shots per game:
On the stat record: “Great, I guess. I don’t know.”
On taking
.
#Suns
coach Frank Vogel on Yuta Watanabe's performance today. Watanabe had 10 points, made two threes and had two steals along with five rebounds in a team-high 30 minutes.
"He was great. Gave us a good lift in overtime. The first half, he really played better defensively than
Devin Booker had a great answer about if he’s arrived. Said he’s been here, “since ‘96.”
Let’s face it: He set an NBA record for most points in his first playoff run. He had back-to-back 40-point games in the Finals. He became the first player since Michael Jordan to record 295
Devin Booker at age 26:
— 1 NBA Finals appearance
— 1 first-team All-NBA pick
— Three-time NBA All-Star
— NBA all-rookie first-team
— Led
#Suns
to franchise-best 64 wins
— Most points by a player EVER in their first postseason run
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at age 25:
— 1
Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon on the
#Suns
’ 3-point shooting. Phoenix has 10 players on its roster who shot at least 35 percent from three last season.
Beal: “We have it as a point of emphasis. Coach hasn’t broken it down too much, but we understand that 3-point line is
Yuta Watanabe on support from
#Suns
fans following the team’s open practice in Phoenix Sunday.
“It feels amazing. They make me really comfortable being here and make me more excited to play in front of the amazing fans. I really appreciate them showing support and love.”
Here’s what Frank Vogel said about Mat Ishbia’s $100-million plus investment into a new headquarters for
#Suns
and Mercury personnel and a Mercury-exclusive practice facility.
Vogel: “Everything he’s doing, he’s making the Phoenix Suns the gold standard of the NBA. I believe
Yuta Watanabe said it won’t be easy to earn playing time. He is likely a candidate to be the
#Suns
’ fifth starter.
Frank Vogel said he wanted a “fierce but healthy” competition for the fifth starting spot. Watanabe backed that up.
“It’s going to be a lot of tough times, and
Kevin Durant didn’t go to Oklahoma City to play with Shai. He came to Phoenix to play with Devin Armani Booker.
Same with Bradley Beal.
Remember when the
#Suns
were in franchise poverty? Now Booker is 26 and the Suns are in their best organizational state possibly ever.
.
@KellanOlson
asked Kevin Durant and Devin Booker about the full-court pass to Durant’s buzzer-beater in the first. Durant said he was a WR growing up. Booker said he was a QB.
Book said he talked about the play to Kyler Murray, who was at the game.
“I know you seen that.”
Kevin Durant said he was very excited when the
#Suns
signed Yuta Watanabe, his teammate with the Nets this past season, in free agency.
Suns fans got a glimpse at why Durant is fond of Watanabe's game. He played 30 minutes and helped them close their overtime win over the
Something
#Suns
fans don’t have the privilege of watching:
Isaiah Thomas at practice today was motivating himself, talking and going full-go on every rep from corner and top-of-the-key threes. I was impressed by IT’s demeanor and focus. He was talking smack to motivate himself
Bradley Beal's point-guard quote will fire you up.
"I think a lot of my FanDuel fans don't like it, because I don't score as much. So I hear that on the back end of it. But I embrace it, man, because it's bringing us a winning culture, getting a paint presence every time down
Yuta Watanabe (
@wacchi1013
) had his parents, Hideyuki and Kumi, at practice today.
They saw the
#Suns
opener at home Saturday, per
@KellanOlson
, and will be at the Spurs games tomorrow and Thursday.
Here’s Yuta’s parents, James Jones and Frank Vogel:
Yuta Watanabe (
@wacchi1013
) had his parents, Hideyuki and Kumi, at practice today.
They saw the
#Suns
opener at home Saturday, per
@KellanOlson
, and will be at the Spurs games tomorrow and Thursday.
Here’s Yuta’s parents, James Jones and Frank Vogel:
Kevin Durant was whacked across the face and held so he couldn’t make a play on the ball.
@NBA
Phantom Cam (credit) shows how it’s disgraceful the Spurs took the lead on this play.
Assuming Deandre Ayton is done: 7 points on 3-of-6 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers.
Jusuf Nurkic got the better of him tonight: 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals.
Your thoughts on how Nurkic performed?
#Suns
For those asking, here are my top-3 players in the NBA.
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
3. Devin Booker
Booker’s playoff performances and especially his shotmaking and efficiency this past postseason is a big reason why I make the argument for him being a top-3
.
#Suns
expected roster for 2023-24 NBA Opening night
Kevin Durant
Devin Booker
Bradley Beal
Jusuf Nurkic
Josh Okogie
Eric Gordon
Grayson Allen
Keita Bates-Diop
Yuta Watanabe
Chimezie Metu
Drew Eubanks
Jordan Goodwin
Nassir Little
Damion Lee (injured)
Bol Bol
Saben Lee and
ESPN's explanation for why Devin Booker fell one spot in their rankings (he was No. 10 in 2022-23) doesn't make much sense.
"On the verge of turning 27, traditionally looked at as the age when players enter their prime, Booker is a top-10-caliber talent. A dangerous scorer who
Jusuf Nurkic said he’s trying to get Book’s shoes in a size 18. In the meantime, he’s stealing KD’s since they have the same size.
Adds: “That’s a dope shoe.”
Anthony Davis was pretty vocal about the play Devin Booker got ejected for on TNT:
"Can't happen, can't do that... it's a dirty play, Dennis (Schroder) could have really got hurt right there.
"That just can't happen... plays like that is unacceptable."
#Suns
It’s hard and narrow sighted to criticize the
#Suns
’ depth. They have a former Sixth Man of the Year (Gordon), a 70-game starter from the top team in the East (Allen), a long wing (Bates-Diop) and a corner 3-point specialist (Watanabe), among others, after their Deandre Ayton
This was Yuta’s sequence of the game in overtime. Deflected a pass to the roller and then hit a floater on offense. Gave the
#Suns
a two-possession lead.
List of
#Suns
/Mercury moves spearheaded by Mat Ishbia as
#Suns
/Mercury steward/majority owner:
-- Traded for Kevin Durant
-- Replaced Monty Williams with NBA champion Frank Vogel, reconstructed roster with minimum contracts
-- Traded aging Chris Paul, Landry Shamet for Bradley
I can tell why Yuta Watanabe is favored by his teammates. Obviously he carries a lot of fans being from Japan and representing the country in the NBA. He’s always smiling and positive though. Seems like a likable guy who knows what he has to do and wants to do it to his best.
Frank Vogel spoke pregame about Yuta Watanabe’s defense. Watanabe said after open practice he has to improve as an on-ball defender to get more minutes. Vogel agreed.
“I would assess it as, he gets the most out of his ability. He has great attention to detail, focus and is
This is a valuable clip for what Yuta Watanabe can provide.
He's said he needs to improve as an on-ball defender but his feel for help defense and anticipation to be in the right spot has impressed Frank Vogel.
Block, then a rebound, then a 3.
Then GP2 just shoves Okogie.
Keita Bates-Diop is seen as a top candidate for the
#Suns
’ fifth starting spot. Frank Vogel told him he wants him to be a top defensive guy.
I asked KBD about his stretch late in the ‘23 season when he started 30 of 34 games and averaged over 12 points per game and shot 40
Kevin Durant is under a microscope because of his status as an all-time great. When the
#Suns
traded the Twins for him there’s automatically pressure to win.
Sad that he’s the scapegoat now because of the ESPN clip which has no bearing of anything Durant has said.
KD is
Devin Booker with another throwback
#Suns
shirt.
"I'm just paying my dues, honestly. I appreciate everybody on this shirt for making this organization what it is."
Kevin Durant’s mindset on getting through an 82-game season:
“Some shit is going to happen, it’s going to happen. You try to prevent me from being injured or being out there, I honestly don’t know what good that does. Just let me play.”
#Suns
Pretty surreal how Kevin Durant came back from a torn Achilles and has played arguably the most effective hoops in his career since.
Here’s what Frank Vogel said about his work ethic. Sounds a lot like what Monty said last season.
“I think the work ethic is something I have
Frank Vogel on why he “loves” Yuta Watanabe’s (
@wacchi1013
) game.
“You have to run at him (on the 3-point line), so the defense has to really stretch out, and it just creates space for the others.
Also:
“He’s one of our better defenders.”
Chris Paul on playing against the
#Suns
and close friend Devin Booker.
@DuaneRankin
asked CP.
“It’ll be fun, man. Me and Book, we so close. It’s gon’ be like that for life.”
I asked Frank Vogel about the narrative by some that Devin Booker doesn’t compete on defense.
Vogel: “If you say that, you didn’t see practice today.”
He goes on: “He and KD were our best defenders today.”
#Suns
Yuta is going to be an interesting piece. Josh Okogie started but you have to figure Yuta is a candidate.
Elite shooter that will aid the
#Suns
' spacing. Nurkic is a great screener that can open space and Watanabe can be a weapon from 3. He has to play great defense though.
Kevin Durant loves the energy from
#Suns
fans toward the team.
From open practice:
“I’m just blown away at how many basketball fans there are in the world, but especially here in the Valley, how excited they are for the game of basketball inspires me and keeps me going.”
Arizona fans — I was very young when the D-Backs won G1 & 2, lost 3 straight and then won the last 2 to beat the Yankees in the 2001 World Series. That's what the
#Suns
are going to have to do now to win the
#NBAFinals
.
Is it possible? Is the feel different?
KD on Bradley Beal: “The more and more he plays, the more confidence we get as a group.”
Said the game looked easy for Beal, who had 25 points on 10-of-13 FG.
Two-play sequence from Yuta Watanabe. Stays steady after he gets hit by a screen, follows Bagley well for the deflection.
Hits a floater on the other end.
#Suns
up 126-122.
Funny moment on TNT pregame.
I believe Charles Barkley predicted the Clippers to win this series. He said, "I expect my Suns to come out and handle business again."
Kenny Smith retorts: "Now, they're your Suns again.