Locked On Suns - Daily Podcast On The Phoenix Suns

We discuss Phoenix’s big performance on national television against the Mavericks which ended in a double-digit win, 99-89. 

Powered by a huge, efficient scoring night from T.J. Warren, the Suns controlled the game all the way through. 

His scoring and the Suns’ tough switching defense kept Dallas at bay long enough for the veteran Jamal Crawford to take the game home in the fourth quarter.

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In part two of the First Trimester Report Cards, we go through the Suns core to give out grades and analyze each player’s performance.

We end with the frontcourt — that means Deandre Ayton and T.J. Warren. To finish, we judge first-time coach Igor Kokoskov’s progress with this team through the first 27 games.

Has the No. 1 pick lived up to expectations? Is Warren a Most Improved Player Candidate?

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In part one of the First Trimester Report Cards, we go through the Suns core to give out grades and analyze each player’s performance.

We start with the backcourt — that means Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson, each with a very different story through the first 28 games of the year.

How do we judge Booker given his injuries so far this season? Is Jackson actually the worst player in the NBA as some believe?

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We discuss the latest ESPN report on the Lakers’ efforts to acquire Trevor Ariza in a three-team deal as well as other Ariza trade options and give our thoughts on the Suns signing Eric Moreland to fill Isaiah Canaan’s roster spot.

Ariza could be headed to Los Angeles by the weekend, but the Lakers will need to find a partner willing to take on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Suns want a pick and a point guard. Is there a solution here?

Or could a team like Charlotte, Indiana, Minnesota or Brooklyn make more sense?

Finally, quick thoughts on Eric Moreland’s place in Phoenix and whether he plays much at all off the bench.

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On today’s episode, we break down a close contest at home against the Clippers in which the Suns forced overtime and nearly beat a top team in the Western Conference.

De’Anthony Melton was the clear star of the game for the Suns, impacting every facet of the contest despite shooting just 5-16. A tough matchup against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Patrick Beverley did not faze the rookie.

There was tons more to like as well, from Deandre Ayton besting Boban Marjanovic to Mikal Bridges kicking out of his cold streak to hit a big 3 in the fourth quarter.

This could be a turning point for some of the young guys on the roster after eight straight losses heading into the game.

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On today’s episode, we come to you live from Talking Stick Resort Arena immediately following the Tennessee-Gonzaga game at the 2018 Jerry Colangelo Classic.

After seeing Deandre Ayton in-person at this even last year, what were our thoughts on this year’s crop of top prospects? Rui Hachimura stood out for Gonzaga, and he could be a fit next to Ayton if the Suns put together some more consistent winning efforts.

Brandon Clarke, a Phoenix native, really showed out on Sunday for the Bulldogs in a loss. Clarke has extreme bounce and athleticism, which was displayed on both ends often against the Volunteers. Do we envision Clarke as a riser for the 2019 class? Absolutely.

Finally, we hit on the star of the game: Admiral Schofield. Tennessee’s veteran leader has not only dramatically transformed his physical profile under head coach Rick Barnes, but Schofield’s improved shooting stroke could really help boost his stock later on. In Tennessee’s victory, Schofield poured in 30 points, 25 of which we’re in the second half.

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On today’s episode, we highlight the three most intriguing players who stood out for one reason or another in the Suns’ second consecutive blowout loss, 108-86 in Portland.

Benched with an “illness,” Deandre Ayton came off the bench for the first time in his career but failed to make an impact despite checking in three minutes into each half and playing mostly with the starters. He struggled against Portland center Jusuf Nurkic.

We also saw extended run for Dragan Bender, whose energy was welcome in another game marked by unsightly slogging.

Finally, we break down De’Anthony Melton’s second night of real NBA action. The shot didn’t fall, but Melton still made his mark.

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On today’s episode, NBA Draft writer Jackson Hoy of The Stepien joins to break down the top of the 2019 class.

From Zion Williamson’s generational talent to R.J. Barrett’s scoring to Cam Reddish’s 3-and-D profile, we swing through all of Duke’s stars. Then, we finish up with Nassir Little from North Carolina and a rapid fire on a couple mid-to-late-lottery candidates.

We discuss how our impressions of all four projected top picks have changed since the summer and how each would fit in Phoenix.

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On today’s episode, we come to you live from Talking Stick Resort Arena recapping the Phoenix Suns’ latest loss, a 112-105 outing where they trailed 36-9 at one point.

De’Anthony Melton was the star of the game on his way to tallying up 21 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal in only 23 minutes. Should he start the next game and beyond over Elie Okobo?

Deandre Ayton also had another performance where he struggled mightily. The No. 1 pick in the draft only played 21 minutes, and never came back in after a rough sequence in the second half where he watched two defenders go right by him. Is Ayton hitting the rookie wall, and how can he bounce back? We discussed this plenty.

Finally, Mikal Bridges also seems to be hitting his own rookie wall struggling to shoot the ball from deep. After an outing where he went 0-7 on three-pointers, yet still provided solid on-ball defense, how will the Suns’ No. 10 overall pick fit into their new lineup without Devin Booker?

In the Suns’ latest blowout defeat, we decided to deviate away from the usual ‘Free Throws’ and ‘Flagrant Fouls’ to hone in on these three rookies instead. The usual format will return on Thursday when Phoenix faces Portland.

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On today’s episode, we briefly discuss the Lakers loss before digging into two bigger pieces of news from the weekend. 

During Sunday’s 120-96 loss to Los Angeles, Devin Booker re-aggravated the left hamstring injury that cost him games earlier in the year. He will be out indefinitely — will the Suns win any games while he sits?

And when Booker finally comes back, the urgency to find a point guard to relieve him as a playmaker will go up a notch. Could Frank Ntilikina, whom Knicks reporter Ian Begley reported was a target for the Suns earlier this season, be that guy?

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