Are The Phoenix Suns The 1-4 Team That Started The Season OR The 5-1 Team Over Their Last Six Games?

Are The Phoenix Suns The 1-4 Team That Started The Season OR The 5-1 Team Over Their Last Six Games?

On today’s show, the Phoenix Suns started off their season 1 and four, but since then they’ve won five of their last six. Which team are they closer to, that one and four start or the five of their last six win start? Let’s talk about that much more this edition of Locked on Phoenix Suns. You are Locked On Suns, your daily Phoenix Suns podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. What is up? Welcome back into Locked On Phoenix Suns. My name is Benjamin Garcia, host of the Ben Garcia Show. Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8 a.m. on YouTube and a credential Phoenix Suns media member covering your Phoenix Suns 365 days out of the year. That’s why we call it your team every day here at the Locked on Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network. That is not hyperbole, Mr. John Voida. That is just true statistical data. Thank you for making Lockdown Suns your first listen here on this beautiful Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, however you may be listening, wherever you may be listening. Thank you so much for making myself and this show a part of your day. Today’s episode is brought to you by the lovely folks over at Game Time. Download the Game Time app and create an account. Use code locked on NBA. That’s L O C K D O NA for $20 off your first purchase. Joining me today on a beautiful Veterans Day. I didn’t tell him this over text because I was like that I I know we’re doing this later. Not only a credentialed Suns media member, not only host the Suns Jam Session podcast, not only the managing editor of Bright Side of the Sun, but more than any of that, a veteran of the US Army on this beautiful Veterans Day. I tip my cap to you proverbally, no hat on today. um and all of those who have served this whatever people I don’t care what anyone else says this amazing country that we get to live in. So thank you for you and all your service man we really appreciate you and everyone that has done that. With that being said John Voida. How are you doing today man? I appreciate it Ben. You know 10 year army vet three years active duty seven years Arizona Army National Guard. You know I put in my time I chewed my dirt and you know I know that there are a lot of people who might have frustrations with aspects of the country but at the end of the day I agree. I mean, the fact that you and I get to sit here uh and talk about our Phoenix Suns, consume them, and and be put in a position where we can, you know, put this out for other people to criticize or agree with, uh, is one of the things that, you know, again, that that that’s why we fight is is for the freedoms to do things like this. So, uh, appreciate it. Feeling good. Obviously, Phoenix Suns five and one in their last six games. This has really been just a fun team to watch, a fun season to cover, and I think that we earned this, Ben. I honestly do. Like we suffered through the doldrums of those last two seasons and went through painstakingly putting out content, talking about this team even when all hope was lost. And here we are on the other side of a summer in which we were posed with a lot of different propositions on what this team would be and they’re executing the game plan. They’re they’re they’re they’re walk or they’re talk or they’re walking the talk which is like a rarity in Phoenix. So I’m thoroughly enjoying this team. Man, it’s so funny man. I didn’t think on November 11th, November 12th, and people are listening to this, that other teams would envy the Phoenix Suns and say, “Damn it, why didn’t we trade for Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal when we could have got them for a freaking bargain?” Cuz I was telling people yesterday, and like we can get to this later on, that’s where the unpopular trade idea comes in. I was like, “Hey, listen. I don’t know if I’m going to trade these guys, but the option is now firmly on the table. if they keep this stuff up. You might have gone from a couple of second round picks to a couple of first round picks, but we can get to that a little bit later in the show. You know, I see a lot of the topic of discussion of like, are the Suns just good? I thought of something a little bit different. Yeah, the title of the show is that, but that’s cuz I can only use four words and I had to, you know, couldn’t get super creative there. Instead of saying like, are the Phoenix Suns good? I think that that is raising expectations that I will continue to raise expectations as I see fit, but it could just be a hot start for this team. I mean, like, do I think Grayson Allen could lead the league in in threes? Sure. Royce O’Neal being third, that I think is maybe not so real. The Suns start off the season 1 and four. They have now won five of their last six games. And here’s the statistic I pointed out to you last week. In five of the last six games, they have been up 18 points at a minimum and they are five-0 in those games. So, not only are they beating teams, they’re smacking them around and not losing. They didn’t lose any of those leads. Which team do you think they’re closer to? The team that is being up 18 points every single night on games that they win five of their last six games. Now, you’re like, man, should they have beaten the Memphis Grizzlies or the 1 and4 team? Which one do you think? uh they’re closer too. It’s a challenge because imagine if the script was flipped, right? Imagine if they started five and one and then they were one and four in their last five. We would probably have an affinity to gravitate towards the fact that they’re closer to the one and four team and they’re having issues and teams are figuring out what they’re doing and they’re understanding the schemes that Jordan’s putting out there. But right now, we’re riding a hot streak, but we have to also understand the context of that hot streak. We beat the Clippers on back-to-back nights or back-to-back games. Uh the Clippers might not just be good. Everybody’s saying like the Clippers, are they this year’s Suns? You know, older team, uh a lot of promise, a lot of expectations, some older vets on the team, it’s not clicking, injuries are happening, yada yada yada. Things that we lived last year. I think the best way to answer your question, Ben, is they’re probably a team that’s somewhere in the middle. I think that the one constant through all of the 11 games that we’ve witnessed them play is the level of effort in which they play. That they don’t give up. That they’re a team that when they go down 20, there’s no hanging of the head. There’s no kind of rolling of the eyes at each other. There’s no disengagement on the bench. They’re all locked into what Jordan has to say. They understand their role and then they go out and they do the best of their ability to execute that. Now, there’s going to be nights where the other team simply has more talent and that’s going to continue to show. And over these next 10 games, we might not see that as much because the schedule does lighten up a little bit for the Phoenix Suns. But in time, over a a long enough trend, we will see probably in in in the middle. I feel like this team is a team in the middle. I think that schematically they can beat you. I think that they have the shooting to beat you uh from Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal as you mentioned, as well as Deon Booker having one of the best offensive starts of his career. But there will be flaws with this team and they will make themselves known. And again, it’s one of those things, right? We got to kind of play this like Ricky Rubio right now. Never too high, never too low. Just one game at a time. Enjoy the process and not try to sit there and go, you know what, this team could be a playoff team or this team should trade Grayson Allen. Like, no. At this point of time, right now, November 11th, this team is fun to watch. They play with a fluidity and a connectivity that we haven’t witnessed in four years in the valley. And it’s time to appreciate that. Yeah. So, they’ve got obviously Dallas. You mentioned just the the easier schedule. Um, it’s getting easier. I don’t want to make any like the Suns still have not graduated from like oh that’s an easy win like I I don’t want to go that far yet but you’re like I feel better about I I do like if you’d have told me uh you know when the before the season started in what like October 20th or whatever that the Suns should be favored to get a game against the Mavericks I’d be like I don’t know like I thought that’s a team that I thought was going to be better than they are. They’re they’re terrible right now. They just fired their GM. Um Mavericks Pacers Hawks will be interesting. Trailblazers is going to be like the Spider-Man meme of looking at each other and Deon Booker might just be the differencemaker in that game. The Timberwolves, Spurs, and then Sweet, you know, I I coined the phrase last night, sweet baby Yoso Agodaro. I don’t know if you saw that, but um uh Kevin Kevin Durant also might be sweet baby Kevin Durant from last year. So, it does get a little bit lighter. Um, if I’m answering the question, I think that they’re closer to this team, the team that has won five of their last six games. And that’s only because they’re not going to be that bad. Like, they’re not going to be that bad. The team that was one and four. One of those games where they lost uh um uh the only team they beat in that stretch was the Sacramento Kings, who’s terrible. They got blown they got their doors blown off by the Clippers and the the Nuggets. Like, I just think like right now they’re just better than the Clippers now. that talented and better are two totally different things. Again, more fun and better are two totally different things. Got in a fight with our guy Katie. Nah, not a fight, but had some fun with my guy KD Prime last night with that. Oh god. I think that they’re closer to this team now. Are they like how much closer? 6040. Like I think they’re 60% close to that team than they are from the team that’s bad because the makeup of a good team is there. Like the only thing that is stopping you from saying this team’s a contender in the Western Conference is a true running mate to Devin Booker. Now that is really hard to get. Really hard. So like in a sense they’re still pretty far away from that. But like they’ve got the role players. Everyone feels like they’re fitting it fine. Mark Williams wasn’t like an insane differencemaker offensively last night, but we’re all he had two points and we’re all saying that Mark Williams guy defensively like maybe he’s just an anchor. And so I just think they’re closer to that. I’m going to make you pick. Which one do you think they’re closer to? They’re closer to what we’re experiencing for all the reasons that you stated. Uh because again, team chemistry is one of those things that you can’t find on a stat sheet. And it’s clear that this team has it. Jaylen Green, you know, you you mentioned running mate to Devin Booker. Well, they have Jaylen Green. Now, he’s going to be out for quite some time. We still don’t know the duration of his injury, but the postgame uh interview with Amanda Fluggrad where Grayson Allen’s getting his flowers for scoring 42 points and Jaylen Green and Mark Williams come up and they’re just having a great time with them. Those are the moments behind the scenes that show you the connectivity of a team that will will equate to victories when that shouldn’t exist. Whereas last year, due to the fact that there was no connectivity and there was no chemistry, there was no camaraderie. a lot of C’s there. Uh it was a team that they would let games get away from them and then just kind of stand around and look at each other and go, “Well, that there’s always a game tomorrow.” That was like the the mantra from coach Bud Light was like, “Well, there’s always a game tomorrow.” And eventually you just run out of games, you know, and so yeah, this team is closer to being a winning team than a losing team. Now, time will tell what if that’s going to remain true. Injuries are a fact of life. You know, Mark Williams, as you mentioned, defensive anchor, looking great, scoring two points, grabbing six rebounds, yet we’re all convinced that he’d had an amazing game, which he did. He had a really good game. His his ability and his length to deter shots is something that really uh flustered the Pelicans at times, you know, but he has an injury history in the past. And if he goes down, what happens? And how does this team adjust? And that’s the next layer of who this Suns are going to the Suns team’s going to be. We’ve already witnessed it somewhat at the front end of the season with the Dylan Brooks injury, with Mark Williams being bre being brought on with the outside of one game in six minutes. know Jaylen Green. We’re seeing what Jorah Knox can do with this team and this roster. Once a couple more of those injuries start to compile and we go through some of those stretches that are inevitable in the NBA, we’re really going to learn a lot more more about this team if they are closer to the team that we’re witnessing over these last six games. You know, you mentioned the whole injury thing that like right the Suns like that’s their next window like can they overcome that? Something about the Jaylen Green injury really pissed me off. it. I cannot stand the woe is me, gloomy Suns fan. Why are we just cursed? No one loves us. Please, someone love us. I put something out and it’s it’s it’s rained true so far and let’s talk about that next. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. 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Like they were already playing without him. they understand like it’s actually going to be more difficult to integrate him into the lineup and like go through those woes, figure out how he fits in. Maybe it’s seamless, but I think it’s going to be tougher than them playing without him. If the Suns lose Devin Booker, holy cow, hold on to your butts. I don’t know what the Suns are going to do, but like I don’t even want to speak that into existence. That’s obvious, right? last year like they still had KD uh they still had the corpse of Bradley Beal who was running out there who I guess can still hit buckets and you know shushing the crowd and then missing 12 straight buckets and the Suns never let him shoot 14 shots a game you know I mean dude dude I love a bit of delusion I need a bit of delusion in my life I love that at that game you turn to me like did he just shush the crowd because he’s he’s like one of 11 from the field he’s like did he just shush us like Dude, that’s that’s the type of delusion. I tweeted it out. The picture from Trishi the Grand like this is the type of delusion I need in my life. Um, here’s what’s interesting about the Jaylen Green thing, and I want to get to my unpopular trade idea. When Jaylen Green went down, it pissed me off when people on social media like, why can’t we have anything nice? No one loves us. Like, they’re the only team that’s ever dealt with an injury before. It’s low sports self-esteem. Like it’s not like Booker just ripped open his knee. He strain and that’s like knock on wood. We don’t I never want something like that to happen. But like he strained his hamstring. I had Twitter doctors telling me well looks like a a fullon tear to me. I’m like how would you know? I was like I haven’t stra I haven’t pulled my hamstring since high school. So like I don’t know. But I said this I was like guys it’s a hamstring. It’s not stop acting like it’s a season ender. I get it. Jaylen Green was always healthy before which again should tell you that this is a fluke. Suns are fine and more than equipped to figure it out. Yeah, Suns are fine and and are equipped to figure it out as they’ve already played with him before. Let Green get healthy. What are your thoughts on that? Like I’m on the other side, man. I’m completely on the other side. Like I’ve been dealing with this team. I’ve been watching this team since I was 6 years old in 1988. You know, I can tell you what it feels like to see uh Cedric Sabalos get hurt in the in the the 1993 uh playoff run, and that could have cost us a title against Jordan. Probably not because of Jordan, but still. Uh Danny Manning, a couple years later, we get him. He’s he’s playing unbelievable as a six-man off the bench and he gets rolled up on on practice and he’s done, you know, his knees popped. Uh uh Joe Johnson’s orbital fracture and and Dario Sarich, uh you know, his ACL going out against the Bucks. I mean, it’s just I can empathize and understand with where fans are coming from because I am a fan and I’ve experienced those moments where it’s like, gosh, can’t we have anything nice? Now, I get it and you’re right, every team experiences injuries, right? And and you look across the landscape of the NBA alone. I mean, just look at last night. We’re playing against the Pelicans. They literally have a class that they host down at uh uh GCU talking about injuries and how often it occurs to them because it’s constantly happening to them. Zion’s hurt again. Every team has it. But for the Suns, I just feel like because we’ve never won a championship and you kind of go across all sports in Phoenix, right? outside of uh the Dimebacks winning it all in 2001 with a roster that let’s just be frank, they’ve they dodgered the hell out of that by acquiring a bunch of players and paying them way too much and deferring the money to win that bankrupted the team. Yeah, exactly. But that’s what they did and and they they won a championship. But outside of that, across all major sports in Arizona and college, collegiate sports, it just feels like the team can never overcome that hump, that that proverbial uh uh you know, breaking on through to the other side. And with the Suns, it’s just consistent. Now, you’re right, and this happened early in the season. Uh it it didn’t happen at a point in the season where we’re we were projected we were going to have this great season. All of a sudden, he’s out. It’s like, no, it’s a hamstring. probably 6 to 8 weeks is kind of everyone’s, you know, every non-d doctor out there who’s reading stuff that other people are saying and then just regurgitating, they’re all saying the same thing. Uh but at the same time, like I I can empathize with those fans because again, I’m one of those fans. I’ve experienced it and it’s just like, dude, can we just enjoy ourselves for a little while to the credit of the Suns, they were resilient in that game and they didn’t roll over because typically when things like that happen, the team rolls over and then we die. No, this team won and then they’ve won two more since. So, they’re showcasing a level of resiliency that is to be valued and appreciated. Um, Gambo did put out that that injury is going to be four to six weeks. I and we’re not and like you know he want to know the funniest thing about that. Some of an amazing great listener every day uh uh commented underneath and said like on one of the videos and said Evan Cider said it’s going to be four to six weeks. No. And I was like, you mean Gambo said I was like, you mean Evan Cider had Gambo’s tweet notifications on and post. I had to literally explain to this I had to literally explain to this awesome every dare. It is my job to in to to educate the public sometimes like that. Like that’s what they pay me to do. And I was like, it’s do yourself a favor. Evans has no sourcing. Like help yourself out with that there. He’s really good with notifications and then retweeting them in his own words. Seems like an exhausting way to live. Yes, it does. It does. But anyways, I’m going to let’s cut this segment. So, Jaylen Green, maybe four to six weeks, maybe longer. Like, and when they like what’s what’s going to be awesome about this is I think the Suns are going to keep the good times rolling to an extent. Like, hang around 500. Like, I don’t think they’re never going to lose again. And then they’re going to get like what feels like a trade deadline acquisition. like they’re going to bring someone in who they didn’t have all season, kind of give a jolt to this team. Um, so that’s all going to be great. Let’s cut this segment a little short because I want to get some Grayson Allen Royce O’Neal stuff and maybe talk about at the beginning of the season when I texted John that Grace Allen should just start for this team anyways before anyone else before anyone else and then quickly abandoned the take after Jaylen Green played well. But we’re going to we’re going to push that to the side and let’s talk about that next. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. 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Download the Game Time app. Create an account and use code LOC KNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms applied. That’s code locked on NBA for $20 off your first purchase. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Robin Hood. Your ambition just met its match. With Robin Hood, you play for the win. Not just on game day, every day. Locking in on every opening, beating your PR, beating it again. channel that drive into your money. Robin Hood puts you in control of your money. Trade stocks and ETFs, options, futures, and crypto all-in-one platform. You can now build and execute your own trades from a desktop with Robin Hood Legends Advanced Tools. Or take advantage of the new Robin Hood strategies. With a tailored portfolio managed by a team of experts, you expect more from yourself. So why not expect more from your money? Get started at robinhood.com/yyouoney. Again, that’s robinhood.com/yyoumoney. your money, your move. Well, well, well. Mr. Darth Void, I remember a guy that I don’t know, maybe sometimes got a big opinion, tries to see around corners. I remember him texting someone during the the preeason. Maybe Grayson Allen should just start over Jaylen Green because Grayson Allen, I think, fits better with Deon Booker. Now, to be fair with everyone in the comment section telling me I’m wrong, I quickly abandoned that take after Jaylen Green’s first game was like, “You know what? Let’s just see what Jaylen Green can do for this team.” And maybe great and maybe it is kind of crazy, but apologies. No, just kidding. You know what? When you when you tweet out or or you text 17 different theories and only one of them hits, you can’t take a victory lap on the one that hits. Okay? You know, I mean, because I’ll never forget like uh one one of my good buddies, so says Jay, host of the Fanning the Flames podcast. He faciciously during the bubble said that the team would go eight and0. Then they went 8 and0 and then like he lived off of that for quite some time, you know. It’s like, yeah, we all said they were going to go 8 and0. He’s like, I’ve got proof. It’s like, okay, I get it. You know, let’s look at the other 25 takes that were completely wrong, you know. So, leave the victory laps at all. Thank god we are doing this at the 22 minute mark of the episode where where people statistically just drop off as most people do in shows because golly man I’m going to need some ice for that burn. That was pretty good. That was pretty funny. I will say this season as a whole has been pretty good for predictions for me. But I will say I also put out a lot of predictions because that’s what I like to do on this show. Okay. You flood the inbox with so much one of those letters will be right. Hey, miss. Hey, listen, man. Uh, we’re Jaylen Green on that’s I don’t want to do that. That’s That’s We We’re Russell Westbrook years ago. We’re chucking up some three-pointers. We might not make 50 of them out of a hundred, but you know, we’re going to hit 30 of them. And you know what? That’s all that matters. Keep chucking. Um, keep chucking. That’s what they call me, man. Just a glorified shot. Just a glorified take chucker. Um, Royce O’Neal and Gracetown. I put this out on Twitter last night and uh, it’s starting to garner garner some uh, some interest with Suns fans who think I’m just trying to tear down this team right away, which is okay. I being the bad guy is not so bad. But I said Gracetown and Royce O’Neal are playing themselves into really nice trade packages for the Phoenix Suns if they decide if they decide to go that route and restock on draft capital. It would hurt to trade them, but they could be the Suns ticket out of no man’s land. Suns have no picks. They they got some second like someone someone replied back to that and said, “Um, wrong. How about they add someone at the trade deadline?” And I’m like, “Sure.” Are we giving up? Is everyone giving up collectively like their first born to bring someone here cuz the Suns don’t have anything to trade. I’m not saying they should trade these guys because it is very nice to have good players on your team. Hot take, I know. But if players don’t fit the timeline and the and the core foundation is there and someone offers you if Gracetown plays this well, you’re getting two protected first round picks for him. Uh Kyle Kosma once went for that not too long ago. Royce O’Neal could fetch a first round pick if he plays this well. That I think is he’s a little bit of a streaky player. So, we’ll see. If someone offers you three first round picks for for those two players, I’m not saying you take it, but if you don’t think Brian Gregory is not doing this, we could use that on going and getting the next disgruntled star who fits the timeline a little bit. I’m just saying it’s interesting, is it not? It’s it’s a tough conversation to have because everybody’s feeling good right now and they’re playing well. But at the same time, you you think back to this past summer and how many people like honestly if you’re listening to this, think inward and be honest with yourself. Did you think the Suns should trade Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neal this past summer? I did and I knew that they couldn’t because I didn’t think that they were uh assets that were desirable or digestible by opposing teams because both had three years left on their contracts. And over this summer, there’s no doubt that the Suns actively were reaching out to opposing teams to see what their value was. Well, guess what? Because of the way they’re playing now, those phone calls are incoming. They’re not outgoing from the Suns. They’re incoming. And so, yes, the vibes are good right now. And we don’t have to worry about the trade deadline for two more months. Three more months. November to December, January, February. Three months. See, I can count. And I think that that’s and you can count on me waiting for you in the parking lot. And I think that that’s valuable because again, we’re in the process of building a foundation, defining a culture, but at some point there’s going to be a a situation where the Suns do have to stop thinking of the short-term success of this team, which is this season, and start extrapolating that out to what defines long-term success. And that is potentially utilizing these hot streaks and the way that these guys are playing as trade opportunities. Whether it’s a package deal for both of them sending them out and getting a a quality player back or to your point and which is probably the most likely scenario, trading them to a couple teams who are in playoff contention who feel like they need a three-point shooter to really fortify what they’re doing. And then because they need that more than we need to get off of these guys, we can garner back more in return. Most likely draft capital, a player or two that, you know, could be waved later. But you need to do some restocking of that cupboard. This is a best case scenario for the Suns. And you need to understand that if you’re if you’re if you’re a Suns fan, this is exactly what you wanted is cuz we’re always a team left holding the bag of a distressed asset, a Bradley Beal, an Eric Bledsoe, you know, guys who came in with much hype and when it comes time to finally turn around and get rid of them, they they’re distressed. They don’t work anymore. They’re they’re either unhappy or they’re disgruntled or they don’t play well anymore. They’re injuryprone, yada yada yada. Whereas in this case, you have guys who are showcasing to the league, hey, we’re viable. And now the Suns can actually maximize the return. And from there, they can really start to continue to enact the overall long-term vision of Matt Ishbia, Brian Gregory, Jordan 150%. PE I put this out there and people are like, try saying that to Devin Booker’s face. And I was like, um, here’s how you say it to Devin Booker. Hey, I know these guys are good. We know they’re good. We’re good enough right now to be a top six team in the West. I I’m just throwing a name out there. I don’t even want these players. But like, hey, do you like Trey Young? What if it doesn’t work over there? like if you’re going to get the next big name because like these picks that you’re going to get are not going to be great picks but if you’re going to bring a running mate here with Devin Booker or maybe it’s like or maybe like maybe it is Jaylen Green or if you just want to continue to get young talent here which is always a good thing. Mhm. You can do that. Like guys Royce O’Neal I think is 32 now maybe even 33. Grayson I know Grayson I know that’s crazy. Grayson I know is 30. So, like I’m not saying this to blow up the team. I’m saying because this is awesome. Like this is the this is ex this is amazing. You’re telling me the Suns either hold on to Grayson because he’s great or ship him off for two first round picks Kyle Koosma style a couple of years ago. Like the vibes couldn’t be better. I know it hurts to potentially get rid of your guy, but like again, we’re not even worried about that right now. The point is what you said before the calls weren’t coming in and now the Suns are saying, “Uh, yeah, no, we’ll talk to you in three months. We’ll see.” And there will be a bidding war. Like, I I think it’s more likely the Suns are trading players at the deadline than they are acquiring players. Well, why would you say that? They’re going to be good. Well, unless they’re trading the services of John Voida and Benjamin Garcia, they don’t got anything to offer. So, just interesting, man. And I’ll ask you this question just very quickly. What’s the one major need do you feel that this roster has from a positional standpoint? Point guard probably. See, I would go power forward. Now, I get point guard, too. That’s not a wrong answer, but we are we we are vastly under at power. Just really quickly, I also don’t care that they have a need at point guard. Like, that’s the other thing. I I don’t continue. I was just going to say like I don’t think they’re super underpowered. I just I need to see what we have in Rishy or Fleming, but we don’t know. So, I guess you’re right. And and time will come. But I think that again, if you’re looking at this team in a in from a 30,000 foot view and you go, okay, positionally, power forward is probably our biggest vacancy, right? Like we or deficiency Rashir Fleming. Yes. And he in theory he could develop into that. But again, when the time comes and if you want to potentially go get a quality power Ford, somebody who you pay 25 to 35 million a year rather than go after like a Trey Young type, you have ammunition now, desirable ammunition to do it. And I think that that’s valuable. So again, we’re living kind of the best timeline with this team. They’re fun. They’re competitive. Uh the assets that again at the front end of the season weren’t desirable by other teams are now becoming desirable. Now you’re in the driver’s seat. Now you don’t have to be reactionary to the second apron and what does Kevin Durant want to do and Bradley Beal’s unhappy but we can’t do anything about it. Now you have the optionality to have decisions uh to be made for and that’s the best. That’s where we want to be. That’s where we want to fans. And who knows, man, maybe you’re even packaging one of those guys um with Sweet Baby Oso Agodaro and you just move him to Alcatres where he belongs and for crimes against basketball humanity. I told I I it’s just going to be a running joke now. Like when I used to work at Fox Sports 910, Andy Isabella used to be the the the the joke former Cardinals wide receiver, second round pick, famously selected over DK Metaf. Yeah. Um, oho is now Oso Gadodaro is now my sweet, sweet baby Andy Isabella. He’s now my sweet, sweet Oso Igodaro. He can do no wrong. I don’t even want to send him to the G- League. Because you want to know why I don’t want Jordan not to feel like he’s without his guy. You know what? He’s out there trying. I tweeted last night about Oso. It all comes back to Oso Garo. He had a very nice uh uh roll. Not roll. It was a uh whatever. Whatever. I can’t even think of a word by now, but it crashed to the basket. Someone hit him right in the middle. Had an and one attempt. Put it in. It was a very nice play from Oso. And then he broke the and then he broke the free throw of course. And I was like, there’s my sweet baby. Ooaro. Of course, he was part of the best lineup the Suns put out there, that plus 17 lineup that played the first six minutes of the second quarter that created the separation that the Suns never succeeded. But he was a part of that lineup. I’m like, great, that’s really going to help his advance. I I I I probably attribute that to Royce Royce O’Neal Grayson. Yeah. Bunch of three-pointers and calling Gillespie. All of them just firing on all cylinders from three-point line. But you know what? Sweet baby Oso. Just you keep you keep playing, man. You keep you keep playing your little heart out. Golly, you keep winning games. I’ll just look at you and be like me when I played varsity volleyball. And whenever I finally got in, the whole crowd just kind of cheered. They’re like, “Oh, look at this guy. like he he does play. Put him in the game. You were the bull bull of of your volleyball team. I was the I remember specifically against Poria High School when I was still at Cactus High School. It was so embarrassing cuz they put me in the game and the whole crowd goes, “Yeah, Ben.” I’m like, “Oh, oh no. I’ve become the kid at the end of the bench that everyone thinks is the team manager.” Great. So, you know what? Me and sweet baby Oso Gdaro. We’re just we’re just we’re just trying our heart out. Uh hey, if I’m if I’m Russell Westbrook when it comes to takes, uh who are you? Will you go for a little efficiency or I’m Scottie Pippen? You’re the you’re the greatest number two in the world and you hate your number one. Exactly. No, I don’t hate my number one. I do now. Uh no, I just I’m I’m all over the place. Uh, you know, but I win championships, baby, because my takes are correct. I don’t have a lot of big swinging takes. That’s my thing is like I just react to what I see. I have thoughts and ideas on what I see. But I think that always I’m trying to understand the other side of something as well. I want to have a good educated understanding of what’s occurring before I u define an opinion. But the most important thing is I’m willing to change my opinion. And I think that that’s something that served me well writing for Bright Side because you can find yourself and and you know this you can find yourself starting to gravitate towards a take and you’re like man that’s like I’m on to something here. I’m on to something here and then something completely changes like Bull Bull’s a great example of that right like I was very anti-bull then he he had a few runs like maybe I’m wrong about him then he sucked. I was like maybe I was right. Yeah that’s what I Oh okay. So I flip-flop maybe a lot. Maybe that’s who I am. So I’m more of like a a Manu Ginobi or Vlad Devok flopping around. Welcome. I can’t wait to hear what the comment section says. My my comments are. I can’t wait to read them. Especially the people that dislike me. They’re going to call me like Pat Burke or something. Um or uh thou who or another media member who called me Jordan Goodwin not that long ago. That was pretty fun. With that being said, that was I thought it was funny. It’s probably true. You know what? Jordan Goodwin’s been very serviceable this year. With that being said, uh, for Voida, myself, Benjamin Garcia, and you know what, sweet baby Ooaro as well for for everyone tuning in, thank you so much for doing so. Voida, again, happy Veterans Day. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much for serving our country and thank you so much for dealing with me for a half an hour basis once a week. With that being said, don’t forget to like, share, subscribe to the show. Thank you so much everyone for being here. And I will talk to you guys tomorrow night post Dallas Maverick’s ass whooping. Toughest 30 minutes of my week. Sweet baby Oso. I’m going to visit him in Alcatres.

The Phoenix Suns have surged from a 1-4 start to winning 5 of their last 6 games, dominating opponents by 18+ points in most victories. But which team represents their true identity?

Hosts Benjamin Garcia and John Voita from @SunsJAM break down the Suns’ dramatic turnaround, examining the team chemistry under Jordan Ott that’s creating a fluidity not seen in four years. They analyze Jalen Green’s hamstring injury and why Suns fans need to stop the “woe is me” mentality, discuss Mark Williams’ defensive anchor role, and debate Devin Booker’s irreplaceable offensive excellence. The conversation takes a controversial turn when they explore whether red-hot Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale should be traded to restock draft capital while their value peaks. With Allen leading the league in threes made, could the Suns flip role players into multiple first-round picks?

Tune in for an honest assessment of whether this winning streak is sustainable and what moves could position Phoenix for a championship run.

0:00 Intro
3:13 Suns’ hot streak: sustainable or fluke?
7:09 Upcoming schedule and team improvement analysis
11:30 Jalen Green injury and fan reactions
18:15 Four to six week injury timeline
25:32 Trading Grayson and Royce for picks?
31:25 Oso Ighodaro jokes and team needs
34:50 Take styles: Westbrook vs Pippen approach

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