Locked On Suns - Daily Podcast On The Phoenix Suns

Latest Episodes:

LOCKED ON SUNS 3/21/18: The tank race and coaching search heat up Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we look at how the Suns’ coaching staff went with a more balanced rotation Tuesday night against Detroit, with T.J. Warren and Devin Booker injured. The Suns lost, 115-88, but giving those young players time over the final 10 games will be important.

We looked at how the youngsters performed given the opportunity, including Davon Reed and Josh Jackson. Plus, we discussed the chances of the front office shutting down Warren and/or Booker for the remainder of the season after coach Jay Triano implied this week that it was not his decision.

Finally, after Marc Stein’s report in a New York Times newsletter this week that Villanova coach Jay Wright and Utah assistant Igor Kokoskov were the Suns’ top candidates, we take stock of the coaching situation around the league. How does Triano stack up as a candidate after the team’s struggles this season?

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/18/18: Discussing Josh Jackson's career night, the tank race, and March Madness Mar 18, 2018

Show notes

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon ran through a lot of topics. Not only did we chat about Josh Jackson's breakout performance -- 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block -- but also how the likes of Marquese Chriss, Troy Daniels, and T.J. Warren played off of Jackson's infectious energy.

Is it time to start Jackson over Warren? Will Davon Reed ever play? It's nearing that time.

After Memphis snapped their 19-game losing streak, Phoenix now sits tied with them for best odds to land the No. 1 pick. We also ran through Memphis' upcoming schedule to see who will create distance.

In the end, we quickly ran through what's stood out to us so far in March Madness. Is this a worst-case scenario playing out from a scouting point of view? Both Evan and Brendon came away impressed with Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Do any names make sense in a trade-up scenario with their Miami and Milwaukee picks in the mid-first, which are looking likely convey? There are plenty who fit the billing and named off a few we liked most.

We should get Josh on Locked On Suns more often for these career nights, right?

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/16/18: An exclusive 1-on-1 with Josh Jackson Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

This has been in the works for awhile, and it’s finally happening. On today’s episode of Locked On Suns, I was joined by a very special guest in Josh Jackson.

We bounced around on plenty of subjects related to his rookie season, how he plans to improve this summer, an up-close view of when Devin Booker gets scorching hot, and much, much more in our 25-minute interview right outside the Suns' practice court.

They switched locations last minute so I was unable to get to your reader questions without my laptop in front of me but this is well worth a listen as Jackson had plenty of intriguing answers littered throughout our discussion.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did, and make sure to subscribe on iTunes! This is the first of a lot of exclusive content with players that will be going on all throughout this offseason.

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/15/18: Twitter Mailbag Mar 15, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we touched briefly on the Suns’ 116-88 loss to the Utah Jazz before diving into a Twitter mailbag.

Earlier in the day, we asked for questions over on our @LockedOnPhxSuns handle and you sent in some solid questions. We answered four of those questions, touching on topics from the draft, Marquese Chriss’trade value, and the Suns’ tanking strategy.

Excuse us if our brains seem scrambled, as we recorded shortly after Buffalo finished throttling Arizona in the first round of the NCAA tournament, ending any hope of a long, Deandre Ayton-led March run.

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/14/18: Every loss looks the same Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we took a look at the Suns’ 129-107 loss to the Cavaliers at home, after which Devin Booker said that the team has been “babied” and “spoiled.”

We talked about whether or not we agree with Booker’s comments, what can be done to fix this team for the remaining 13 games of the season, and what it says about coach Jay Triano’s future that this team has performed so miserably game after game.

Finally, we talked about how the Suns’ trajectory stacks up to that of the Cavaliers and Warriors, considering the Suns are playing the past two champions at home within the span of a week. What is the next step toward that championship level?

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/11/18: Mock drafting the first 16 picks Mar 11, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we ran through the lottery, mock draft style. To keep things interesting and include some extra Suns analysis, we stretched the mock all the way to No. 16, where the Miami Heat pick is currently slotted.

The main questions we looked at: Who is the top selection between Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton? What are some of the best fits overall in the lottery? What do the Suns do with their other two first-rounders?

The Suns came away with Doncic, Daniel Gafford, and Lonnie Walker IV. We discuss how we would feel if that was indeed the haul this June.

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/10/18: Shorthanded Suns fall to Hornets, 122-115 Mar 11, 2018

Show notes

On today's episode of Locked On Suns, Evan and Brendon recap the Suns' 20th loss in their last 22 as they fell this time to Charlotte, 122-115.

We discussed our main takeaways from Saturday's defeat, which saw Phoenix shorthanded as Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, and T.J. Warren were all held out with injuries.

Not only did Shaquille Harrison continue to break down the door of opportunity with a career-best outing, but Davon Reed and Tyler Ulis (a double-double after DNP's for a month) also shined on this afternoon.

From a negative standpoint, Elfrid Payton had his third consecutive subpar outing. In his 10 starts with Phoenix, he has a total plus-minus of -152. The second-worst Sun after Payton is Jackson at -96. That is a -52 difference!

What does this say about Payton and his future in Phoenix as he continues to slump this past week?

Also, the co-hosts chatted about Dragan Bender, who came alive in the second half from beyond the arc. However, we ask the question about how unique of a situation this is with a top-five pick. Bender is slow developing, specifically as a driver to the rim, but is this going too slow?

Finally, we talked about one main prospect this week: Collin Sexton of Alabama.

As he continues to shine in March, Sexton's name will likely be one that rises in the general public's eye up until the draft. We weighed on his overall ceiling plus his fit alongside Booker in Phoenix.

Is he a possible trade-up candidate? How does he compare to other point guards like Shai Gilegous-Alexander and De'Anthony Melton?

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/8/18: Another loss to OKC and draft sleepers Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we quickly recapped an ugly loss to the Thunder, in which Devin Booker again scored 30 points but the Suns fell, 115-87.

T.J. Warren missed the game due to injury and Josh Jackson left at halftime after a 1-8 start, meaning the entire scoring burden fell on Booker. He was shockingly efficient in spite of all that, but no one was able to support him, and the Oklahoma City armada over-powered the Suns’ defense.

After that, we looked at how the tank race has changed since we last recorded. The Suns sit half a game behind Memphis for the No. 1 lottery spot.

Finally, we each gave two draft sleepers to consider based on the Suns’ interest in the depth of this year’s class.

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LOCKED ON SUNS 3/8/18: Another loss to OKC and draft sleepers Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we quickly recapped an ugly loss to the Thunder, in which Devin Booker again scored 30 points but the Suns fell, 115-87.

After that, we looked at how the tank race has changed since we last recorded. The Suns sit half a game behind Memphis for the No. 1 lottery spot.

Finally, we each gave two draft sleepers to consider based on the Suns’ interest in the depth of this year’s class.

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LOCKED ON SUNS: Three-Quarter Stock Reports Mar 06, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode, we dove deep on the key players in #TheTimeline, stock report style, as we have throughout the season.

The last quarter encompasses 24 games, in which the Suns went 3-21. However, many of the young players made legitimate progress despite not winning many games at all.

Devin Booker has turned into one of the more consistent and efficient scorers in the NBA during his age-21 season.

Elfrid Payton has changed the rhythm of this team completely since joining at the trade deadline. Since his arrival, the Suns’ pace is nearly three possessions higher per game.

Josh Jackson slowed way down in January and February, and he has become an effective two-way player thanks to a ton of in-season improvement.

T.J. Warren returned to his inconsistent ways, thanks in some part to injury and a change of role. How do we feel about his extension going forward?

Dragan Bender is on his way to becoming an elite two-way role player. Is that a ceiling we can accept for the former No. 4 overall pick?

Finally, we looked at the coaching situation heading into the offseason. With March Madness coming up and Luka Doncic lingering at the top of the draft, where should the Suns’ coach come from?

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