2026 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Cheesebeef]

It's like, what have you done for me lately around the NBA.

I sometimes wonder about what if the Suns had kept Monty.

why? You did see how atrocious of a job he did with the Pistons, right?

 

[Mainstreet]

why? You did see how atrocious of a job he did with the Pistons, right?

I'm making a general observation about the NBA. See the Nuggets firing head coach Michael Malone.

Yeah, there are reasons, but there is always a reason.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm making a general observation about the NBA. See the Nuggets firing head coach Michael Malone.

Yeah, there are reasons, but there is always a reason.

I know but you also specifically mentioned Monty. So what makes you wonder?

His last two seasons with the Suns ended with complete and utter humiliating losses and then his Pistons teams were beyond atrocious and then literally the season right after he was fired, the Pistons, made up of the same talent, had a huge turnaround and made the playoffs and now just a season later, are the 1 seed in the East.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know but you also specifically mentioned Monty. So what makes you wonder?

His last two seasons with the Suns ended with complete and utter humiliating losses and then his Pistons teams were beyond atrocious and then literally the season right after he was fired, the Pistons, made up of the same talent, had a huge turnaround and made the playoffs and now just a season later, are the 1 seed in the East.

Have the Suns been better without Monty? There was a special relationship, a bond, until there wasn't.

Sometimes I think people are too quick to discard others when the answer might be to look for a repair.

 

[Superbone]

Probably. Especially if Reeves is healthy and LeBron can muster the energy. Wild card is Ayton. I actually hope he does well. Good luck!

Not to mention ye old preferential treatment from the refs that the Lakers are afforded.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Have the Suns been better without Monty? There was a special relationship, a bond, until there wasn't.

right... but it was clear at the end that it wasn't. And I still don't know how special that relationship was as much as CP3 totally changed the team and the second he lost his skills, they fell off a cliff and Monty had no answer.

Sometimes I think people are too quick to discard others when the answer might be to look for a repair.

And sometimes people wrap themselves in the embrace of fleeting success while ignoring the mountain of evidence surrounding it (like Monty's failure with the Pelicans, leaving after back to back season ending humiliation in Phoenix and then being one of the worst coaches of all time in two years with the Pistons).

 

[Phrazbit]

Monty was an empty suit his last season.

IMO he completely burned out, didn’t even try to fix obvious locker room problems. He only took the Detroit job because they gave him a insane pile of money, and was so bad there it almost seemed like sabotage.

 

[Adrian]

ESPN

@espn
·
1h


Breaking: Minnesota's Anthony Edwards is expected to play in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, barring any setback pregame, sources tell
@ShamsCharania.
Just nine days removed from his left knee injury, and after the team had expected him to return midseries, Edwards has received medical clearance and will get final sign-off after his pregame routine.

 

[leclerc]

Sounds likd a bad idea, Ant man. Hope you won't regret it. I saw RG3 hobble his career away playing on an injured knee. Devastating.

 

[Mainstreet]

right... but it was clear at the end that it wasn't. And I still don't know how special that relationship was as much as CP3 totally changed the team and the second he lost his skills, they fell off a cliff and Monty had no answer.

And sometimes people wrap themselves in the embrace of fleeting success while ignoring the mountain of evidence surrounding it (like Monty's failure with the Pelicans, leaving after back to back season ending humiliation in Phoenix and then being one of the worst coaches of all time in two years with the Pistons).

The point being, the Suns were better under Monty than they had been for years and years. Maybe the fracture was irreparable, maybe not. I think almost every Suns fan recognized the Pistons job was more about the money.

The Suns turnaround started in the bubble season before Chris Paul ever arrived. I'm not saying, Chris Paul didn't help push the Suns to the next level because he did, but the Suns were already on their way.

 

[Hoop Head]

It's like, what have you done for me lately around the NBA.

I sometimes wonder about what if the Suns had kept Monty.

The Mosely firing was rumored since the playoffs started. Apparently the players don't care for him. I believe it was Paolo who was willing to put down an ultimatum of trade me or fire him.

Go figure though, Monty spent a minute in Detroit since he left. Both teams are in better shape now,

 

[Cheesebeef]

The point being, the Suns were better under Monty than they had been for years and years. Maybe the fracture was irreparable, maybe not.

They lost at home back to back years in the playoffs, while being down in deciding games by at least 40 POINTS in each deciding game. That's a team that's broken.

I think almost every Suns fan recognized the Pistons job was more about the money.

I'm a little confused to your point here. is that statement supposed to be a way of kind of excusing why Monty was so bad there because it was just a money job ands that it was a terrible job in the first place?

Because what we've actually seen is the Pistons had a LOT of talent and Monty SUCKED BEYOND WORDS figuring out how to use it, evidenced by the fact that right after he got fired, the talent was mostly the same and with a new coach they had one of the biggest win addition turnarounds in NBA history.

The Suns turnaround started in the bubble season before Chris Paul ever arrived. I'm not saying, Chris Paul didn't help push the Suns to the next level because he did, but the Suns were already on their way.

The Suns were def making strides to be an up and coming play-in team, but CP3 instantly vaulted them into a title contender. And the SECOND he fell off a cliff, so did the team. That can't be denied. And at that point Monty had no answers. Two consecutive seasons.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Mosely firing was rumored since the playoffs started. Apparently the players don't care for him. I believe it was Paolo who was willing to put down an ultimatum of trade me or fire him.

Go figure though, Monty spent a minute in Detroit since he left. Both teams are in better shape now,

Looking back in retrospect, trying to be objective, are the Suns really better?

Those first three seasons under Monty were special less the disappointing playoff exit against the Mavericks.

As the Suns GM. James Jones might have as much or more blame to shoulder than Monty.

 

[Mainstreet]

They lost at home back to back years in the playoffs, while being down in deciding games by at least 40 POINTS in each deciding game. That's a team that's broken.

The Suns were relevant under Monty. That is something to consider.

I'm a little confused to your point here. is that statement supposed to be a way of kind of excusing why Monty was so bad there because it was just a money job ands that it was a terrible job in the first place?

Because what we've actually seen is the Pistons had a LOT of talent and Monty SUCKED BEYOND WORDS figuring out how to use it, evidenced by the fact that right after he got fired, the talent was mostly the same and with a new coach they had one of the biggest win addition turnarounds in NBA history.

IMO, I think Monty left his heart in Phoenix. I think the money was too good to turn down in Detroit.

The Suns were def making strides to be an up and coming play-in team, but CP3 instantly vaulted them into a title contender. And the SECOND he fell off a cliff, so did the team. That can't be denied. And at that point Monty had no answers. Two consecutive seasons.

Maybe another point guard would have given the Suns a bump as well, maybe not as much as Chris Paul, but it's something to consider.

The whole point of my discussion is to reflect on the Suns rise and reexamine why the Suns are where they are today, not cast judgment.

 

[Hoop Head]

Looking back in retrospect, trying to be objective, are the Suns really better?

Those first three seasons under Monty were special less the disappointing playoff exit against the Mavericks.

As the Suns GM. James Jones might have as much or more blame to shoulder than Monty.

I think we're better today and better set for the future but it cost us 2-3 years of phoning it in to get there. We're closer to being a consistent playoff team now than the day he was fired. At best we were a year of competing with KD, which led to heing swept.

 

[Chaplin]

The Suns were def making strides to be an up and coming play-in team, but CP3 instantly vaulted them into a title contender. And the SECOND he fell off a cliff, so did the team. That can't be denied. And at that point Monty had no answers. Two consecutive seasons.

Ain't that the truth. CP3 was the one who made us contenders. He was also the one that made us failures.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think we're better today and better set for the future but it cost us 2-3 years of phoning it in to get there. We're closer to being a consistent playoff team now than the day he was fired. At best we were a year of competing with KD, which led to heing swept.

I guess it is comparing it to what version of the Suns you want in recent years.

How I wish James Jones had chosen a different direction than trading for Kevin Durant and later Bradley Beal.

Replacing Jae Crowder would have been a step in the right direction and less costly. The Suns didn't need a star there to be relevant, just an upgrade. Adding an Aaron Gordon type player would have helped immensely.

 

[Hoop Head]

I guess it is comparing it to what version of the Suns you want in recent years.

How I wish James Jones had chosen a different direction than trading for Kevin Durant and later Bradley Beal.

Replacing Jae Crowder would have been a step in the right direction and less costly. The Suns didn't need a star there to be relevant, just an upgrade. Adding an Aaron Gordon type player would have helped immensely.

I think the KD acquisition was the point of no return for Monty here. It sealed his fate and led us to Beal also. So ultimately a Crowder deal could have changed things but the KD deal was diving in head first.

It is tough to compare but I can't imagine anyone thinks we were in a better spot with KD here, and Beal, instead of Jalen, Dillon, and Maluach. We made the most of a bad situation and now need to touch it out just a little longer until our picks are ours again.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the KD acquisition was the point of no return for Monty here. It sealed his fate and led us to Beal also. So ultimately a Crowder deal could have changed things but the KD deal was diving in head first.

It is tough to compare but I can't imagine anyone thinks we were in a better spot with KD here, and Beal, instead of Jalen, Dillon, and Maluach. We made the most of a bad situation and now need to touch it out just a little longer until our picks are ours again.

It was like the Suns dove head first into a swimming pool without water.

I'm so thankful the Rockets traded for Durant. It could have been much worse.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I guess it is comparing it to what version of the Suns you want in recent years.

How I wish James Jones had chosen a different direction than trading for Kevin Durant and later Bradley Beal.

Replacing Jae Crowder would have been a step in the right direction and less costly. The Suns didn't need a star there to be relevant, just an upgrade. Adding an Aaron Gordon type player would have helped immensely.

The KD trade was a terrible decision. They really should have let that season run its course and then figured out how to truly revamp the team, probably using Bridges and picks to pair Book with another superstar o build around.

But assuming they did what you’re suggesting… who was the Aaron Gordon-type player that was available back in 2023 that not only was going to shore up our massive short-coming at PF, but also be such an impact maker as to overcome CP3 eye-popping decline and Ayton’s obvious checked-out mentality by then and what would they have had to give up to get him?

 

[Mainstreet]

The KD trade was a terrible decision. They really should have let that season run its course and then figured out how to truly revamp the team, probably using Bridges and picks to pair Book with another superstar o build around.

But assuming they did what you’re suggesting… who was the Aaron Gordon-type player that was available back in 2023 that not only was going to shore up our massive short-coming at PF, but also be such an impact maker as to overcome CP3 eye-popping decline and Ayton’s obvious checked-out mentality by then and what would they have had to give up to get him?

At least the Suns would have kept their assets mostly intact except for trading Crowder and perhaps a 1st round pick for a player to replace him.

GM James Jones was so locked onto Durant, I doubt he explored the market.

Anyway, the Suns didn't have to throw a Hail Mary pass play because a new owner gave him permission.

 

[Raindog]

I will maintain to my dying day that both the Durant and the Beal trades were all James Jones' brainstorms, especially the throwing in every possible draft pick from here to eternity.

Ishbia signed off on that because he was the new owner and was obviously insistent on doing something splashy to win over the fanbase, but the Durant trade was being cooked up well before Ish was the new owner. I assume Sarver was likely reticent about it because we all know how he felt about any risk of any potential cap penalties, but once Ish took over, that was no longer a consideration.

But even before, it had long been obvious how much Jones believed in the "superstar roster" personnel strategy, as well as his documented disregard for the draft. It should be clear to anyone that he was the primary architect of that disaster (albeit possibly with Isiah Thomas's additional input).

Ishbia should have been more circumspect about that, but was likely over eager to impress with his new toy.

 

[Mainstreet]

I will maintain to my dying day that both the Durant and the Beal trades were all James Jones' brainstorms, especially the throwing in every possible draft pick from here to eternity.

Ishbia signed off on that because he was the new owner and was obviously insistent on doing something splashy to win over the fanbase, but the Durant trade was being cooked up well before Ish was the new owner. I assume Sarver was likely reticent about it because we all know how he felt about any risk of any potential cap penalties, but once Ish took over, that was no longer a consideration.

But even before, it had long been obvious how much Jones believed in the "superstar roster" personnel strategy, as well as his documented disregard for the draft. It should be clear to anyone that he was the primary architect of that disaster (albeit possibly with Isiah Thomas's additional input).

Ishbia should have been more circumspect about that, but was likely over eager to impress with his new toy.

Yes, it was a perfect storm.

 

[Hoop Head]

I will maintain to my dying day that both the Durant and the Beal trades were all James Jones' brainstorms, especially the throwing in every possible draft pick from here to eternity.

Ishbia signed off on that because he was the new owner and was obviously insistent on doing something splashy to win over the fanbase, but the Durant trade was being cooked up well before Ish was the new owner. I assume Sarver was likely reticent about it because we all know how he felt about any risk of any potential cap penalties, but once Ish took over, that was no longer a consideration.

But even before, it had long been obvious how much Jones believed in the "superstar roster" personnel strategy, as well as his documented disregard for the draft. It should be clear to anyone that he was the primary architect of that disaster (albeit possibly with Isiah Thomas's additional input).

Ishbia should have been more circumspect about that, but was likely over eager to impress with his new toy.

In a normal year I think Sarver may allow the original trade to happen but since he was suspended and unable to be a part of welcoming KD here, he wasn't going to sit on the sidelines.

I agree with everything else you said, just wanted to add a little context. JJ was such a stooge.

 

[GatorAZ]

WHAT

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

I saw the replay of that landing plant knee and thought he was done. Ant is like a young MJ where his tendons are just different.