Blazers @ Suns Tuesday NBA Play-In Game Thread, 4-14-2026

[Proximo]

Booker is JAG, maybe a star player in Phoenix, but not a star player in the NBA. A very good streaky player.

He has regressed, it’s clear as day.

 

[Proximo]

How many playoff games has Book had like Avdija had tonight? I can’t remember…But the Suns are missing someone with balls like that who is clutch. You just knew he was gonna score on that last possession, and you just knew we were gonna miss at the end.

He had about 6 or 7 during the finals run. But that was his peak, been downhill since then.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Can I also just say that as sports fans, we don’t get nearly enough credit as leaders of the pack of woeful fans who perpetually get kicked in the nuts.

And it’s from every single team… at every level. Even College in the last two years… no matter if you’re a Sun Devil or Wildcat… u either suffered that horrific Final Four or watched ASU give up a 4th and 20 in the college football playoffs to go the Semi-Finals.

And we don’t need to go over every Suns/Cardinals defeat. But no one thinks Poor Arizona Sports fans. We can’t even get credit for being the best sufferers in sports or even close!

 

[JosiahLee]

I don’t think they need a miracle to win their the next game, they should win.

Really? I would bet money on the Clippers winning.

 

[Hoop Head]

Look on the bright side. You won't have to watch this mess get swept by OKC or SA. That's a win and time saved.

Still possible. We play the winner of GS and the Clips to face OKC. Thursday, I believe. Tonight was for the 7th seed.

 

[AzCardsfan76]

So around the 4th quarter I started zeroing in on Oso on offensive possessions.

if he didnt have the ball and was below 10 ft from the basket Portland just pretended he didn't exist. The dropped an extra man right outside of the restricted circle.

if he screened, they doubled the ball handler and ignored him.

You are absolutely correct. I don't know how Ott doesnt see this when he reviews the tape

100%, that’s what makes this even more frustrating. How Ott or one of assistants couldn’t see that and adjust is horrendous.

 

[ajcardfan]

Look on the bright side. You won't have to watch this mess get swept by OKC or SA. That's a win and time saved.

Since when are Suns fans ever lucky. Of COURSE they will win the next game and then proceed to get drilled in a sweep.

 

[JosiahLee]

He had about 6 or 7 during the finals run. But that was his peak, been downhill since then.

I’m gonna go back and look at some box scores bc I want to say he did have some clutch games, I genuinely don’t remember at this point. Feels so long ago.

 

[GatorAZ]

Look on the bright side. You won't have to watch this mess get swept by OKC or SA. That's a win and time saved.

With momentum the Suns could’ve snagged a game or two vs San Antonio but OKC will blow our doors off.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Honestly I come away from this game like this:

1. I still like Ott. It was dumb tonight. But he has given the team a grittier demeanor.

2. I don’t know what book can do to convince me we need to keep him. It’s too many unclutch moments for a player who is only going to get worse as his already slow foot speed become cement. Get as much as you can for him now.

3. I’m done with Oso. He’s such a net negative on offense except for his screens that it’s a joke. And he’s not a rim protector. He’s pretty useless.

4. Losing a game you lead by 8 with under 4 minutes remaining while green was on a heater is dreadful.

5. Royce showed his value tonight. The moment isn’t too big for him.

6. I think we missed Grayson. Particularly in the first half when we couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn from 3.

And just to repeat: my god was Booker awful.

 

[dscher]

Since when are Suns fans ever lucky. Of COURSE they will win the next game and then proceed to get drilled in a sweep.

I know. It was wishful thinking lol

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

How many playoff games has Book had like Avdija had tonight? I can’t remember…But the Suns are missing someone with balls like that who is clutch. You just knew he was gonna score on that last possession, and you just knew we were gonna miss at the end.

woof

Booker has scored 49 points in the playoffs once and 47 twice. He holds the all time record for most points scored in his first ever playoff run.

He had a bad game but you know this as a Suns fan

 

[Covert Rain]

How many playoff games has Book had like Avdija had tonight? I can’t remember…But the Suns are missing someone with balls like that who is clutch. You just knew he was gonna score on that last possession, and you just knew we were gonna miss at the end.

Honestly, as out of control as Jalen can be? I would rather see the ball in his hands in tight games verses Book.

I have zero confidence in Book consistently being clutch in big games.

 

[mjb21aztd]

So if suns lose n gm there out of poffs right?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don’t think they need a miracle to win their the next game, they should win.

But it’s another game where the other teams star (curry or kawhi) are better than book.

 

[dscher]

Still possible. We play the winner of GS and the Clips to face OKC. Thursday, I believe. Tonight was for the 7th seed.

Pretty strong odds this team gets messed up by the clippers

 

[dscher]

With momentum the Suns could’ve snagged a game or two vs San Antonio but OKC will blow our doors off.

This team isn't known for their sustainable momentum

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

So if suns lose n gm there out of poffs right?

Yes Friday is it. If they lose, they will be the only team in history to start as the 7 seed and not make the playoffs.

So of course they will because thats the crap we get as Arizona fans.

 

[TJ]

How many playoff games has Book had like Avdija had tonight? I can’t remember…But the Suns are missing someone with balls like that who is clutch. You just knew he was gonna score on that last possession, and you just knew we were gonna miss at the end.

Booker has been able to hide his beta personality behind CP3 and KD for years. Now that he’s the obvious #1 for the first time since 2020, we’re starting to see that he’s not the assassin that people believed him to be and that he’s at best a solid #2 on a contender.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yes Friday is it. If they lose, they will be the only team in history to start as the 7 seed and not make the playoffs.

So of course they will because thats the crap we get as Arizona fans.

Lol… now that I know that’s the case, it’s a mathematical certainty that we’re done Thursday, night.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Pretty strong odds this team gets messed up by the clippers

Agree. We are a team that lets bad get really bad. I could see losing this in this fashion carrying over. I fully expect book to come out pressing and digging a hole.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Booker has been able to hide his beta personality behind CP3 and KD for years. Now that he’s the obvious #1 for the first time since 2020, we’re starting to see that he’s not the assassin that people believed him to be and that he’s at best a solid #2 on a contender.

I mean… he didn’t really hide that while playing with CP3 or KD either. He was absolutely atrocious and looked just like this flailing guy while getting routed by 30 points in back to back win or go home games at home in 2022/2023 and then was the wettest of noodles when Ant-Man bitch-slapped his ass in the first 3 games of an ugly 4-0 sweep where the only game Book played well was a home game 4, when the series was already over, down 0-3, putting up like 40 in the first 3 quarters… and then of course come the fourth, Ant totally shut him down, pushed his ish in, en route to limiting him to a scoreless 4th and another embarassing home playoff loss to end the season.

Of which we’ll prob see one more on Thursday night.

 

[JosiahLee]

Honestly, as out of control as Jalen can be? I would rather see the ball in his hands in tight games verses Book.

I have zero confidence in Book consistently being clutch in big games.

Kinda sad but true. Especially if it’s a 3 ball. He can’t shoot 3’s. His new signature move is driving and stopping his dribble just before he reaches the paint, getting double teamed and then making a bad pass to someone.

He just makes too much money to be a beta, especially in clutch time moments.

 

[Hoop Head]

Honestly I come away from this game like this:

1. I still like Ott. It was dumb tonight. But he has given the team a grittier demeanor.

2. I don’t know what book can do to convince me we need to keep him. It’s too many unclutch moments for a player who is only going to get worse as his already slow foot speed become cement. Get as much as you can for him now.

3. I’m done with Oso. He’s such a net negative on offense except for his screens that it’s a joke. And he’s not a rim protector. He’s pretty useless.

4. Losing a game you lead by 8 with under 4 minutes remaining while green was on a heater is dreadful.

5. Royce showed his value tonight. The moment isn’t too big for him.

6. I think we missed Grayson. Particularly in the first half when we couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn from 3.

And just to repeat: my god was Booker awful.

I'd throw in an honorable mention for Avdija. That kid is the real deal. I've seen him a few times this year and thought he might be a fluke, good player bad team, but he's legitimately an All-star.

 

[nashman]

75 million dollars per year invested in a terrible clutch player is probably one of the reasons.

He doesn’t make that yet an it’s not 75 million. Why post trash like this out of frustration. This season and many other would be pathetic without Book, fans are so goofy with the overreacting after a loss or bad year geesh. Bookers don’t grow on trees even if some people think they do lol.