Playoffs: Clippers @ Suns Sunday game thread 4-16-2023 - Game 1

[AzStevenCal]

Doctor,,, Join Aerosmith and I listening to,

Dream on,,,Dream on,,,Dream on,,,Dream on until your Dreams come true....

From the Head Coach on down we performed poorly last night. Maybe that's the way the whole series will go but I doubt it.

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

Suns go 8-0 with Okogie and KD in the starting line up

Game 1 of the playoffs

Shamet 24 minutes
Okogie 7 minutes

Somebody explain this to me

Monty Williams is an incompetent coach. That's been made clear in every single post season so far.

 

[Covert Rain]

Monty's playoff performances are nothing but collapses and getting out-coached. If the Suns lose this series this will just show it just started much earlier this year. You will be able to look back at the last 3 playoff performances and see a consistent trend 3 years running with Monty regressing more and more 3 years in a row.

I still think we win the series though. Not ready to panic.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Ayton 18/8 +13
Zubac 12/15 -11

Disappearing act though. Not Ayton’s best but he damn sure didn’t disappear

You’re right. He just underperformed and allowed his counterpart to over perform.

 

[95pro]

Does Westbrook going into the tunnel suite warrant some sort of suspension? Isn't that comparable to going into the stands?

 

[Finito]

Does Westbrook going into the tunnel suite warrant some sort of suspension? Isn't that comparable to going into the stands?

That’s how these new arenas are the players have to walk by the fans. It’s part of the fan experience and it’s stupid. That area is set up for high priced season ticket holders

 

[Finito]

You’re right. He just underperformed and allowed his counterpart to over perform.

Looks pretty even to me.

Like I’ve said for all the BS our starters weren’t really the problem. It’s Monty and the Bench. Your entire bench can’t get 10 points on 3/12. Your just not gonna win with that kind of production

 

[ASUCHRIS]

It’s Monty and the Bench. Your entire bench can’t get 10 points on 3/12. Your just not gonna win with that kind of production

They don't have to be good...they don't even have to be average. Just anything other than unspeakable awful.

 

[Ronin]

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[nashman]

Looks pretty even to me.

Like I’ve said for all the BS our starters weren’t really the problem. It’s Monty and the Bench. Your entire bench can’t get 10 points on 3/12. Your just not gonna win with that kind of production

It’s not even, Ayton was garbage he got out-rebounded by ******* CP3 that’s pathetic. Not to mention being lost on D many times allowing just wide open dunks. Dude is easily the most disengaged player we have playing in the team! In the last minute or so many rebounds bouncing off his stone hands or feet that should have been stops! Would rather have McGee and a backup PG than Ayton he’s just proven he’s not THE guy he’s just another guy, now making max geesh…

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Looks pretty even to me.

Like I’ve said for all the BS our starters weren’t really the problem. It’s Monty and the Bench. Your entire bench can’t get 10 points on 3/12. Your just not gonna win with that kind of production

I mean if you think:
18/8 on 50% shooting equates to 18/10 on 59%; and

12/15 on 63% shooting equates to 11/10 on 63% shooting

Ayton 2 less board and almost 10% less efficient shooting; and
Zubac 1 more point, FIVE more boards on same effective shooting

Underperform average
Overperform average

That’s a 7 rebound swing. That’s a HUGE advantage at a position we should have a larger advantage.

As always, Ayton was not THE reason for the loss. Monty is #1. The bench is #2. But I think Ayton is right there at #3 with Paul’s shooting.

 

[Fitz4Ever]

Zubac is so much better than Ayton. If we had him we would have beaten the Bucks.

 

[GatorAZ]

Does Westbrook going into the tunnel suite warrant some sort of suspension? Isn't that comparable to going into the stands?

Doubt it. Westbrook did nothing wrong. The fan was clearly a clown that tried to go viral and succeeded.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Did Monty explain post game why he started Craig over Okogie?

We don't need Craig's points in the starting line up, we need Okogie's D and hustle. Let him make Leonard work for his points.

Hopefully this gets corrected next game.

Yes, he did. I believe his comment was along the lines of "We wanted to put a little more height up on Kawhi."

 

[Rivercard]

Zubac is so much better than Ayton. If we had him we would have beaten the Bucks.

Craig doesn't seem too impressed. Based on this comment He must think Ayton is complete trash.

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[Absolute Zero]

Yes, he did. I believe his comment was along the lines of "We wanted to put a little more height up on Kawhi."

Hmmm.... Time to try something different.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Hmmm.... Time to try something different.

Easy to say... The reality is the Suns don't have any player who can control Kawhi. And please don't toss out the "Okogie would've been a better option" commentary... While it's fair to say that the "Suns don't need Craig's scoring," the reality is that that is only true IF KB, Book and either Ayton or Paul are scoring at extremely high rates...like, one of KD or Book going for 35+ with the other in the high 20's, and Ayton or Paul 20+ with the other 12+.
That didn't happen last night, so Craig 22 points in 27 mins were very much needed.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Easy to say... The reality is the Suns don't have any player who can control Kawhi. And please don't toss out the "Okogie would've been a better option" commentary... While it's fair to say that the "Suns don't need Craig's scoring," the reality is that that is only true IF KB, Book and either Ayton or Paul are scoring at extremely high rates...like, one of KD or Book going for 35+ with the other in the high 20's, and Ayton or Paul 20+ with the other 12+.
That didn't happen last night, so Craig 22 points in 27 mins were very much needed.

Too late, I already trotted out that start Okogie commentary earlier today, lol! But its a tradeoff, you lose Craig's scoring in the starting lineup which helps offensively when he is on the floor. When Okogie is on offense with the starters, they can leave him open and take a chance he is going to miss. We need Craig's scoring, no argument there, but I would rather have Craig's scoring off the bench, our bench scoring was dismal last night. The main stat last night is the L. Need to mix it up more now.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Too late, I already trotted out that start Okogie commentary earlier today, lol! But its a tradeoff, you lose Craig's scoring in the starting lineup which helps offensively when he is on the floor. When Okogie is on offense with the starters, they can leave him open and take a chance he is going to miss. We need Craig's scoring, no argument there, but I would rather have Craig's scoring off the bench, our bench scoring was dismal last night. The main stat last night is the L. Need to mix it up more now.

At the 10:05 mark of the 2nd quarter, with Okogie starting the 2nd quarter, the Suns went down by their largest deficit of the game - 16.

I don't envy Monty one bit... Especially with Payne a no-go, the Suns bench is laughable... I've been saying this since the KD trade. And I'm not against the trade. But Jones did nothing to replace the loss of guys like Cam Johnson, Dario & Crowder. The reality is this team wasn't good enough to do much in the post season before the KD trade. And yea, KD is an upgrade over Bridges. But losing the impact Bridges makes in a game, along with Cam and Crowder...even Dario (when healthy), and not replacing any of them in any meaningful way, leaves us in the same boat with a team not good enough to do much in the post season.

My hope is that this coming off-season, Jones and Ishbia get serious about making the moves required to ensure this team is a legit Championship contender...

 

[Rivercard]

I would rather have Craig's scoring off the bench, our bench scoring was dismal last night. The main stat last night is the L. Need to mix it up more now.

Craig will get a lot more defensive attention coming off the bench though. There is a reason he can drain 22 when KD, Book and CP3 are on the floor, Clips want Craig to take the shots in that lineup.

 

[Mainstreet]

At the 10:05 mark of the 2nd quarter, with Okogie starting the 2nd quarter, the Suns went down by their largest deficit of the game - 16.

I don't envy Monty one bit... Especially with Payne a no-go, the Suns bench is laughable... I've been saying this since the KD trade. And I'm not against the trade. But Jones did nothing to replace the loss of guys like Cam Johnson, Dario & Crowder. The reality is this team wasn't good enough to do much in the post season before the KD trade. And yea, KD is an upgrade over Bridges. But losing the impact Bridges makes in a game, along with Cam and Crowder...even Dario (when healthy), and not replacing any of them in any meaningful way, leaves us in the same boat with a team not good enough to do much in the post season.

My hope is that this coming off-season, Jones and Ishbia get serious about making the moves required to ensure this team is a legit Championship contender...

It's hard to improve a team with few assets and little CAP space.

 

[Mainstreet]

Craig will get a lot more defensive attention coming off the bench though. There is a reason he can drain 22 when KD, Book and CP3 are on the floor, Clips want Craig to take the shots in that lineup.

Yeah, without Payne, the Suns didn't have much of a scoring threat off the bench... at least when he is playing well.

 

[wagonmound464]

Except for bringing the ball up court fast and often fouling,,,,Payne doesn't have the consistency to help out much.

CP3 did that S F commercial in a 'fast-walk' contest... Wish he could bring the ball up court that
fast in these playoff games.

 

[Covert Rain]

Yeah, without Payne, the Suns didn't have much of a scoring threat off the bench... at least when he is playing well.

They didn’t have any pacing either. Payne tends pick of the pace of the offense.

 

[GatorAZ]

Our social team is shameless lol:
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