Suns @ Pelicans Friday Playoff game thread 4-22-2022 - Game 3

[Ronin]

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[Hoop Head]

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Everyone and their mothers know that Paul is going going to put this team on his back in the 4th, which makes it that much more impressive that he does it so well. You can see teams try to slow him down or stop him but he doesn't care, he's playing chess with how he'll find his spot or get someone else in position to score.

That has to be deflating to watch happen as a Pelicans fan, as well as every other franchise that has fallen victim to him doing that. Kind of glad the Suns sucked throughout his prime so we didn't have to suffer watching him kill us.

 

[95pro]

Suns were simply more focused. Attention was paid to rebounding. Lazy games 1 and 2, this time they went for those 50/50 balls that gave them extra possessions that the Pels were hungry for.

 

[Ronin]

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[DJ Tabooh]

Agree. I’d like to see Ayton actually make three steps next season:

1. Develop more consistency. With everything.
2. Begin to develop at least pragmatic handles so he can really take advantage of his shooting ability and the slow footed behemoths he faces off against. If he could pump fake those guys into the air and drive around them he’s be unstoppable.
3. Become more vocal and demand the ball. I can’t recall who the announcer was last night but she said when he was rolling and then missed two bunnies in the fourth they went away from him and she would’ve liked to have seen him say “I’m not missing again, get me the damn ball.” Not it’s tough to see Ayton do that with his personality, but I think the whole team (including Paul) would respect that and get on board. It would also reflect a tremendous growth in Ayton’s confidence (and not the misplaced confidence of stuff like “DominAyton”).

Yupp. There was a quote where he said he’s the best center in the league….ok do it night after night after night DA. If you miss a couple, don’t let that deflate your confidence.

Look I love Book but he has had Wayyy more bad shooting nights than DA. Do you think he cares if he misses? Heck no lol. DA’s only issue is between the ears. Once he figures that side of the game out he’ll be a perennial All-Star/All-NBA center.

 

[dscher]

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That's the good ole lulling ya to sleep...then attack. Checkmate!

 

[dscher]

Yupp. There was a quote where he said he’s the best center in the league….ok do it night after night after night DA. If you miss a couple, don’t let that deflate your confidence.

Look I love Book but he has had Wayyy more bad shooting nights than DA. Do you think he cares if he misses? Heck no lol. DA’s only issue is between the ears. Once he figures that side of the game out he’ll be a perennial All-Star/All-NBA center.

I mean, I completely agree...but one little nit pick. That's what every athletic big man's issue is in this league. If they all had that Shaq mentality in the lane, most would be unstoppable. That fear holds most of these bigs up nowadays IMO. I guess it's just the nature of the beast. Basketball gods give all that tenacity to the little guys to balance it all out...

 

[Mainstreet]

I think this is the play that started the meltdown with Jaxson Hayes.

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[Mainstreet]

Do we need to get pumped up after last night's win. The answer is yes.

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Suns_fan69]

I think this is the play that started the meltdown with Jaxson Hayes.

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I love that it was Mikal giving Jaxson some lip after that dunk. He's usually pretty mild mannered

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is better look at the play where Jaxson Hayes was deservedly ejected.

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[Yuma]

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I think Ingrahm is a harder guard when he can get to his midrange spots. He just does like KD and rises over the defender. When he's on, he's pretty much unstoppable. When that happens, you just have to go all out on ball denial.

 

[Mainstreet]

I love that it was Mikal giving Jaxson some lip after that dunk. He's usually pretty mild mannered

No telling what would have happened if Alvarado hadn't pushed Bridges away.... I'm talking about Hayes.