Game 45: Phoenix Suns (26-18) @ Indiana Pacers (25-20) Friday l 5:00pm l AZFamily

[Hitachi77]

i can not see this team beating the clippers and nuggets in a best of 7 series, not as of right now.
i can see them beating the timberwolves and the thunder though.
1 round t wolves
2nd round thunder
but conference finals would be clippers or nuggets i think.

So what, a few weeks ago we looked like a playin team but now look like we can win a series or two. We definitely won’t make the finals but I’d be stoked with a WCF appearance.

I think we can beat the Nuggets. Look what we took them to 6 with last year, and Nurkic played Jokic tough in the one matchup this year, which we only had 1/3 stars for.

Fully healthy Clippers would be very tough. I think they match up particularly well with us. But Kawhi has gotten hurt every year since 1982, and he’s the key for them by a mile.

Prior to the streak, I thought we were toast, but we’ve been a very different team since since that Sac comeback. I wouldn’t say we “definitely” aren’t making the finals. There isn’t a 2017 Warriors type team out there. Everyone has issues.

[Iceman36]

Just finished. We are looking good now, but how has that not been a foul on Book at the last possession? Defender got his arm all over Books shooting arm.

[Puff]

I hated the loss, but I loved the way the Pacers played. They just kept coming at us all night long and finally ending up winning. I will be rooting for them the rest of the season, unless we meet them in the finals. They are really fun to watch. They just get after it every minute on the court, refreshing.

The frustrating part on our team is that not one of our bench players has stepped up like we thought they would when we evaluated them this off season. That includes Gordon especially Gordon. Most everyone thought that was the best addition. I also thought that Metu and Eubanks would be better. What happens if Nurkic misses time with the thumb. What happens if Allen misses time with the knee and Beal with his face? Our bench has not been good. That is a huge problem.

I have been a big critic of Vogel, but this roster is really weak outside of the starting five.

If everyone is healthy we have a fighting chance, but we surely could use an addition or two to this roster sometime prior to the deadline.

Miles Bridges may be a real ass but for some reason the NBA is allowing him to play.

Prior to all his off the court stuff he was considered a great talent, and he is only 25. However, throwing billiards balls at his wife's car WTF.

[Revived]

Bradley Beal has the worst contract in the history of sports.

[Hitachi77]

I’m def glad the Pacers are not in the west. They will be a handful, especially with Siakam now. Def one of the teams I will root for on the east, and they absolutely can get to the finals.

[sunsbg]

Undeserved win against Kings, undeserved loss against Pacers. Leading all game just to have EG and Beal not taking open shots, KD not being clutch, missing key rebounds and no call for Book at the end. Okogie should have been on Nembhard especially after Allen hurt his knee. Still a positive is BB and GA came back after getting hurt. Looking forward to next game.

[Boujack]

Two conclusions:

He have lost to the Pacers without Haliburton, their best player. With him on the court it had been a lot worse for us.

Eric Gordon is an awful 6th player, but the great problem is that the rest of the bench is even worse.

[SunsRback4Good]

Two conclusions:

Losing versus Pacers without their best player Haliburton. With him on the court it had been a lot worse for us.
Eric Gordon is an awful 6th player. The problem is that the rest of the bench is even worse.

Their bench destroyed our bench 53 to 24 that is a 30 point difference. And yes, Gordon has had an underwhelming season thus far could be due to his age I remember wanting EG on our team during his Rockets days. He was a great player alongside CP3, Harden, Capela etc.. Suns desperately need a couple more decent bench players so starters don’t kill themselves playing most of the game.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

I love that Nurkic is being vocal about the BS and defending is our team/players. The referee stuff is truly egregious and needs to be put in check! I do wonder however after Nurkic went out with the thumb injury and how physically the pacers were playing and all the offensive rebounding and rebounding issues in general why vogel didn't choose to put Aziubuke in as a bigger more physical and athletic option to punish Indys bigs, etc.

We desperately need more size and physicality that can actually bang in the post, play hard, physical defense and maybe be an athletic post enforcer.

[Frank Lee]

For all you clamoring about the foul in Book at the end… they had 2 to give. Not sure if the clock would have ticked off any time tho.?

Cry about this one all you want. This is an offensive minded team. That is the strength. Cant make just one bucket in the last 3 mins of any close game and expect a different outcome. We had every chance to save this one… just didnt execute. Finger pointing can go all around

[Saberestar]

Bradley Beal has the worst contract in the history of sports.

#notsureifserious

[grumpysaddle]

For all you clamoring about the foul in Book at the end… they had 2 to give. Not sure if the clock would have ticked off any time tho.?

Cry about this one all you want. This is an offensive minded team. That is the strength. Cant make just one bucket in the last 3 mins of any close game and expect a different outcome. We had every chance to save this one… just didnt execute. Finger pointing can go all around

Foul to give doesn't matter if the foul is in the act of shooting. Should have been 3 shots, but yes, they absolutely should have scored more in the last 3 minutes.

[grumpysaddle]

Also last 2 minute report is useless and it's like cops policing cops, you can't rely on them to tell the truth about their own kind.

[Revived]

It is funny how we made all these blockbuster trades to supposedly get help for Booker. Yet Booker scores 62 and even that’s not enough for a win lol.

It’s nice to see teams like the Pacers that build organically and make solid trades that don’t involve giving up the farm for and still be contenders and win.

Indiana has a higher chance of winning a championship than the Suns do with their current cores. And it’s entirely through smart drafting, trades and free agency signings. Just like Denver Nuggets.

[Frank Lee]

For all you clamoring about the foul in Book at the end… they had 2 to give. Not sure if the clock would have ticked off any time tho.?

Cry about this one all you want. This is an offensive minded team. That is the strength. Cant make just one bucket in the last 3 mins of any close game and expect a different outcome. We had every chance to save this one… just didnt execute. Finger pointing can go all around

Foul to give doesn't matter if the foul is in the act of shooting. Should have been 3 shots, but yes, they absolutely should have scored more in the last 3 minutes.

Ahhh I see
So you think he was fouled on the shot. IDK …it was close but didn’t look egregious. Book didn’t seem too tweaked. Would like to see another angle of it… but doesn’t really matter at this point.

Watch on YouTube

Looked like KD was supposed to rub Nesmith off as Book cut to the ball. Finger or not, that’s where nurk could have been in for one of his roadblock picks. Even Metu… somebody with an Azz on them. KD is like a popsicle stick out there

[SteveNashidis]

Ishbia needs to protect the team from bad officiating. We can't tolerate what's happening. Turner's hit on Beal was brutal, and from that point on, the game's dynamics shifted in terms of physicality.

[Revived]

Bradley Beal has the worst contract in the history of sports.

#notsureifserious

Read on Twitter

And let me quote the legend Bill Russell here…

[grumpysaddle]

Ishbia needs to protect the team from bad officiating. We can't tolerate what's happening. Turner's hit on Beal was brutal, and from that point on, the game's dynamics shifted in terms of physicality.

"Common foul" lol.

[Fifii]

We lost because we don’t rebound very important ball. Where was Nurkic ? On the bench and Gordon on the floor. He early missed three shots in a row.

What’s going on with Metu , one way he is in starting five and other he played only couple min.

So much KBD on this match.

[kennydorglas]

To be fair all this shenaningans started after Book elbowed #23 in the nuts.