Game 78: New Orleans Pelicans (45-32) @ Phoenix Suns (46-31) l Sunday l 3:00pm l AZFamily

[SunsRback4Good]

Who: New Orleans pelicans @ Phoenix Suns

When: Sunday, April 7th @ 3:00pm l AZFamily

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ

[Saberestar]

Suns:
Damion Lee OUT.


Pelicans:
Brandon Ingram OUT.
Zion Williamson QUESTIONABLE.
Naji Marshall QUESTIONABLE.
Jose Alvarado QUESTIONABLE.

[Calvin Klein]

These games can turn us nonbelievers into believers. At least I'm a little bit interested again. Hope they keep it up.

[sunsbg]

Need to clean up the turnovers. Despite leading big most of the time in last game a lot of silly TOs again.

[Ghost of Kleine]

We really can't catch anymore breaks in our favor than we have with these recent runs of teams, BUT we have capitalized on them accordingly.

The key here will be to NOT play down and create a trap game by being arrogant and underestimating our opposition. We need to continue playing with energy, purpose and professionalism and GRIT!

If we can do that, then we'll turn a big corner on our residual concerns.

[Qwigglez]

Added a poll

This is basically a must-win if the Suns want to avoid the play-in. Keep your foot on the gas. While Zion is questionable as of now, Suns tend to play down to their opponents and relax too often.

[SunsRback4Good]

Added a poll

This is basically a must-win if the Suns want to avoid the play-in. Keep your foot on the gas. While Zion is questionable as of now, Suns tend to play down to their opponents and relax too often.

Booker most likely will score 50+ again unless Pelicans decide to double him. Their game plan is to defend him straight up 1 on 1 and it has not been working recently. They’re a great defensive team but against high scoring players like Booker to not double team him at this point is idiotic.

[SunsRback4Good]

Rockets are currently annihilating the Mavs 24-5 in the 1st Q. Are we seriously going to face the clippers in the first round? Because that would be brutal matchup for us.

[Qwigglez]

It would be cool for Booker to get 50 again... but I think the Pelicans will be more aggressive trying to defend him. With that said, I could see Booker seeing what the defense gives him in the first quarter, and if they decide to blitz him it'll give opportunities for KD/Beal to be more assertive. At least that would be my gameplan for the opening quarter.

[Saberestar]

It would be cool for Booker to get 50 again... but I think the Pelicans will be more aggressive trying to defend him. With that said, I could see Booker seeing what the defense gives him in the first quarter, and if they decide to blitz him it'll give opportunities for KD/Beal to be more assertive. At least that would be my gameplan for the opening quarter.

I hope Book doesn't care too much about numbers and just play the right way in order to get the W.

Sometimes we need him to be agressive trying to score and sometimes it's much better to play team basketball and share the ball with his teammates. Whatever it takes to get the W.

[Saberestar]

Zion Williamson IN.

[Qwigglez]

There is an outside chance the Suns could make it to 4th place in the standings. Currently the Clippers are getting slaughtered by the Cavs, the Mavs are losing to the Rockets.

A Clippers loss would put them at 49-28
A Mavs loss would put them at 47-31
A Suns win would put them at 47-31

We play the Clippers back to back, which could tie the Suns and Clippers record at 49-31. Suns would have a tied series with the Clippers since we lost the previous two games to the Clippers. First game Suns lost by 7 (without KD), 2nd game Suns got smashed by 27. So I'm unsure how the tiebreaker would work.

Just putting it out there.

[bwgood77]

Zion Williamson IN.

I thought that meant injured and had to go check and come back and say he's playing, but now realize that is what you were saying.

[SunsRback4Good]

Caitlin Clark lost my day is officially ruined unless the Suns win.

[SunsRback4Good]

Added a poll

This is basically a must-win if the Suns want to avoid the play-in. Keep your foot on the gas. While Zion is questionable as of now, Suns tend to play down to their opponents and relax too often.

You’re a good boy. Thank you for including a poll.

[SkyBill40]

We have to get this one.

[Saberestar]

We have lately the best defense in the league.

[bwgood77]

Wow, the Clippers made a huge comeback to beat the Cavs. Mavs/Rockets in OT.

[Saberestar]

We are doing a nice work moving our feet on defense. High effort.

[Saberestar]

Alvarado doing a good job on Book.