GAME 53: Suns (36-14) @ Clippers (34-18)—Thursday 7PM PDT

[og15]

Called it, not the Rondo good game, but CP3 being pretty non-existent tonight. No way after a 43 minute OT game was Chris Paul at his age going to have much energy tonight on a road game on the back end of a back to back.

Well called. CP is hiding his cards. So are the coaches. This was a vanilla match, tactics-wise.

But I do think the Clippers dominated rather easily. The Suns were in NO DANGER of winning this game, as we pulled away easily in the 4th and put it into garbage time.

These Suns could certainly take us to six games with maximum effort, but probably only 5. They came in as the HOTTEST team in the NBA and the Clips treated this like a scrimmage. I don't think back-to-back fatigue had anything to do with it--the Suns came in as a young team on a high and the Clips are just only waking up and starting their season.

The Suns gave it all they had and never got close even while Ty was experimenting with lineups all night. I didn't even watch the score after awhile. This was a TOTAL win.

I don't know if I would call it hiding his cards. I think I would refer to that's being and old man (in basketball terms).

Father time is undefeated. Props to CP3 for finding ways of improving his durability at an older age, but there's no magic to recovery time. You could see that first half the had their first wind, then second half, they didn't have that second wind, and Clippers saw the weakened animal and went for the kill.

Out of Phoenix's bottom 10 3PT shooting games this season, 9/10 have been on the road. At the minimum, this suggests that they are a team that would benefit from HCA in the playoffs maybe more than others.

[og15]

@Sixers
@Blazers could be tough
@Suns
Denver
Lakers (that late they should have guys back)

So at least 5 tough games. I'd assume maybe splitting those 3-2. Probably end up slipping and losing two or three others, that would put them at around 15-4.

You also have to factor in 1 or 2 slip up games against an inferior team due to lack of focus or fatigue- like the Orlando game

Yea, that's what I was thinking, go 3-2 against the tougher matchups, then they can go around 12-2 against the weaker teams, maybe 11-3 depending on if someone gets hot too.

[TheNewEra]

Suns exploited us in the post tonight, but they won't be able to do that for 7 games. Suns are playing well, but after Captain choke, the 2nd most playoff tested player they have is Jae Crowder. Ayton will have trouble with the playoff pressure.

Suns had a lot of non-calls on them tonight where we got whistled for less contact (e.g. Kawhi dunk). Don't see that happening in the playoffs.

.. why wouldn't they be able to do that for 7 games? we have no one to guard Ayton or a strong rim protector. Zu got crushed today.

Also I wouldn't be calling anyone "Captain choke" when we have PG.

It’s one game it’s hard to tell anything off one game. The bench led by Kennard in points won the first game and now the team looks completely different and we even had Ibaka and Batum starting then. Ayton also went off for 24 in that game and still took the L. Clippers are still trying to find the right combination that fits together

[Wammy Giveaway]

You answered your own question.

I don't know what question I asked that would end up being answered later, but I do know that I've known the ejection thing has been happening for a few years now. Maybe it's the coaching change of Lue that's fixed all the bad habits that Doc Rivers imprinted on them.

[esqtvd]

Called it, not the Rondo good game, but CP3 being pretty non-existent tonight. No way after a 43 minute OT game was Chris Paul at his age going to have much energy tonight on a road game on the back end of a back to back.

Well called. CP is hiding his cards. So are the coaches. This was a vanilla match, tactics-wise.

But I do think the Clippers dominated rather easily. The Suns were in NO DANGER of winning this game, as we pulled away easily in the 4th and put it into garbage time.

These Suns could certainly take us to six games with maximum effort, but probably only 5. They came in as the HOTTEST team in the NBA and the Clips treated this like a scrimmage. I don't think back-to-back fatigue had anything to do with it--the Suns came in as a young team on a high and the Clips are just only waking up and starting their season.

The Suns gave it all they had and never got close even while Ty was experimenting with lineups all night. I didn't even watch the score after awhile. This was a TOTAL win.

Your squad played well. Props to them.

But Ayton, CP3, and Booker each played 40+ mins against Utah in an OT game on Wednesday. I'm not sure how you say that has no impact.

The Suns went nearly 2 quarters without making 3 and they were missing wide open shots. Tired legs definitely played a role in that.

I say this because the Suns came in on a high, shot 66% in the first half and only led by 2 at the break. Meanwhile, Ty was experimenting with combinations. I don't think the Clippers were really tested even while the Suns had their legs.

[esqtvd]

You answered your own question.

I don't know what question I asked that would end up being answered later, but I do know that I've known the ejection thing has been happening for a few years now. Maybe it's the coaching change of Lue that's fixed all the bad habits that Doc Rivers imprinted on them.

Doc BEGGED them time and again and year after year to stop the whining and let HIM work the refs. And if you go look up the FTAs for the Sixers compared to last year and the Clippers compared to last year, Doc is one of the best whiners in the business. But in the end, if a player can't keep it in his pants, no coach is gonna fix him.

As far as the ejections last night, I want MORE of that, not less. Except for Beverley, this team has been far too laid back for my taste. In fact, I'd like to see Ty get T-ed up now and then and work the refs a helluva lot more.

[Wammy Giveaway]

As far as the ejections last night, I want MORE of that, not less. Except for Beverley, this team has been far too laid back for my taste. In fact, I'd like to see Ty get T-ed up now and then and work the refs a helluva lot more.

I want Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to get ejected from a game. If they do that, it will validate the 3-1 collapse from last season akin to taking responsibility, a reckoning, a "Come to Jesus" moment. They've shown they can score and lead by example, but can they take the lead by taking the ultimate hit, the one that would permanently ruin their nice guy images and turn the Clippers into supervillains with no hope of redemption. From there, will the Clippers accept that they will be forever hated, no matter what they do to get attention and be loved, even if they win a title?

[Clemenza]

You answered your own question.

I don't know what question I asked that would end up being answered later, but I do know that I've known the ejection thing has been happening for a few years now. Maybe it's the coaching change of Lue that's fixed all the bad habits that Doc Rivers imprinted on them.

Doc BEGGED them time and again and year after year to stop the whining and let HIM work the refs. And if you go look up the FTAs for the Sixers compared to last year and the Clippers compared to last year, Doc is one of the best whiners in the business. But in the end, if a player can't keep it in his pants, no coach is gonna fix him.

As far as the ejections last night, I want MORE of that, not less. Except for Beverley, this team has been far too laid back for my taste. In fact, I'd like to see Ty get T-ed up now and then and work the refs a helluva lot more.

I agree in that I want to see more passion and fire from the team. I don't think they took last night's game as a scrimmage like you said earlier. That game had a bit of a playoff atmosphere to it. The hard fouls from Booker and Pat Bev were postseason type flagrants

[esqtvd]

I don't know what question I asked that would end up being answered later, but I do know that I've known the ejection thing has been happening for a few years now. Maybe it's the coaching change of Lue that's fixed all the bad habits that Doc Rivers imprinted on them.

Doc BEGGED them time and again and year after year to stop the whining and let HIM work the refs. And if you go look up the FTAs for the Sixers compared to last year and the Clippers compared to last year, Doc is one of the best whiners in the business. But in the end, if a player can't keep it in his pants, no coach is gonna fix him.

As far as the ejections last night, I want MORE of that, not less. Except for Beverley, this team has been far too laid back for my taste. In fact, I'd like to see Ty get T-ed up now and then and work the refs a helluva lot more.

I agree in that I want to see more passion and fire from the team. I don't think they took last night's game as a scrimmage like you said earlier. That game had a bit of a playoff atmosphere to it. The hard fouls from Booker and Pat Bev were postseason type flagrants

True, but Bev would trip his grandmother in a pickup game if she had a breakaway.

[clipperlover]

Suns exploited us in the post tonight, but they won't be able to do that for 7 games. Suns are playing well, but after Captain choke, the 2nd most playoff tested player they have is Jae Crowder. Ayton will have trouble with the playoff pressure.

Suns had a lot of non-calls on them tonight where we got whistled for less contact (e.g. Kawhi dunk). Don't see that happening in the playoffs.

.. why wouldn't they be able to do that for 7 games? we have no one to guard Ayton or a strong rim protector. Zu got crushed today.

Also I wouldn't be calling anyone "Captain choke" when we have PG.

Not true at all. We have people that can guard him, but they all weren't available last night. Serge, Boogie and Zubac can rotate against him. The guy was having trouble keeping his composure in a regular season game and seemed very whiny. He could end up being softer than Karly Anthony Charmin once the playoffs hit and he doesn't get calls.

I have a feeling Boogie was held out, so he can get time vs Houston. No reason to show our hand with him just yet.

Fact:
PG: 13 Conference Finals games played before ever making $11 millions dollars total in the NBA.

Chris Paul: Had career earnings of $185M before he ever made a single conference finals appearance. Paul George through last season made $40M less in CAREER earnings than what Chris Paul was paid before making a conference finals. The Clippers paid Chris Paul $100M to get 0 conference finals appearances. Any bets that the Clippers will make a conference finals before they ever pay Paul George $100M?

Who can forget this masterpiece with a chance to go up 3-2:

Watch on YouTube

[RingColluder]

Well called. CP is hiding his cards. So are the coaches. This was a vanilla match, tactics-wise.

But I do think the Clippers dominated rather easily. The Suns were in NO DANGER of winning this game, as we pulled away easily in the 4th and put it into garbage time.

These Suns could certainly take us to six games with maximum effort, but probably only 5. They came in as the HOTTEST team in the NBA and the Clips treated this like a scrimmage. I don't think back-to-back fatigue had anything to do with it--the Suns came in as a young team on a high and the Clips are just only waking up and starting their season.

The Suns gave it all they had and never got close even while Ty was experimenting with lineups all night. I didn't even watch the score after awhile. This was a TOTAL win.

Your squad played well. Props to them.

But Ayton, CP3, and Booker each played 40+ mins against Utah in an OT game on Wednesday. I'm not sure how you say that has no impact.

The Suns went nearly 2 quarters without making 3 and they were missing wide open shots. Tired legs definitely played a role in that.

I say this because the Suns came in on a high, shot 66% in the first half and only led by 2 at the break. Meanwhile, Ty was experimenting with combinations. I don't think the Clippers were really tested even while the Suns had their legs.

really disagree. the Suns came off a monster OT Jazz game that basically killed both teams by the mid 4th and then had to fly to LA that night for the Clippers game.. another game where both teams killed themselves trying to win. I really wouldn't underestimate the Suns at all, they aren't going to be shooting 5 3 PT's a game every game, nor will of our role players and PG be playing that hot. It'd be a very very tough series for us, with the main issue being we have no one to guard Ayton.

Booker could be probably contained, but I worry it's a similar situation to Luka, only he's not as good of a playmaker (where they have Paul for).

[RingColluder]

Suns exploited us in the post tonight, but they won't be able to do that for 7 games. Suns are playing well, but after Captain choke, the 2nd most playoff tested player they have is Jae Crowder. Ayton will have trouble with the playoff pressure.

Suns had a lot of non-calls on them tonight where we got whistled for less contact (e.g. Kawhi dunk). Don't see that happening in the playoffs.

.. why wouldn't they be able to do that for 7 games? we have no one to guard Ayton or a strong rim protector. Zu got crushed today.

Also I wouldn't be calling anyone "Captain choke" when we have PG.

Not true at all. We have people that can guard him, but they all weren't available last night. Serge, Boogie and Zubac can rotate against him. The guy was having trouble keeping his composure in a regular season game and seemed very whiny. He could end up being softer than Karly Anthony Charmin once the playoffs hit and he doesn't get calls.

I have a feeling Boogie was held out, so he can get time vs Houston. No reason to show our hand with him just yet.

Fact:
PG: 13 Conference Finals games played before ever making $11 millions dollars total in the NBA.

Chris Paul: Had career earnings of $185M before he ever made a single conference finals appearance. Paul George through last season made $40M less in CAREER earnings than what Chris Paul was paid before making a conference finals. The Clippers paid Chris Paul $100M to get 0 conference finals appearances. Any bets that the Clippers will make a conference finals before they ever pay Paul George $100M?

Who can forget this masterpiece with a chance to go up 3-2:

Watch on YouTube

Umm what? Zubac looked horrendous last night. It's against Ayton yes, but there's a reason he didn't play a minute after the 1st half. Did you watch the Jazz/Suns game at all? He thoroughly outplayed and out hustled max all star Gobert. I'd love to see Boogie against him, but we aren't clear on his injury status and Ibaka is undersized. It's a major concern, you gotta watch more games than just the Clippers one with Ayton and even that I came away being blown away by his game.

There's no need to compare the 2, I understand we're clippers fans but we need to look at things rationally. PG had a great start to his career with the Pacers, but more recently with the Thunder and Clippers he's been awful in the playoffs. I'm not sure why you're comparing salaries and finals appearances.. they are at different stages and roles in they rcareers.

And yes, I do think CP3 and Kawhi would have been a better FIT for this team than PG and and Kawhi are. But if PG keeps up this pace might not matter, no need to hate on one of the all time best Clippers when it's really Doc who screwed up the team.

[RingColluder]

I love how pretty much the Suns and Clippers boards both feel super confident after last night's game and don't think the other team is a challenge



Really seems like we're getting that 2nd round matchup with them... ugh. I'd much rather play Utah. Hopefully Suns can surpass them and Jazz slide to 2nd.

[clipperlover]

Doc BEGGED them time and again and year after year to stop the whining and let HIM work the refs. And if you go look up the FTAs for the Sixers compared to last year and the Clippers compared to last year, Doc is one of the best whiners in the business. But in the end, if a player can't keep it in his pants, no coach is gonna fix him.

As far as the ejections last night, I want MORE of that, not less. Except for Beverley, this team has been far too laid back for my taste. In fact, I'd like to see Ty get T-ed up now and then and work the refs a helluva lot more.

I agree in that I want to see more passion and fire from the team. I don't think they took last night's game as a scrimmage like you said earlier. That game had a bit of a playoff atmosphere to it. The hard fouls from Booker and Pat Bev were postseason type flagrants

True, but Bev would trip his grandmother in a pickup game if she had a breakaway.

I don't mind PB laying some wood on some people, but I don't care for cheap shots. What he did last night was weak. If someone on another team did that to one of our players, we would want to take his head off. It is like the "fake" tough guy. You can hit someone hard and send a message without it being a cheap shot.

Morris is just stupid with some of his crap.

[clipperlover]

I love how pretty much the Suns and Clippers boards both feel super confident after last night's game and don't think the other team is a challenge



Really seems like we're getting that 2nd round matchup with them... ugh. I'd much rather play Utah. Hopefully Suns can surpass them and Jazz slide to 2nd.

Don't underestimate the Jazz. The Jazz are a playoff battle tested team that could be tracking like the 80s Pistons and Jordan's Bulls. Both were teams that kept getting there and then finally put it all together. The Jazz are going to be a tough out and the Nuggets will be also. The Suns have very little playoff experience.

Once you eliminate the outlier of the Lakers last year and the LeBron effect, there are no recent instances of a team missing the playoffs for several years in a row coming in and making the conference finals.

[esqtvd]

Your squad played well. Props to them.

But Ayton, CP3, and Booker each played 40+ mins against Utah in an OT game on Wednesday. I'm not sure how you say that has no impact.

The Suns went nearly 2 quarters without making 3 and they were missing wide open shots. Tired legs definitely played a role in that.

I say this because the Suns came in on a high, shot 66% in the first half and only led by 2 at the break. Meanwhile, Ty was experimenting with combinations. I don't think the Clippers were really tested even while the Suns had their legs.

really disagree. the Suns came off a monster OT Jazz game that basically killed both teams by the mid 4th and then had to fly to LA that night for the Clippers game.. another game where both teams killed themselves trying to win. I really wouldn't underestimate the Suns at all, they aren't going to be shooting 5 3 PT's a game every game, nor will of our role players and PG be playing that hot. It'd be a very very tough series for us, with the main issue being we have no one to guard Ayton.

Booker could be probably contained, but I worry it's a similar situation to Luka, only he's not as good of a playmaker (where they have Paul for).

I think Suns were at 100% for the first half. I was pleasantly surprised how well we handled them. As for Luka/Booker it's only those step-back threes standing on one foot 4 feet behind the line from a guy 6'8" that keep me up at night. Booker's only 35% from distance.

All credit to the Suns but I don't see the depth over there to keep up with us and I think their record is certainly helped by their starters only missing 8 GAMES COMBINED this year. Considering Ibaka was out and Cousins was rested, I like our chances.

[clipperlover]

Umm what? Zubac looked horrendous last night. It's against Ayton yes, but there's a reason he didn't play a minute after the 1st half. Did you watch the Jazz/Suns game at all? He thoroughly outplayed and out hustled max all star Gobert. I'd love to see Boogie against him, but we aren't clear on his injury status and Ibaka is undersized. It's a major concern, you gotta watch more games than just the Clippers one with Ayton and even that I came away being blown away by his game.

There's no need to compare the 2, I understand we're clippers fans but we need to look at things rationally. PG had a great start to his career with the Pacers, but more recently with the Thunder and Clippers he's been awful in the playoffs. I'm not sure why you're comparing salaries and finals appearances.. they are at different stages and roles in they rcareers.

And yes, I do think CP3 and Kawhi would have been a better FIT for this team than PG and and Kawhi are. But if PG keeps up this pace might not matter, no need to hate on one of the all time best Clippers when it's really Doc who screwed up the team.

So, if Boogie had played last night and banged with Ayton and gave Zubac a breather it wouldn't have had a positive impact?

Seems to me that in order to pull out that overtime win, the Suns had to play their top three starters 10 minutes per game above their season averages on a back to back while the Jazz only increased their players by about 6-7. Ayton plays 10 minutes more than his average and gets 2 more boards. Gobert plays 6 minutes more and increased his rebounds by 80% over his average.

Jazz will take Gobert playing 5 minutes less per game than Ayton over the course of a playoff series those extra minutes favor the Jazz late in a series. For the Jazz, the game vs the Suns was a warm-up for a game vs the playoff tested Blazers. For the Suns, it was a playoff game because they think they can get the top seed in the West.

The Jazz know what the schedules are like going forward. They are not in danger of falling behind the Suns in the standings. The Suns have 12 road games to end the season. 6 of those games are against the 8 teams currently in playoff position in the East. The Suns have a 12 day stretch coming real soon where they are @Bucks, @Sixers, @Celtics, @Nets, @Knicks, vs Clippers, and vs Jazz.

Chris Paul getting hurt down the stretch with increased minutes is more likely than the Suns staying in the top 4 spots in the West.

[clipperlover]

really disagree. the Suns came off a monster OT Jazz game that basically killed both teams by the mid 4th and then had to fly to LA that night for the Clippers game.. another game where both teams killed themselves trying to win. I really wouldn't underestimate the Suns at all, they aren't going to be shooting 5 3 PT's a game every game, nor will of our role players and PG be playing that hot. It'd be a very very tough series for us, with the main issue being we have no one to guard Ayton.

Booker could be probably contained, but I worry it's a similar situation to Luka, only he's not as good of a playmaker (where they have Paul for).

Clippers in 5 won't be a tough series. You make Ayton sound like the 2nd coming of Shaq. He has exactly 0 games of NBA playoff experience. Where is the evidence of this prime time performer when the pressure is on? It can't be from college because his team got knocked out by the #13 seed.

After getting posterized by Kawhi, Ayton accounted for 1 TO and 1 Offensive Rebound the rest of the game. The Clippers lead went from 4 to 11 once Ayton came back in. Ayton scored 5 2 pt buckets in the 3rd and the Clippers had 4. For all the buckets Ayton scored in the 3rd, the Clippers actually cut the Suns lead to 1 prior to Ayton going to the bench.

[esqtvd]

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[MartinToVaught]

Clippers in 5 won't be a tough series.

The only time in franchise history that we actually just won a playoff series without making it a million times harder than it needed to be was the Denver series all the way back in '06. Why would the Suns be any different than the norm? I fully expect an annoying 6-7 game series against anyone we face.