NBA PLAYOFFS: Game 3 - (2) Phoenix Suns @ (7) Los Angeles Lakers l Thursday l 7:00pm l TNT l Series tied (1-1)

[Revived]

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[WeekapaugGroove]

Horsechit... we spent 24 million on Saric, crowder, and Carter. And we bought them for three years. This isn’t apples to apples

Getting better next yr is going to be harder than last

Soft cap doesn't make for apples to apples comparisons though. After the Paul trade had the suns renounced the cap holds of Saric and Carter they would have been about 10/11 mil under the cap... Basically the MLE amount.

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Yeah I remember that now.... So trading for CP was the first domino into cap restrictions, he took our Oubre room....but I can’t go down that road right now.

I still wager it will be harder to make positive changes in the up coming off season. Our trade chip stock has plummeted and there really isn’t a solid stock of FA PF/Cs. Don’t really want to think of it at the moment.

Money wise sure, but as far as a desirable location their success this year will help and that's no small thing in today's NBA.

Honestly the biggest thing that could help would be getting solid minutes out of their lottery pick last year. Smiths skill set would be helpful and guys do improve from rookies to sophomores. Now skill set only matters if you can actually play and we'll see on that.

But yeah I'm not really at the point of looking at next year yet. So many variables that need to play out like Paul's opt in or out before the plan can come into place.

As far as Crowder specifically, if he would just hit his career average % of 3s this series they are probably up 2-1 and we're not having this conversation. Small sample sizes tend to balance out as they get bigger so maybe we'll be singing a different tune by this time next week.

Overall I'd rather be looking at challenging ways to improve than the alternative had they had a trash season and we'd have the 'booker is going to ask out smoke'. The suns needed to get better quickly and did, not every move was perfect to get there but they also didn't lose 50+ games like they did for most of a decade.

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[Ghost of Kleine]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/05/28/devin-booker-wont-suspended-game-4-according-league-sources/5253949001/

A little good news? Or is it more likely that the NBA just wants to minimize any more potential controversy?

[SuperSunsFan]

this could be a good grounding / awakening experience for Booker, like world cup 98 for David Beckham. Next game will be very telling of what book's true color is, either he folds or has the one of the greatest games of his life.

[lilfishi22]

Didn't watch the game but saw the score after.

Are we done? How did CP3 look in the minutes he played?

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://arizonasports.com/story/2668502/lakers-suns-game-4-preview-grinding-to-speed-up-the-game/

BY KELLAN OLSON | MAY 28, 2021 AT 2:50 PM
UPDATED: MAY 28, 2021 AT 5:56 PM

So our strategy looks to be going small since we have no size anyways besides Ayton! Saric and Kaminsky have proven to be almost entirely useless. So we'll go guard heavy for better spacing and pace!

The Suns need to have an alternative plan in place if Paul’s shoulder is still acting up. That did not appear to be the case in Game 3. Either that or it went really wrong.

Paul’s minutes with the reserves have been tremendous all season, but now those are affected too. In the time Ayton is resting, something else might need to be tried

They don’t have much else to do with the big rotation because Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky can’t protect the rim or finish at it.

Despite how even more overwhelming the Lakers’ size advantage would be if the Suns go small, Phoenix does not really have another choice if it wants to switch things up. And the Suns should, because the offense on Thursday scored 35 points in 24 minutes.

Playing three guards, getting Jevon Carter, E’Twaun Moore or Langston Galloway involved and gang-rebounding out of their minds with either Torrey Craig or Crowder at the 5 is the central idea. Space out the floor for Cam Payne drives, and hopefully Devin Booker, who needs more wiggle room.

Good to see they're finally starting to realize how useless both Saric and Kaminsky truly are if they're not hitting their shots! This offseason we really need to upgrade from both of them somehow!!!

Also, amazing that it's taken this long to understand the concept of "gang rebounding " against size, Whenst your team lacks it ( sans Ayton). So our top priority this offseason should be to add some LEGITIMATE SIZE AND RIM PROTECTORS! I wonder what our options might be via trade for Saric ? Which teams might be takers, and what might we have to add considering his respective value currently???

[bwgood77]

Didn't watch the game but saw the score after.

Are we done? How did CP3 look in the minutes he played?

Ayton and Payne looked good. Booker had one of his worst games and got real pouty and shoved Shroder while in the air getting a flagrant 2 and ejected. Crowder shot a ton of 3s and hit like 1 again. He is like 2-20 for the series.

CP3 started out looking good. Good handle, made some shots, but then I think he missed a FT and had a wide open 3 that he passed up. It was obvious he didn't want to shoot it.

After a few missed 3s from Crowder and CP3 not shooting that one, they stopped guarding those two at all, doubling Ayton down low and pressuring Book...while a guy stayed glued to Bridges.

It still didn't feel like Craig and Cam played enough. They were at 15 and 17 minutes while Crowder was at 31. I would play those two around 25 and Crowder around 20..unless he starts out on fire.

The Lakers blew the game open in the late 3rd/4th and got up by like 17 and then Payne stole the ball like 3 times and hit 3 3s. I think we cut it to 7 or 8. But then we had a few bad plays, including a ball that went right by Booker while he was complaining to the official about not getting a call. At that point I think it was like a 7-9 point game with like 3 minutes left.

Overall we were sloppy. 4 turnovers each from Booker, Ayton and Payne. Booker tried to dribble through traffic too much and make tough shots. Monty told him today he needs to take quicker shots. I have said this before but also with Paul out feel he needs to really try and be a creator by getting shots for others. He has had double digit assist games in the past and he can't feel like he has to do it all himself in these games...or as much as he thinks he has to do.

Payne made a few low passes to Ayton that either resulted in a steal or Ayton trying to grab it off the ground while Lakers also did. He may have gotten a couple of them but I think the Lakers did too. He did shy away from a few shots, but usually when there were a couple of guys between him and the basket so he'd pass out to an open guy. He still did take a lot of shots though with 15, and some tougher ones with the tougher D due to no one guarding Crowder and Paul...which is why is % dropped to 70% or so.

I think those are the main things.

I really hope Paul is healthy. If so, we can win, particularly if Crowder ends his bad streak or he gets his minutes cut down to 20 with Cam and Craig each getting 20+.

If Paul isn't healthy, he needs not really play and Payne can go over 40 minutes. Ayton and Book have been playing over 40 so that should continue.

Oh, and Kaminsky played while Dario didn't see the floor. He didn't look good overall outside of a nice block on Drummond (I think it was).

They should not play Kaminsky or Dario and have Craig/Cam absorb those minutes too.

If Paul can't go, one of the other guards needs to go. Not sure who. Probably Carter or Moore who are better defenders and can shoot...Galloway can light it up too. Anyway, none of those guy should see many minutes though unless they are just sinking 3 after 3.

We are not done if Paul is healthy. Or even if he isn't, all we have to do is take this game and re-gain HCA.

We are in no different position than we were in in 2007 against the Spurs with game 4....especially if Paul is healthy, and I think he is slowly getting better. If his shot is back, we are good.

I think if Paul is healthy we have a 40% chance to win this game, especially if Crowder also starts hitting shots. If our whole team shoots well from 3, we should win it with a healthy Paul.

If Paul isn't healthy those chances of winning probably drop down to about 20-25% and our series chances without Paul or going down 3-1 are no more than probably 10% chance.

[King4Day]

I LOVE Monty's response to this. Puts things in perspective

https://youtu.be/73VBdr91nUA?t=392

[bwgood77]

I LOVE Monty's response to this. Puts things in perspective

https://youtu.be/73VBdr91nUA?t=392

Yeah, I read a few people put that quote on twitter....good one.

[King4Day]

DA was speaking really well. Seemed like the only player happy to talk about what happened. I know we give him a hard time for being a bit childish sometimes but he has been a real pro

[lilfishi22]

Didn't watch the game but saw the score after.

Are we done? How did CP3 look in the minutes he played?

Ayton and Payne looked good. Booker had one of his worst games and got real pouty and shoved Shroder while in the air getting a flagrant 2 and ejected. Crowder shot a ton of 3s and hit like 1 again. He is like 2-20 for the series.

CP3 started out looking good. Good handle, made some shots, but then I think he missed a FT and had a wide open 3 that he passed up. It was obvious he didn't want to shoot it.

After a few missed 3s from Crowder and CP3 not shooting that one, they stopped guarding those two at all, doubling Ayton down low and pressuring Book...while a guy stayed glued to Bridges.

It still didn't feel like Craig and Cam played enough. They were at 15 and 17 minutes while Crowder was at 31. I would play those two around 25 and Crowder around 20..unless he starts out on fire.

The Lakers blew the game open in the late 3rd/4th and got up by like 17 and then Payne stole the ball like 3 times and hit 3 3s. I think we cut it to 7 or 8. But then we had a few bad plays, including a ball that went right by Booker while he was complaining to the official about not getting a call. At that point I think it was like a 7-9 point game with like 3 minutes left.

Overall we were sloppy. 4 turnovers each from Booker, Ayton and Payne. Booker tried to dribble through traffic too much and make tough shots. Monty told him today he needs to take quicker shots. I have said this before but also with Paul out feel he needs to really try and be a creator by getting shots for others. He has had double digit assist games in the past and he can't feel like he has to do it all himself in these games...or as much as he thinks he has to do.

Payne made a few low passes to Ayton that either resulted in a steal or Ayton trying to grab it off the ground while Lakers also did. He may have gotten a couple of them but I think the Lakers did too. He did shy away from a few shots, but usually when there were a couple of guys between him and the basket so he'd pass out to an open guy. He still did take a lot of shots though with 15, and some tougher ones with the tougher D due to no one guarding Crowder and Paul...which is why is % dropped to 70% or so.

I think those are the main things.

I really hope Paul is healthy. If so, we can win, particularly if Crowder ends his bad streak or he gets his minutes cut down to 20 with Cam and Craig each getting 20+.

If Paul isn't healthy, he needs not really play and Payne can go over 40 minutes. Ayton and Book have been playing over 40 so that should continue.

Oh, and Kaminsky played while Dario didn't see the floor. He didn't look good overall outside of a nice block on Drummond (I think it was).

They should not play Kaminsky or Dario and have Craig/Cam absorb those minutes too.

If Paul can't go, one of the other guards needs to go. Not sure who. Probably Carter or Moore who are better defenders and can shoot...Galloway can light it up too. Anyway, none of those guy should see many minutes though unless they are just sinking 3 after 3.

We are not done if Paul is healthy. Or even if he isn't, all we have to do is take this game and re-gain HCA.

We are in no different position than we were in in 2007 against the Spurs with game 4....especially if Paul is healthy, and I think he is slowly getting better. If his shot is back, we are good.

I think if Paul is healthy we have a 40% chance to win this game, especially if Crowder also starts hitting shots. If our whole team shoots well from 3, we should win it with a healthy Paul.

If Paul isn't healthy those chances of winning probably drop down to about 20-25% and our series chances without Paul or going down 3-1 are no more than probably 10% chance.

Thanks for the thorough recap.

Really disappointing to hear that those solid role players like Bridges and Crowder just aren't bringing it offensively. One of our star players is still hobbled and the other is as mature as a 3year old being told they can't have their toy for Xmas.

I'm not putting this entirely on Jones because we seen what the guys are capable of but the two big signings to bolster the roster (Crowder/Dario) have really turned in dud performances. Really leave me speechless. From what I saw in G1-2, it wasn't like LA were playing elite D throughout the game, their D was good but we also got a bunch of good shots that we would see normally in the regular season but the guys just can't find the basket.

And then hearing that Cam and Craig both got less than expected minutes is another big disappointment when I know these guys can contribute while the guys in front of them weren't bringing it.

[Qwigglez]

If you watch the replay on Booker pushing Schroder it's because Schroder is a dirty player and punched him in the groin. Check out around the 18 second mark.

Watch on YouTube

This Lakers team is disgusting. Lebron shoved Bridges in a game earlier this season, way worse since Bridges didn't intentionally try to punch Lebron's junk. Anthony Davis definitely has bad blood against Jae Crowder with the groin kick and in this video he's punching Jae in the face.

Watch on YouTube

At this point, I hope the Suns stoop down to the Lakers level.

[dremill24]

If you watch the replay on Booker pushing Schroder it's because Schroder is a dirty player and punched him in the groin. Check out around the 18

Yeah that definitely was the trigger for Book. Hard to say it was intentional but NBA players should be able to run/dribble without flailing their fists into guys' groins by the time they get to that level you would think lol