Game 54: Phoenix Suns (43-10) @ Philadelphia 76ers (32-21) l Tuesday l 5:00pm

[Qwigglez]

Bucks are still the team that probably worries the Suns in terms of playoff matchups. Miami maybe a close second with how their roster is constructed.

I think Bucks letting Tucker leave will help us in a playoff matchup with them. We beat them in the reg season last season when they didn’t have Tucker but then had difficulty in then playoffs with Tucker playing key role defensively against us.

Yeah Bucks to me are still the biggest threat because we can't stop Giannis. We can force Steph to have a poor shooting night but we haven't really found a consistent way to stop Giannis. The big L for them imo is losing Brolo, less so PJ. I'm not sure what his status is but I've heard he may not be back this season and other places I've read is close to coming back. It's hard to tell what's what

I think losing PJ definitely hurts them. They got length to bother Paul and Book with the arms of Jrue, Middleton, and Giannis. That’s not going to change but at least they don’t have that 110% effort and hustle defender off the bench like PJ. I’m hoping Cam Jo is the guy that starts to step up more in the next couple of months. I think Booker has taken the challenge of leading the team more since the beginning of the season, but we still need another go-to scorer.

[lilfishi22]

Bucks are still the team that probably worries the Suns in terms of playoff matchups. Miami maybe a close second with how their roster is constructed.

I think Bucks letting Tucker leave will help us in a playoff matchup with them. We beat them in the reg season last season when they didn’t have Tucker but then had difficulty in then playoffs with Tucker playing key role defensively against us.

Yeah Bucks to me are still the biggest threat because we can't stop Giannis. We can force Steph to have a poor shooting night but we haven't really found a consistent way to stop Giannis. The big L for them imo is losing Brolo, less so PJ. I'm not sure what his status is but I've heard he may not be back this season and other places I've read is close to coming back. It's hard to tell what's what

I think losing PJ definitely hurts them. They got length to bother Paul and Book with the arms of Jrue, Middleton, and Giannis. That’s not going to change but at least they don’t have that 110% effort and hustle defender off the bench like PJ. I’m hoping Cam Jo is the guy that starts to step up more in the next couple of months. I think Booker has taken the challenge of leading the team more since the beginning of the season, but we still need another go-to scorer.

With PJ, he mostly just made it tough for Book and allow Jrue/Midds to guard someone else but Book still managed to average 28ppg in the series. It does hurt especially since PJ is shooting the 3 at a ridiculous clip this season but I thought BroLo was a bigger loss for them because he's a guy that created so many defensive issues with his ability to force our rim protectors out of the paint. IIRC we had had Crowder primarily on Giannis for most of the series and I remember Giannis seeing very little help D because Brolo would pull the other big out of the paint.

[Puff]

Embiid did his thing but Aytons defense was solid all night

Gimme a break. The way you pamper this guy is amazing. He got schooled tonight plain and simple.

Almost as bad as McGee schooled Drummomd.

Can you imagine CP3 as Embiid's PG?

[thamadkant]

Embiid did his thing but Aytons defense was solid all night[/quote

Gimme a break. The way you pamper this guy is amazing. He got schooled tonight plain and simple.

Almost as bad as McGee schooled Drummomd.

Can you imagine CP3 as Embiid's PG?

Dude we know you PRAY every night to have Ayton traded and still angry Suns took him over Luka.


Embiid shot 25 times, Ayton shot the ball 8 times.... not even counting the amount of times Embiid touched the ball over Ayton. Embiid has the green light to shoot and dominate the offense and he gets every call. Ayton did fine getting his hand up and denying Embiid a few more possessions, but that hurt you... we all know.

[bwgood77]

Bucks are still the team that probably worries the Suns in terms of playoff matchups. Miami maybe a close second with how their roster is constructed.

I think Bucks letting Tucker leave will help us in a playoff matchup with them. We beat them in the reg season last season when they didn’t have Tucker but then had difficulty in then playoffs with Tucker playing key role defensively against us.

Well and Lopez is out. Floor stretching C for Giannis is important. Fortunately for them, Portis has been starting next to Giannis in the frontcourt and his shooting over 42% from 3 (5-9 tonight).

Giannis is unstoppable though, so you can't really blame anyone. I mean AD is a pretty good defender and LeBron can be if he wants and Giannis dropped 44 tonight...with 14 boards, 8 assists, a couple blocks.

Their problem will be depth though if Lopez doesn't come back. Their backup big is Greg Monroe.

Grayson Allen helps in place of PJ.

But their bench other than Monroe is DiVincenzo and Connaghton...not much else after that.

[sunsbg]

Great to see Mikal taking a bigger part of the offensive load. Wanted to see him and DA do it this season to deserve the big contracts and raise this team's ceiling.

Embiid is too good of an offensive threat with such great touch on his jumpers. DA has also shown potential from the mid-range, but Suns don't use him this way at all, there are people here, who also think he should not take this shot. He certainly sacrifices playing the role of a screener and lob finisher. Still nice to see two of his made shots came actually from mid-range.

So no Cam J in ASG three point contest. As the commenter said I'm reporting a crime. ASG has turned into a garbage game anyway, but I'm officially boycotting it this year.

[RunDogGun]

Not shocked the Suns are getting snubbed in a way for the ASG. It is what it is.

[Puff]

Embiid did his thing but Aytons defense was solid all night[/quote

Gimme a break. The way you pamper this guy is amazing. He got schooled tonight plain and simple.

Almost as bad as McGee schooled Drummomd.

Can you imagine CP3 as Embiid's PG?

Dude we know you PRAY every night to have Ayton traded and still angry Suns took him over Luka.


Embiid shot 25 times, Ayton shot the ball 8 times.... not even counting the amount of times Embiid touched the ball over Ayton. Embiid has the green light to shoot and dominate the offense and he gets every call. Ayton did fine getting his hand up and denying Embiid a few more possessions, but that hurt you... we all know.

I am certain that is Ayton would be able to get open or take it to the rim against Embiid he woud have received more shots.

Embiid 34 pts, 12 Rbds, 3 Assists
Ayton 10 Pts, 6 rbds, 0 assist
McGee 15 pts, 12 rbds, 3 assists.

I repeat, Ayton got schooled and has yet to prove to me that he deserves a max contract. Now if he steps it up and leads us to a championship I might reconsider.

I will not change my belief that we should have drafted Doncic rather than him. Of course we probably would have had no chance to acquire CP3 if that would have happened.

I wish Ayton all the success in the world and hope he leads us to a championship. I will be rooting for him to do so.

[Puff]

Bucks are still the team that probably worries the Suns in terms of playoff matchups. Miami maybe a close second with how their roster is constructed.

I think Bucks letting Tucker leave will help us in a playoff matchup with them. We beat them in the reg season last season when they didn’t have Tucker but then had difficulty in then playoffs with Tucker playing key role defensively against us.

Well and Lopez is out. Floor stretching C for Giannis is important. Fortunately for them, Portis has been starting next to Giannis in the frontcourt and his shooting over 42% from 3 (5-9 tonight).

Giannis is unstoppable though, so you can't really blame anyone. I mean AD is a pretty good defender and LeBron can be if he wants and Giannis dropped 44 tonight...with 14 boards, 8 assists, a couple blocks.

Their problem will be depth though if Lopez doesn't come back. Their backup big is Greg Monroe.

Grayson Allen helps in place of PJ.

But their bench other than Monroe is DiVincenzo and Connaghton...not much else after that.

While Giannis received the most credit for their championship, Middleton and Holiday had a huge part as well. If we get another chance at them we really need to keep those two guys under control. Giannis is unstoppable.

[sunsbg]

While Giannis received the most credit for their championship, Middleton and Holiday had a huge part as well. If we get another chance at them we really need to keep those two guys under control. Giannis is unstoppable.

Teams appeared to have figured him out building a wall. He's also a nobody under FIBA rules with Cs being allowed to camp in the paint and not being awarded with FTs for jumping into a defender.

[bwgood77]

Dude we know you PRAY every night to have Ayton traded and still angry Suns took him over Luka.


Embiid shot 25 times, Ayton shot the ball 8 times.... not even counting the amount of times Embiid touched the ball over Ayton. Embiid has the green light to shoot and dominate the offense and he gets every call. Ayton did fine getting his hand up and denying Embiid a few more possessions, but that hurt you... we all know.

I am certain that is Ayton would be able to get open or take it to the rim against Embiid he woud have received more shots.

Embiid 34 pts, 12 Rbds, 3 Assists
Ayton 10 Pts, 6 rbds, 0 assist
McGee 15 pts, 12 rbds, 3 assists.

I repeat, Ayton got schooled and has yet to prove to me that he deserves a max contract. Now if he steps it up and leads us to a championship I might reconsider.

I will not change my belief that we should have drafted Doncic rather than him. Of course we probably would have had no chance to acquire CP3 if that would have happened.

I wish Ayton all the success in the world and hope he leads us to a championship. I will be rooting for him to do so.

Well of course in hindsight we should have. However, had we done that there is a good chance we are not a contender right now as well. Of course the flip side is we'd almost certainly be set up a lot better for the future to probably be a contender or semi contender for years.

I do think if Luka goes to the Suns his play style ends up a little different too playing with Booker. Think more like when he played with Dragic and Book playing with CP3.

Now it's especially true we should have drafted him if Jones/Sarver/Monty are not all in on keeping Ayton.

I agree Ayton is not worth the max. I do not think Gobert is either. Maybe even Towns. Probably only Embiid and Jokic.

However, I think they could have made him the #1 option and he could be easily scoring 20-25 a night. He lately has shown he will drive, he will not shy away from shooting the hook shot or jumper or turnaround or whatever. When he gets the ball in scoring position, even if covered, he can get a good shot off.

Embiid has had more years in the league.

Ayton may never reach the heights of Jokic or Embiid but they are MVP candidates. Yet I still think there is a chance...even if a small one. But I think he can be the next best C.

Now as high as I am on Ayton, and I care more about his D even though I think his offense has taken a big step this year (every year actually)..

I do not think he is worth the max.

I am hoping he realizes what he has, wants to keep the team together, that other Cs with his #s, and caliber and even all stars or close to all stars make $20-$25 million. Ideally he would end up being ok with a $26/$28/$30/$32/$34 contract for about $150 total.

Honestly if it wasn't for his agent, maybe family, the respect feeling, etc, I honestly don't think money or the difference between $150 million and $172 or whatever would really matter to him. He just doesn't seem like the type that would care.

It seems like playing for a contender, Monty, his teammates, being in Phx, etc, would be more important.

The question is, even if he was willing to take that, would the Suns even pay him that? And will his agents try not to convince him to go for the max and sign an offer sheet with another team?