NBA PLAYOFFS: Round 2 l Game 1: (4) Phoenix Suns @ (1) Denver Nuggets l Saturday l 5:30pm l TNT

[SunsRback4Good]

Shamet would be a fine baseball player with all the line drives the throws at the rim.

He would be the next Ichiro just a shame he picked the wrong sport.

[Jesus_H_Macy]

I was initially leaning towards starting Okogie but the more I think about it the more I think we need to stick with Craig. Gives us these defensive matchups:

CP -> KCP (Haven't seen KCP lately...can he drive to the hoop? I hope not)
Book -> Murray (Keep up the solid D Book and show you're a true MVP)
KD -> Porter (KD is tall enough and long enough, and also a generally solid defender, that he might be able to bother him)
Craig -> Gordon (Maybe KD could handle him, but I feel like Gordon is too strong. He might be too strong for Craig also, but I think Craig can keep him honest)
Ayton -> Jokic (Can DA show out again like in '21?)

If we start Okogie to guard Murray that means we've got Book on Gordon, or Book on Porter and KD on Gordon. And neither of those options sounds very good.

[WeekapaugGroove]

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This is a good point. The clippers were undermanned but they are a well coached team that isn't easy to play.

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[SunsRback4Good]

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This is a good point. The clippers were undermanned but they are a well coached team that isn't easy to play.

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Suns are undermanned too imagine when Payne comes back then the party will definitely start.

[grumpysaddle]

I was initially leaning towards starting Okogie but the more I think about it the more I think we need to stick with Craig. Gives us these defensive matchups:

CP -> KCP (Haven't seen KCP lately...can he drive to the hoop? I hope not)
Book -> Murray (Keep up the solid D Book and show you're a true MVP)
KD -> Porter (KD is tall enough and long enough, and also a generally solid defender, that he might be able to bother him)
Craig -> Gordon (Maybe KD could handle him, but I feel like Gordon is too strong. He might be too strong for Craig also, but I think Craig can keep him honest)
Ayton -> Jokic (Can DA show out again like in '21?)

If we start Okogie to guard Murray that means we've got Book on Gordon, or Book on Porter and KD on Gordon. And neither of those options sounds very good.

I think we should start Booker/Durant/Landale/Biyombo/Ayton, personally.

[Biff]

It's going to take more than just Booker to make it past the Nuggets (we lose that last game if he doesn't go nuclear). Hopefully the rest of the guys that have been playing at half speed step it up. KD has been fairly average (for KD) and Ayton has been extremely inconsistent. Going to need more from those 2. CP3 is old and played about how I expected so I don't imagine him bringing a whole lot more this series. Hopefully Monty figures out some better rotations and stops playing Shamet as well. We will need a little more bench production.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[bwgood77]

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This is a good point. The clippers were undermanned but they are a well coached team that isn't easy to play.

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Yeah, I think teams can try anything, but it ultimately comes down to talent. When it's Westbrook, Mann, Gordon, Morris, Powell, Zubac, Plumlee, Batum, etc, those are solid players, but they are not going to give a team with star power too much trouble, as none are great defensive players and they don't have much offensive firepower. A great deep group of role players behind their stars, but wouldn't be enough to beat any of the playoff teams.

But Denver doesn't match up with us well anyway, and it will always be hard for any team to slow down either Book or KD, but especially both.

[bwgood77]

I was initially leaning towards starting Okogie but the more I think about it the more I think we need to stick with Craig. Gives us these defensive matchups:

CP -> KCP (Haven't seen KCP lately...can he drive to the hoop? I hope not)
Book -> Murray (Keep up the solid D Book and show you're a true MVP)
KD -> Porter (KD is tall enough and long enough, and also a generally solid defender, that he might be able to bother him)
Craig -> Gordon (Maybe KD could handle him, but I feel like Gordon is too strong. He might be too strong for Craig also, but I think Craig can keep him honest)
Ayton -> Jokic (Can DA show out again like in '21?)

If we start Okogie to guard Murray that means we've got Book on Gordon, or Book on Porter and KD on Gordon. And neither of those options sounds very good.

Do you really think it matters that much who starts between those guys? Hasn't Craig started all the games? Why would you expect them to go away from that? He was huge in games. It's not us stopping them as much as them being able to stop us. Craig hit some super key 3s in that series, showing the pressure doesn't get to him. Play him as much as possible unless something tells you differently by his play.

The Nuggets don't worry me. They had 1 more win than Dallas did last season. If people think we are a lot better team than last year, we shouldn't have much of a problem.

Jokic is the guy who will have to rise, and he will have his monster games regardless of how Ayton plays him. He just did it against Gobert AND Towns.

But overall they don't have enough to beat us.

[RaisingArizona]

My only wish is to never have to see Landry Shame play in a playoff game for the Suns again. When Monty was asked about it in his press conference he got really defensive and almost angry before the question was even finished. Shamet will be Monty's downfall. Weird guy to pick for a hill to die on.

He's going to be our Grayson Allen if Monty doesn't wise up.

[Hitachi77]

Barkley’s analysis: Murray / Booker is a good matchup. KD / Gordon is a good matchup. Jokic will be the difference. In other words, he thinks KD and Gordon are a push?

On paper I like the matchup. But like a lot of others, sure I am concerned that we haven’t played to our ability, and all the minutes logged is a natural concern regardless of what the players say. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if either team wins comfortably, or if it’s a tight 7 gamer.

[flagstaff]

My only wish is to never have to see Landry Shame play in a playoff game for the Suns again. When Monty was asked about it in his press conference he got really defensive and almost angry before the question was even finished. Shamet will be Monty's downfall. Weird guy to pick for a hill to die on.

he said he played shamet because the defence might guard him more than craig/okogie. Why would the defence guard a guy who can't shoot?

Way to backhand slam Craig and Okogie. Good job coach.

[sunsfan1o1]

My only wish is to never have to see Landry Shame play in a playoff game for the Suns again. When Monty was asked about it in his press conference he got really defensive and almost angry before the question was even finished. Shamet will be Monty's downfall. Weird guy to pick for a hill to die on.

he said he played shamet because the defence might guard him more than craig/okogie. Why would the defence guard a guy who can't shoot?

Way to backhand slam Craig and Okogie. Good job coach.

I would love to see that. Is there a link to this video?

I decided that I’m ok with Monty as head coach. Even though she’s horrible, our best players like him. So it is what it is. It could be worse. Im ok with Jones too, for the same reason. But both are suspect and I would keep Jones on a shorter leash with the amount of trash he’s been signing lately.

Shamet just isnt a good NBA player. He might be great in practice when no one is looking but in the actual games that matter he sucks.

I don’t think he’s a good defender either. I actually think he’s pretty bad at defense. So if I were coach I would never play him. If I were GM I would never sign him or trade for him.

Maybe one day he’ll become what Monty’s delusions see him as.

And I got Suns in 6. Maybe 5 depending on the first game.

[SunsRback4Good]

I’m not sure why everyone is voting in 6 I voted Suns in 7 to close out a grueling 7 game series on the road. Maybe my prediction is wrong and I failed every suns fan in here.

[SunsRback4Good]

he said he played shamet because the defence might guard him more than craig/okogie. Why would the defence guard a guy who can't shoot?

Way to backhand slam Craig and Okogie. Good job coach.

I would love to see that. Is there a link to this video?

I decided that I’m ok with Monty as head coach. Even though she’s horrible, our best players like him. So it is what it is. It could be worse. Im ok with Jones too, for the same reason. But both are suspect and I would keep Jones on a shorter leash with the amount of trash he’s been signing lately.

Shamet just isnt a good NBA player. He might be great in practice when no one is looking but in the actual games that matter he sucks.

I don’t think he’s a good defender either. I actually think he’s pretty bad at defense. So if I were coach I would never play him. If I were GM I would never sign him or trade for him.

Maybe one day he’ll become what Monty’s delusions see him as.

And I got Suns in 6. Maybe 5 depending on the first game.

Did Monty have a sex change?

[Jesus_H_Macy]

I was initially leaning towards starting Okogie but the more I think about it the more I think we need to stick with Craig. Gives us these defensive matchups:

CP -> KCP (Haven't seen KCP lately...can he drive to the hoop? I hope not)
Book -> Murray (Keep up the solid D Book and show you're a true MVP)
KD -> Porter (KD is tall enough and long enough, and also a generally solid defender, that he might be able to bother him)
Craig -> Gordon (Maybe KD could handle him, but I feel like Gordon is too strong. He might be too strong for Craig also, but I think Craig can keep him honest)
Ayton -> Jokic (Can DA show out again like in '21?)

If we start Okogie to guard Murray that means we've got Book on Gordon, or Book on Porter and KD on Gordon. And neither of those options sounds very good.

Do you really think it matters that much who starts between those guys? Hasn't Craig started all the games? Why would you expect them to go away from that? He was huge in games. It's not us stopping them as much as them being able to stop us. Craig hit some super key 3s in that series, showing the pressure doesn't get to him. Play him as much as possible unless something tells you differently by his play.

The Nuggets don't worry me. They had 1 more win than Dallas did last season. If people think we are a lot better team than last year, we shouldn't have much of a problem.

Jokic is the guy who will have to rise, and he will have his monster games regardless of how Ayton plays him. He just did it against Gobert AND Towns.

But overall they don't have enough to beat us.

Perhaps not, but it might. It apparently mattered against the Clips since we decided to go back to Craig after starting Okogie for however many games. I'd hope Monty isn't married enough to the 5th guy that he wouldn't consider changing things up each series based on matchups. Agree that Craig did play great against the Clips.

I've convinced myself we'll win this series (just like I always do) but this is going to be a tough series. If we bring the same level of effort/focus and execution to this series as we did against the Clips we'll lose. This Denver team is way better than the Mavs from last year. But Denver won't be able to bother us on D and get us out of sorts like Clips did. Should be a great and high scoring series.

[sashaturiaf]

Suns in 4!

[SunsRback4Good]

Suns in 4!

[Saberestar]

Nikola Jokic, asked how to defend Phoenix’s pick-and-roll: “Pray.”

Concluded a jovial media session where Joker chided the group for our “awful” questions.

He’s in a good place.

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[kennydorglas]

Old dudes playing in altitude for 40+ minutes.
Seems like a recipe for disaster.