NBA PLAYOFFS: GAME 1: (5) Los Angeles Clippers @ (4) Phoenix Suns l Sunday l 5:00 l TNT

[bwgood77]

espn's BPI has the Clips at 57% to win g1. huh?

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I saw that. And for the series, 80%. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36069090/nba-playoff-schedule-highlights-2023

I am unsure how the formula works but don't think it accounts for player injuries.

even if it doesnt consider injuries, full strength clips against full strength suns is not an 80/20 split. not when our advanced team. stats are quite good too.

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I think it also considers past play of team this year, strength of schedule, etc...so it doesn't account for all our injuries we already had either. The only weird thing is that we outscored our opponents by more and had a better record, so it is odd...especially that it is that lopsided. If you look at all the others they look more like what you would expect.

[Saberestar]

The Clippers have officially ruled Paul George OUT for Game 1.

Read on Twitter

[SunsRback4Good]

16 hours until tip-off

I know what the starters are capable off but I’m more intrigued to see what Okogie, Payne, and Ross will provide.

Update: 10 1/2 hours until tip-off. Went from 168 hours last Sunday to just 10 hours today. Felt like a 350 hour wait.

[Saberestar]

16 hours until tip-off

I know what the starters are capable off but I’m more intrigued to see what Okogie, Payne, and Ross will provide.

Payne is questionable.

[Saberestar]

It seems that Covington has been practicing with the starting unit for the last few days, probably Lue decides to start him next to Kawhi and Batum on the wings.

Westbrook
Covington
Kawhi
Batum
Zubac

Batum on Booker and Cov on KD makes sense. They probably will switch everything 1 to 4 but I think they will try to fight over screens when Zubac is involved on the play.

I have noticed during years that Batum one-on-one is one of the players that more bothers Book, hopefully it's something from the past because Book has improved as an overall player and Batum is older now.

And Kawhi on Okogie. He will try to avoid fouls and get some breathe on defense.

[SunsRback4Good]

16 hours until tip-off

I know what the starters are capable off but I’m more intrigued to see what Okogie, Payne, and Ross will provide.

Payne is questionable.

Ouch! Thanks for giving me a heads up. I guess more time for Jock can’t wait to see what he’s capable of. We’re going to need a team effort to beat this guys. They’re not going down easy without a fight. Kawhi scares me cause we didn’t see him few years ago but we also saw PG but now he’s out.

[Revived]

Wasn’t Damion Lee very good for us in the first half of the season? I remember there was small convos of him being 6MOY candidate and by far our best bench player early on. What the heck happened.

[Revived]

16 hours until tip-off

I know what the starters are capable off but I’m more intrigued to see what Okogie, Payne, and Ross will provide.

Payne is questionable.

How about Biyombo?

[Saberestar]

16 hours until tip-off

I know what the starters are capable off but I’m more intrigued to see what Okogie, Payne, and Ross will provide.

Payne is questionable.

How about Biyombo?

He is available.

[Saberestar]

Wasn’t Damion Lee very good for us in the first half of the season? I remember there was small convos of him being 6MOY candidate and by far our best bench player early on. What the heck happened.

Yeah, he was very good and one of our best bench players but his percentages from three get worse and he played with less energy/activity IMO.

[SunsRback4Good]

Wasn’t Damion Lee very good for us in the first half of the season? I remember there was small convos of him being 6MOY candidate and by far our best bench player early on. What the heck happened.

Lee was very good the first month of the season but slowly and gradually teams began to figure him out hence why Monty had no choice but to limit his minutes. Maybe if Lee was not on a contender he’d get more minutes but that wasn’t the case here in Phoenix. Still he’s a good player that can shine under the right circumstances with our team.

[SunsRback4Good]

Payne is questionable.

How about Biyombo?

He is available.

You know Monty will bury him and not give Bizzy an opportunity even if DA is in foul trouble.

[sunsbg]

I don't see big difference between Lee, Warren and Ross. Hopefully Monty gives a chance to the one who feels it in a particular game/series.

[Slim Charless]

It seems that Covington has been practicing with the starting unit for the last few days, probably Lue decides to start him next to Kawhi and Batum on the wings.

Westbrook
Covington
Kawhi
Batum
Zubac

Batum on Booker and Cov on KD makes sense. They probably will switch everything 1 to 4 but I think they will try to fight over screens when Zubac is involved on the play.

I have noticed during years that Batum one-on-one is one of the players that more bothers Book, hopefully it's something from the past because Book has improved as an overall player and Batum is older now.

And Kawhi on Okogie. He will try to avoid fouls and get some breathe on defense.

That's interesting. I would start and keep KL on Booker as I think the Clips have enough options to get buckets on our less than impressive defense. Kawhi holding Booker to >20 will have a much bigger impact than him getting his mid-range and FTAs-which he'll be getting anyways in the 4th.

RoCo and Batum dbl up on Durant. Live with everyone else getting their shots.

[SunsRback4Good]

Is Okogie guarding Westbrook or should he guard Kawhi the first few minutes and see what happens? I know he’s short but a ferocious defender too. Maybe have him guard Kawhi and have another defender run towards KL then retrieve back once he passes out. That would be perfect and likely throw Leonard off his game.

[Jarlaxle0204]

Win 1 of 16 incoming.

[SunsRback4Good]

Win 1 of 16 incoming.

How are you so confident?

[Saberestar]

Cam Payne definitely out tonight.

[bwgood77]

It seems that Covington has been practicing with the starting unit for the last few days, probably Lue decides to start him next to Kawhi and Batum on the wings.

Westbrook
Covington
Kawhi
Batum
Zubac

Batum on Booker and Cov on KD makes sense. They probably will switch everything 1 to 4 but I think they will try to fight over screens when Zubac is involved on the play.

I have noticed during years that Batum one-on-one is one of the players that more bothers Book, hopefully it's something from the past because Book has improved as an overall player and Batum is older now.

And Kawhi on Okogie. He will try to avoid fouls and get some breathe on defense.

Kawhi, when in playoff mode especially, is one of the best defenders in the NBA. I will be surprised if he is not guarding KD most or much of the time. Covington is a GREAT (or moreso was) team defender, but he is not a great 1 on 1 defender. He will be great at quickly helping on any of our main scoring threats. But those 3 wings will probably switch a lot and all 3 are very solid defenders.

I won't be surprised also if they put Westbrook on Okogie some.

[grumpysaddle]

At least we don't get Scott Foster in Game 1. I suppose the NBA will keep that up their sleeve for later.