NBA PLAYOFFS: RD 2 l Game 1 - (3) Denver Nuggets @ (2) Phoenix Suns l Monday l 7:00 l TNT l Series (0-0)

SunsRback4Good · Post #1 » by **SunsRback4Good** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 6:47 am

Who: Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns

When: Monday, June 7th @ 7:00pm (10:00ET) l TNT

Where: Phoenix Suns Arena, Phoenix, AZ

Denver Nuggets starting lineup:

C- Jokic

F- Gordon

F- Porter

G- Rivers

G- Campazzo

Reserves: Morrris/Green/Millsap/Howard

Phoenix Suns starting lineup:

C- Ayton

F- Crowder

F- Bridges

G- Booker

CP3

Reserves: Payne/Cam/Craig/Saric

Good luck charms!!!

Spoiler:

Flying Colors · Post #2 » by **Flying Colors** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 6:54 am

So how are y’all feeling about this matchup?

SunsRback4Good · Post #3 » by **SunsRback4Good** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 6:59 am

Flying Colors wrote:So how are y’all feeling about this matchup?

Not quite sure yet what to expect. I'll observe both teams for a few games and make a prediction. But as of right now 50/50. Barkley said Nuggets in 6, Kenny & Shaq picked Suns in 6.

SUN · Post #4 » by **SUN** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 6:59 am

Flying Colors wrote:So how are y’all feeling about this matchup?

MrMiyagi · Post #5 » by **MrMiyagi** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:00 am

Flying Colors wrote:So how are y’all feeling about this matchup?

We played them 3 times in our first 15 games. We haven't seen them without Murray and with Gordon, but they haven't seen us since we actually got going. I like our chances, but it will be a hard-fought series for sure.

SuperSunsFan · Post #6 » by **SuperSunsFan** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:13 am

not good, nuggets, nets and bucks are teams i don't think we can beat.

SunsRback4Good · Post #7 » by **SunsRback4Good** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:23 am

SuperSunsFan wrote:not good, nuggets, nets and bucks are teams i don't think we can beat.

The three teams that concerned me the most going into the playoffs were Lakers, Clippers and Nets (Nuggets too if they had Murray). But now its Nets, Bucks and to a certain extend Nuggets. Funny how things can change quickly with predictions.

Bogyo · Post #8 » by **Bogyo** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:28 am

Flying Colors wrote:So how are y’all feeling about this matchup?

OKish. 3 big questions and deciding factors here IMHO.
1. CPs shoulder. If he is 100% we got this.
2. Who will be better Jokic or Book (leaders of their team, nobody can really guard them on the other team, unless we want Ayton to foul out every game, like Nurkic did - we have to let Jokic do his thing on offense, and beat them other ways).
3. Benches - I feel our bench could have a reinessance in this series, as the Nuggets bench seems fairly thin, especially at guard with their injuries. Markus Howard is (was) playing meaningful minutes for them. Even Dario could have a good (better) series here, looking at possible matchups.

Mulhollanddrive · Post #9 » by **Mulhollanddrive** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:47 am

Any game Jokic and Porter play well in they're favourites to win a they can go 50-20-10 between them.

Defensive gameplan is going to require Ayton and Crowder lockdown 1 on 1 and have some team scheme to disrupt their patterns.

Our offense will take care of itself as they're not huge resistance on that end.

SUN · Post #10 » by **SUN** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:48 am

Porter is what decides the series. If he cools off, Jokic will have to carry a heavy load.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #11 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:49 am

Let's **** go.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Sgt Major · Post #12 » by **Sgt Major** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 7:50 am

Hey everyone. I just wanna say that I'm a big fan of your team and that I'm looking forward to this matchup.

I wish you (bad) luck!

Bogyo · Post #13 » by **Bogyo** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:12 am

Sgt Major wrote:Hey everyone. I just wanna say that I'm a big fan of your team and that I'm looking forward to this matchup.

I wish you (bad) luck!

Wishing the same for you!

(I've lived in Denver for a while after I started rooting for the Suns, so they are kinda my 2nd team... I was at the Nuggets/Sonics game 3 in the famous 8th seed vs 1st seed matchup, so it would have been impossible not to root for them at that time)

Bogyo · Post #14 » by **Bogyo** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:15 am

SUN wrote:Porter is what decides the series. If he cools off, Jokic will have to carry a heavy load.

We got enough possible weapons to cover him I believe, between Mikal, Crowder, Cam, Craig, someone can stop him - as much as any terrific scorer can be stopped nowadays.

Sgt Major · Post #15 » by **Sgt Major** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:17 am

One more thing - I think you guys have the best announcers in the league, so I feel bad for having to listen to pricks like Reggie Miller commentating instead of your crew whom I'd prefer over Denver's announcers.

Post #16 » by **Qwigglez** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:18 am

SunsRback4Good wrote:
SuperSunsFan wrote:not good, nuggets, nets and bucks are teams i don't think we can beat.

The three teams that concerned me the most going into the playoffs were Lakers, Clippers and Nets (Nuggets too if they had Murray). But now its Nets, Bucks and to a certain extend Nuggets. Funny how things can change quickly with predictions.

Mostly just Clippers and Nets. Bucks haven't scared me since even before Rubio Suns gave the Bucks problems. Nuggets worried me a bit with Murray, but with Austin Rivers as the starter I'm not as concerned. Even though Rivers played well in the 1st round against the Blazers, I attribute that with just really poor defense by the Blazers, who they even allowed Aaron Gordon to shoot over 50% from 3. I expect the Suns to play much better defense, and after beating the Lakers I think the Suns confidence should be soaring. Though that could be a bad thing going into this matchup, I'm certain CP3 won't allow the team to get too ahead of themselves and respect your opponent.

Post #17 » by **Qwigglez** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:20 am

Also think this is the series where Dario Saric will redeem himself, since he won't get bullied nearly as badly having to maybe face Green, Millsap, and Jokic. Tough guys but they aren't as explosive and big as the Lakers bigs.

suns12345 · Post #18 » by **suns12345** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:33 am

I think DA is a good matchup for Jokic. His mobility, shot fake discipline and strength match up well against him I think. Can guard him comfortably on the perimiter.

Post #19 » by **Qwigglez** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:38 am

suns12345 wrote:I think DA is a good matchup for Jokic. His mobility, shot fake discipline and strength match up well against him I think. Can guard him comfortably on the perimiter.

It's the Euro flopping with Jokic that scares me. Ayton got baited on Marc Gasol's 3 against the Lakers, Jokic will get Ayton occasionally and that can change the tide of a game quickly if Ayton has to step out due to foul trouble. Ayton has plenty of film to look over in the next 4 days or so before the game.

Bogyo · Post #20 » by **Bogyo** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 8:53 am

Qwigglez wrote:
suns12345 wrote:I think DA is a good matchup for Jokic. His mobility, shot fake discipline and strength match up well against him I think. Can guard him comfortably on the perimiter.

It's the Euro flopping with Jokic that scares me. Ayton got baited on Marc Gasol's 3 against the Lakers, Jokic will get Ayton occasionally and that can change the tide of a game quickly if Ayton has to step out due to foul trouble. Ayton has plenty of film to look over in the next 4 days or so before the game.

Yeah, and he is legit MVP caliber this season. Just murdered Nurkic too, and he is a good defender, who knows Jokic's game pretty well, same euro-school, same early days in Denver, etc... Ayton will have his hands full, and I bet he will have 2-3 "foul-trouble" games this series. Lucky for us, Saric is not as unplayable against this less athletic Denver lineup as he was against the more athletic (and even bigger) Lakers lineup.

Who's winning the series?