Suns are the biggest threat to the Lakers repeating

[Side beard]

then suddenly playoffs arrive. and lebron will sweep these threats like they have not even been there.

[PistolPeteJR]

Crowder is a great LeBron defender.

Ayton is can guard AD and has the level of rim protection needed to slow down a LeBron offense.

CP3/Bridges/Johnson can do spot duty on LeBron.


Keep in kind Phoenix is this good and CP3 and Booker have been negatives. Actual negatives out there for the most part.

I think the bench will regress and the starters will improve but this has shown Phoenix has the athleticism and skill for a top 5-10 offense AND defense.

Essentially contender level team.

1) Crowder is such a great LeBron defender that he lights him up every time, as recently as the '20 Finals.

2) Ayton CANNOT guard AD.

[GSP]

It’s time to start discussing Chris Paul as not only one of the best and most portable offensive players of all time, but one of the most transformative defensive players of all time. Everywhere he goes, the team gets substantially better on both ends, even if he’s not prime Gary Payton as a man defender.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

This isnt really true and is a reach TBH the defensive part at least.

Clippers defense the season before and after getting Cp3 were basically the same (18th ranked in the league) def no substantial change at all

Houston saw a big change defensively but their rotation also changed alot. They got Moute an elite perimeter defender, Pj Tucker another elite all defense level defender and they shed defensive sieves like Trez, Brewer, Dekker and Lou Williams. Their defense was obviously better with Cp3 but its silly to suggest the defensive improvement was mostly him

Okc the season before he got that was a completely different core so its tough to say but current Okc is the 7th ranked defense with some same key pieces from the Cp3 team in Sga, Bazley, Dort, Diallo. So they havent dropped off defensively even tho they lost Cp3 and Scroeder and replaced Adams with a past prime Horford

Suns were 17th in defense last season with much of the same roster besides Ricky for Cp3 and Oubre for Crowder but Ayton missed most of the season with the suspension. They were much better on defense when he played and even a top 5 defensive team in the bubble. Ayton and Bridges are their best defenders and havent missed a game this season. You also have really young rookies or sophomores maturing in their 3rd seasons now like Carter, Ayton, Bridges etc. who are all great defenders and Crowder is also obviously a great defensive role player

[NO-KG-AI]

It’s time to start discussing Chris Paul as not only one of the best and most portable offensive players of all time, but one of the most transformative defensive players of all time. Everywhere he goes, the team gets substantially better on both ends, even if he’s not prime Gary Payton as a man defender.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

He's one of the best I have ever seen. So many little things and he still is a great athlete. You can see him communicating on the floor directing guys too if you look closely. He's like Marc Gasol in that way. He adds more than it appears. Except of course he is exceptionally productive still in every other way too. I kinda hope he wins one this year.

Yup, now watch the guys that been wrong about CP3 for years come out with all the excuses or give the credit to other guys that go to other teams and the impact doesn't follow like Paul.

[Mavrelous]

I still remember the days when it was debated who's better, CP3 or Deron Williams

[GSP]

2nd best record in the league

1.5 games from passing Utah for 1 seed

[GSP]

Just like that the Phoenix Suns have the 1 seed..............

[Mogspan]

Gotta give credit

[Flying Colors]

GSP believed in us when no one else did

[HotRocks34]

Gotta give credit

A timely bump

[Pachinko_]

Go Suns.

[IgorK]

Please. Let's not pretend like OP was some sort of prophet.

Lakers had a 2-1 lead and all the momentum until Anthony "Glass" Davis got injured again. The team is built around its 2 superstars and it doesn't work when either is out.

[Cubbies2120]

Please. Let's not pretend like OP was some sort of prophet.

Lakers had a 2-1 lead and all the momentum until Anthony "Glass" Davis got injured again. The team is built around its 2 superstars and it doesn't work when either is out.

How rustled are your jimmies rn?

[Woodsanity]

Please. Let's not pretend like OP was some sort of prophet.

Lakers had a 2-1 lead and all the momentum until Anthony "Glass" Davis got injured again. The team is built around its 2 superstars and it doesn't work when either is out.

AD getting injured is as inevitable as CP3 getting hurt tbh. Didn't see any Lakers fan say anything when CP3 was at like 30% games 2 and 3.

[Jazztop]

[youtube][youtube][youtube][/youtube][/youtube][/youtube]

Please. Let's not pretend like OP was some sort of prophet.

Lakers had a 2-1 lead and all the momentum until Anthony "Glass" Davis got injured again. The team is built around its 2 superstars and it doesn't work when either is out.

Emphasis on facts please, not hypotheticals. The facts are that Phoenix have curb-stomped the Lakers for the majority of this series and especially this game.

Give the TS credit for seeing it months ago

[Gabe Ball]

OP hit it on the head, though I think it was just a hot take that happened to be on point. Either way, the Suns are looking good in the finals, while the Lakers not so much.

[Spud2nique]

Clippers.

[Beethoven]

Lakers were cruising till AD and KCP got hurt.

[mpoo_sin]

Lakers were cruising after Paul got hurttill AD and KCP got hurt.

I helped you there!

[grumpysaddle]

Lakers were cruising till AD and KCP got hurt.

Suns were cruising to a sweep until CP3 got hurt 5 minutes into game one.