Western Conference | Round 1 | (1) Phoenix Suns VS. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (PHX 3-2)

[Duke4life831]

I think with Booker being out for the rest of the series, this series is probably close to a pick'em. The Pels have been one of the hotter teams since the CJ trade and they have HCA at the moment. I wouldnt call the Pels the favorite, but I think its probably close to a pick'em. This is going to be a very tight series.

This is a crazy hot take. Some y'all are gonna be feeling pretty silly by next week.

I dont think its all that crazy. Since the CJ trade, the Pels have been around a top 10 team when it comes to Net Rating. Devin Booker is also a 1st team All NBA and will finish 5th-6th in MVP voting. So the Pels are playing their best ball and the Suns just lost an elite player. Add in the Pels currently have HCA, dont think its all that crazy to think its close to a pick'em. Again I will still give the Suns the edge, but I think its very close now.

[LukaTheGOAT]

Ya I think many people are starting to realize just how much better this Pels team is compared to their overall record. Three things drastically throw it off, the horrible 1-12 start, BI getting banged up a couple times throughout the year, and the late addition of CJ.

1. Take away the 1-12 start, they are 38-35 in their last 73 games. Not great, but also not a super scrub team.
2. They're 32-26 when BI plays a full game (1 loss when he only played 8 minutes).
3. They're 12-7 when both BI and CJ play and 11-3 in their last 14 games together.

To be clear, Im not saying the Pels are some secret contender this year. But ya when you take away the horrible start (6 months ago), and all the games BI missed, then add in how well they've played since getting CJ. This current team aint no push over. And if Booker really is going to miss the next 2 games on the road, this is a real series right now.

Yup, 12-7 with a 6.57 net rating in those 19 games, which is actually a better win% if you translate what a team with a +6.6 net rating should have in wins (~57 wins). Pels 12-7 record translates to about a 52 win pace.

[enigmatics]

Ayton is one of the most overrated players in the league. Obviously playing very hard out there last game providing 0 impact.

Still amazes me any of my fellow Suns fans actually want to give this kid a max. The kid is SOFT and it pains me to say it. He picks the most inopportune times to completely disappear.

I don't disagree that DA is inconsistent but I also don't put it all on him. Look at the difference in game vs game 2. The Suns failed to make DA a priority on offense. And just like most big men, if they get established early they are usually more engaged throughout the game.

Game 1 they got him the ball in the first, think he had like 10 pts. They got him in roll, lobs, pick n pops, in the post, free throw extended, etc. He got multiple looks

Game 2 I don't remember them running a single set to make sure he got quality looks. And that's been the Suns all year. Which is why DA has a lot of fluctuation

Offense is but one dimension in which to impact the game and at his size/athleticism he shouldn't ALWAYS need to be fed directly to put points on the board or stay engaged. The professional response from him should be - "Oh crap, Devin ain't coming back? I better step up!"

There's no dancing around the real problem here - it's always been above the neckline.

[IamBBAnalysis]

Nobody wants to talk about how we were up when Booker was still in the game.

Booker was 0-2, with 0pts in the 7-8mins he played 3rd Q. His first half shooting was not sustainable especially with Herb swithced onto him.

Assuming Booker was available to close the 4th Q how was he going to impact it ?

People are ignoring the fact Suns hit something like 4-5 3's in succession down the stretch.. just so happens NO's shot 55% from 3 & matched them stride for stride offensively.

Unless Booker was going to do a better job of shutting down BI in the stretch than Bridges or the NBA comes up with a 6pt shot that they could shoot better as a team than 4-5 consecutive 3's. Suns offense wasn't the issue down the stretch.... they couldn't contain BI who was shooting over their best man defender.

If BI can continue to do that, Suns are in trouble regardless of if Booker plays. NO's with Jonas pulling down 38 boards, 16 offensive have crushed them in ectra possessions which is why with Booker going off for 31pts on 7-9 3pt shooting with CJ mostly on him first half, they only had a 5pt lead with Booker hitting a 3pt buzzer beater to close the half.

Lastly the Paul fatigue factor that Chuck brought up. Green was afamant about pushing pace & it caused a Booker injury & a Paul 4th Q burnout & now with Booker out, Paul has to carry the full load with Green no longer having issue with who to put Herb on ..

I mean...come on. Of course Booker would have made an impact. Then again, the Pelicans were the much better team in game 2. Game 3 will be a different game. I'm really not sure what is going to happen. If Booker was playing I would say it would be an easy win for the Suns but without him it could go either way. It may very well be who wins game 3 wins the series.

[Beethoven]

All the world rooting for the Pelicans. Let's get zion and BI their first series win. Would be amazing.

[bbalnation]

NOP 2 the WCF

[bbalnation]

I have a lot of respect for Brandon, CJ, Willie, etc.

I also rly like this Suns team. It sucks to see that Devin has to miss some time, but that team is deep, and Monty is great.

[Biff]

The "DA just doesn't get enough touches" argument is tired. Dude plays soft way too often. When he plays great, he's an absolute force but far too often dude just disappears. He too easily gets intimidated by guys that shouldn't intimidate him and he's not nearly as good of a rebounder as he should be, largely because he's soft as pudding. Valunciunas should never record more offensive rebounds than DA records total rebounds. DA has been outplayed by Val so far this series. If the kid wants a max contract, he needs to be dominate against guys like Val, who is a good center but definitely not elite.

[Statlanta]

Hoping the Pelicans extend the series so that Booker may play in the playoffs.

[John Murdoch]

All the world rooting for the Pelicans. Let's get zion and BI their first series win. Would be amazing.

Slow down budyy...its a lose/lose for Laker fans tbh . Pels win its with our youth and get our pick...suns win its another round of like the 5 most punchable faces in NBA history

[schnakenpopanz]

oh great to see lakers fans are still alive and firing shots everywhere.
but i get it they aren't used to be on the outside watching.

[IamBBAnalysis]

oh great to see lakers fans are still alive and firing shots everywhere.
but i get it they aren't used to be on the outside watching.

Lurking like the wart infested trolls under the bridge, looking for an injured infant to snatch up into their waiting maws.

[Beethoven]

Lose lose sure but a lose w a pho lose is ideal

[AussieRules]

Both teams playing good defense so far

[Funcrusher]

gonna lose to phx in 5 max

[AussieRules]

gonna lose to phx in 5 max

Sounds casual

[rockmanslim]

Zach Zarba just gave that other ref a titty twister

[cjx]

Suns can't beat a team with the 2nd best player in the association, BI

Who's the best player? Jalen Brunson

[Que Rico]

[cjx]

Bee-Eye, folks, Bee-Eye tha Boss