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Here we have two teams who faced each other in the western conference finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. One team made the Finals, the other eliminated. One got a humiliating 2nd round exit, the other disqualified. Both teams acquired a superstar under unique circumstances: one was a trade while recovering off an injury who arrived under a very dysfunctional franchise; the other off a buyout after having his confidence shattered by the expectations of the greatest franchise in NBA history.

One thing they both share in common: they're risks. Risks that could end up being their last chance at a ring. The Suns-Durant trade is a last resort, all in their efforts to save Chris Paul's career and Hall Of Fame legacy now that age is catching up to him. The Clippers-Westbrook buyout signing is was met with such negative criticism that it created a divide within their fanbase, something the front office did not expect. I remarked on another board here that the Suns trio of Paul-Booker-Durant will be the shortest lived Big 3 in NBA history - now this applies to Westbrook-George-Leonard.

What's at stake? Their jobs. Williams and Lue, Jones and Frank (and West), Paul and George. And a rebuild. By making these superstar moves, the Suns and Clippers are officially on the hot seat.

Which of these two teams is in the greatest pressure, in that only a championship can save them? Fail, and this team is back in the lottery for quite some time.

Wammy Giveaway wrote:, all in their efforts to save Chris Paul's career and Hall Of Fame legacy now that age is catching up to him. The Clippers-Westbrook buyout signing is was met with such negative criticism that it created a divide within their fanbase, something the front office did not expect.

To me the former is not entirely true, while the latter is overblown.

Regarding the Suns acquisition, they simply realized that Booker won't get them to the promised land as a first option, while Ayton isn't a real 2nd option in the NBA and CP3 is definitely aging. If the Suns don't win this year or next, Booker and Ayton will still be in their primes so it's really not such a big deal, since they'll be able to just re-tool.

As for the Clippers, Westbrook is an experiment, but they didn't give up anything to acquire him. If he doesn't work out for them, they can simply ask him to work from home for the remainder of the season. One could say that trying to integrate him could mess up their chemistry, however, they have never really relied on chemistry cause they always have major pieces load managing or just being absent for extended periods of time. Therefore, their goal is just to be healthy when the playoffs start and live with the results.

Kawhi Leonard did not play one game of that WCF series in 2021.

Clippers gave up SGA and picks to get Paul George. Kawhi still has a couple of good years left. Clippers are playing well right now. We will have to see what happens .

Clippers easily. Window is almost closed.

I don't know about jobs being at stake but I think the amount of pressure is even for both teams barring no injuries. Yes, there are only 22 games left in the season but the media is basically saying there's no excuse for the Suns not to win a title this year with Durant, that's how highly they think of him. If they're healthy and get knocked out by a team like Den/Mem/Dal who the media feels is inferior then they are going to come down hard on Durant. Pressure is on the Clippers only because you just never know when Kawhi may go out and what makes it harder is they probably can't trade him even if they wanted to so its boom or bust every year.

Clippers have accomplished 0 since this proclamation before Kawhi and PG ever played a minute for them.

So the answer is them.

We got Russ for basically nothing at all. Still have a couple of first rounders owed to OKC in the PG deal but we're good moving forward. Definitely need a deep playoff run but imo KD really has to work for the Suns as they acquired him for a huge price this late in his career

Hot seat, win now, window closing... whatever vernacular you choose, both teams where there prior to these moves. In fact, it's the reason for these moves. And I'm not saying it's this year or bust for them but the opportunity is definitely more finite than some of the other contenders.

Clemenza wrote:We got Russ for basically nothing at all. Still have a couple of first rounders owed to OKC in the PG deal but we're good moving forward. Definitely need a deep playoff run but imo KD really has to work for the Suns as they acquired him for a huge price this late in his career

You say that now, let's see if it's "for basically nothing at all" in 2 months time

PistolPeteJR wrote:

Clemenza wrote:We got Russ for basically nothing at all. Still have a couple of first rounders owed to OKC in the PG deal but we're good moving forward. Definitely need a deep playoff run but imo KD really has to work for the Suns as they acquired him for a huge price this late in his career

You say that now, let's see if it's "for basically nothing at all" in 2 months time

Why would that fact change two months from now? Good or bad performance he'll be on a vet minimum deal with the Clipps with no assets given up to acquire him

Clemenza wrote:

PistolPeteJR wrote:

Clemenza wrote:We got Russ for basically nothing at all. Still have a couple of first rounders owed to OKC in the PG deal but we're good moving forward. Definitely need a deep playoff run but imo KD really has to work for the Suns as they acquired him for a huge price this late in his career

You say that now, let's see if it's "for basically nothing at all" in 2 months time

Why would that fact change two months from now? Good or bad performance he'll be on a vet minimum deal with the Clipps with no assets given up to acquire him

Because if we say, "he's bad" a few weeks in, the response will be, "small sample size"; if we wait two months, it's a fair sample size + it's playoffs where the stakes are higher.

Suns are on the hot seat. The Clippers are shielded from pressure by being the LA franchise no one cares about.

Both are in win now mode for sure. But, the West is so crazy stacked this year and only one team can get to the NBA Finals. So, I don't think it would be a shock to anyone if the Suns and/or Clippers don't get there this year. The West is just that ridiculously tough.

posible WCF, at least WCSF