Game 65: Phoenix Suns (35-29) @ Dallas Mavericks (33-31) l Sunday l 11:00am l ABC

[insomniac00]

With that said, Okogie is a shoe in rotation player for sure. He has awaken. Just need to pass out half of those 3pt attempts... he should never shoot more than 4 or 5 shots from out there even if open.

The issue is that the open three when he first gets the ball is often the best look of that play. If he hesitates, keeps it, tries to go inside, often times he ends up with a worse shot or a turnover.

I want guys to just take the open shots they're getting since indecisiveness seems like it messes plays up more.

[handsome salary]

Durant had 37 points on 12-of-17 shooting

12 of 17....cmon. And the game winning shot plus final two free throws.

[lilfishi22]

The suns corner 3pt play is going to be the double edges sword for suns... Ayton is basically ignored in favor of Okogie or another wing to shoot the corner 3. This is fine if the corner 3pter is someone like Lee or one of the suns sharpshooters... Ayton at 60 to 70% near the rim is a much safer shot than Okogie or Craig taking 3s out there. Monty will get exploited here as teams would give those shots to Okogie and Craig and it would be a hard swallow if Suns lose because goe 20% or below from those spots...

Okogie isn't some bum from the three now. He's shooting 47% since he started playing major rotation minutes and even with the 0'fer performance against the Mavs, he's still going to be shooting above 40%. If he's in the corner and teams are giving him the 3, yeah I want him to take it. Craig is still shooting 40% from 3. Give me that all day.

[thamadkant]

With that said, Okogie is a shoe in rotation player for sure. He has awaken. Just need to pass out half of those 3pt attempts... he should never shoot more than 4 or 5 shots from out there even if open.

The issue is that the open three when he first gets the ball is often the best look of that play. If he hesitates, keeps it, tries to go inside, often times he ends up with a worse shot or a turnover.

I want guys to just take the open shots they're getting since indecisiveness seems like it messes plays up more.

Or passing it back to either CP3, Booker or Durant...

[King4Day]

Nit picking right now and it doesn't matter since we won but Ayton has to control himself in the future where he got that tech. Game was wayyyy too tight to pull that.
In fairness, it's rare for him to get T'd, but I hope Monty talks to him about it

[thamadkant]

Nit picking right now and it doesn't matter since we won but Ayton has to control himself in the future where he got that tech. Game was wayyyy too tight to pull that.
In fairness, it's rare for him to get T'd, but I hope Monty talks to him about it

Agreed

But Ayton has absolutely gotten the worst whistle during the last 2 suns games. It's almost like Ref's are taking him out to give Suns opponents a better shot. Sounds biased I know but one play today was Powell strong arming Ayton and referee wasn't going to call it until Ayton actually went for the ball when Powell should have gotten the foul call earlier for hooking arms on an offense player. A couple more times where Mavs were pulling him and no whistle for Ayton.... then Ayton bodies up and quick foul.

[WeekapaugGroove]

If they play Dallas in the playoffs I'd put Ish on Luka some. Not because I think he can guard him, but I just want that big body wearing him down. Id also tell everyone since Lukas going to get some calls anyway make a few of them count.

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[sunskerr]

This is the year my friends. 2021 it was like we were playing with found money. Sucked to lose up 2-0 but we didn't have any expectations. Then in 2022 I know a lot of us were worried about the flaws on the team going into the playoffs and whilst we were real contenders it wasn't too shocking to see those flaws exposed, and we were kind of struggling headed into the playoffs anyway. So when we lost it was sad but it was more of "ah well, we had a great year".

I hate comparisons like this but I'll give it a shot anyway:

This is the first year I feel like it is comparable to 2007. KD being here is like Stoudemire coming back in 2007. We've got the stars, creators, role players, and not really any super exploitable weaknesses that we can see. And we are starting to peak just at the right time. The pressure is **** ON like 2007.

I still worry about what our bench will do. The first half today, they let the Mavs come back from 9 down and build a lead. They were better in the 2nd half.
The inconsistency there will be the biggest concern for us. Some games they will show up and others they won't. Hopefully Monty continues to make adjustments like he did today. Breath of fresh air.

As long as Monty is willing to put in different role players in the game come playoff time, I don't see any issue with it.

The issue with Monty for the last few years is the predictability of his rotations.

Today at least he tried putting in Ross, Warren in when Hardaway and Kyrie was killing them. Letting Ish finish the game is a nice surprise.

You live and die by your roster. Nothing you could do about that. Coaching and rotation is one thing they can always adjust.

The good news is that in the playoffs you play 8 guys, sometimes 9. Depending on the matchups that 8th guy can change occasionally. But the rotation will be much tighter.

[MrMiyagi]

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Idk understand how this is a foul…what’s Booker supposed to do here?

Side note, when did Hubie Brown become such a Suns hater? He kept whining for a foul here for Luka and then said Booker started the argument at the end of the game with Luka.

And he called Luka multiple times as “Jokic” in this game.

Mans needs to retire asap.

Gotta give him credit for being 89. Dude is probably better than Mark Jackson despite being 1-eyed and hooping with Jesus in his youth.

[Jdiddy701]

I don’t know about you guys but Hubie Brown was excellent today. Called out the officials plenty of times today. Not sure where all this hate is coming from.

Just rewatched the game again… Luka gets away with a bunch of stuff. Should have been called for a few offensive fouls and technicals. It’s a joke with how much a player can get away with.


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[sashaturiaf]

Also, since I'm a little ball of nervousness, I watch these games with the sound off, so I didn't realize KD had 37. I though the guy had like 12 points. He is INSANELY efficient and really quiet. I asked my Warriors fan friend if he was that quiet in GS from a fan's perspective, and apparently he was not. My friend said that KD was so ball dominant that it was tough for Steph and Klay to find their rhythm. I wonder if KD is trying to change, is still ramping up, just wants Book to get his, or what, but I really think KD needs to be our primary scorer, not Book.

That's one of his greatest strengths. No superstar in NBA history is as versatile and portable as KD is, if you look at his time in possession stats it's closer to 2nd options than someone like Doncic or LeBron. By virtue of his offensive threat combined with his non ball dominance, KD elevates the star players next to him like nobody else in NBA history. It's shame that he spent much of his career with tunnel visioned Westbrook and half man half a season Kyrie, or hed have more than the 2 rings he's got

Consistency is KDs other hallmark. He doesn't really have bad shooting games nor does he have games where he explodes for 50+, it's not that he can't but it's not his style to be taking heat checks. I guess you're never really "hot" when you're as efficient as Durant is. A highly efficient 25-35 points is what you're going to get with KD 95% of the time

He's been consistent except in the playoff series against Boston but I think that's mainly due to really good defense by Boston and also an ill fitted Nets team but I do think OKC version of KD has enough athleticism to get by some of the defenders since he's obviously no longer in his athletic prime and has come off an achilles injury.

I'm pleasantly surprised just how efficient he is but just hope he can stay healthy for us given his recent injury woes.

That Celtics series was objectively the only subpar series KD has had since the early OKC days. But it's a performance that I can't see repeated, when one of the reasons why your season didn't work out is legitimately "vaccine mandates due to pandemic" you know it's not your year.

Sean Marks did a very poor job putting together a roster around KD last season, the team was small (Bruce Brown was the 2nd tallest Net in a few common lineups) yet lacked playmaking at the same time. Add in Nash as coach and KD was setup to fail.

[sashaturiaf]

The suns corner 3pt play is going to be the double edges sword for suns... Ayton is basically ignored in favor of Okogie or another wing to shoot the corner 3. This is fine if the corner 3pter is someone like Lee or one of the suns sharpshooters... Ayton at 60 to 70% near the rim is a much safer shot than Okogie or Craig taking 3s out there. Monty will get exploited here as teams would give those shots to Okogie and Craig and it would be a hard swallow if Suns lose because goe 20% or below from those spots...

Agree.

Playoff defense's will give Okogie that shot 10 times out of 10. Good on him if he makes those, but I wouldn't like to place my championship hopes on Okogie making open 3s. Integrating Ayton into the offense should be the priority, a scrambling defense is easy pickings for Ayton around the basket.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Anyone want those role players and picks back? 3 games from Durant is all it took.

[MrMiyagi]

Anyone want those role players and picks back? 3 games from Durant is all it took.

Mikal looks **** good, bro. Cam's struggled a bit, but I'm probably not going to feel good about the trade until after next season (if it goes well).

[irish22022]

The suns corner 3pt play is going to be the double edges sword for suns... Ayton is basically ignored in favor of Okogie or another wing to shoot the corner 3. This is fine if the corner 3pter is someone like Lee or one of the suns sharpshooters... Ayton at 60 to 70% near the rim is a much safer shot than Okogie or Craig taking 3s out there. Monty will get exploited here as teams would give those shots to Okogie and Craig and it would be a hard swallow if Suns lose because goe 20% or below from those spots...

Agree.

Playoff defense's will give Okogie that shot 10 times out of 10. Good on him if he makes those, but I wouldn't like to place my championship hopes on Okogie making open 3s. Integrating Ayton into the offense should be the priority, a scrambling defense is easy pickings for Ayton around the basket.

I genuinely think D Lee should start. For this exact reason. I love me some okogie, ish won us the game, I get it. But D Lee will genuinely pull defense out. Teams are willing to let Ish Wainwright beat them. And that is frankly a safe bet. Our playoff rotation the last two years matters ZERO. we are rotating 8 guys now. DLee should start. Okogie comes in for booker. Payne comes out for Paul. Craig for KD. We go small in between. No Jock, nothing stupid. It's not what we're used to, but just cut the lineup in basically half.

[lilfishi22]

DLee isn't close to the defender Okogie is and imo, the difference in their shooting ability is largely offset by Okogie's defensive abilities. Okogie played absolutely magnificent defense on Luka all night and never gave him an easy shot. He played physical, he stayed long and he was relentless. I personally don't see Lee's shooting as being more positive than Okogie's shooting + defense.

What we need in the starting line up is someone who can be that point of attack defender who can absorb the abuse from the opposing team's best scorer (like Luka) and do a good enough job on them. What I don't want is to end up in some sort of defenceless shoot out with the other team, especially not against the Mavs.

[Revived]

Anyone want those role players and picks back? 3 games from Durant is all it took.

Mikal looks **** good, bro. Cam's struggled a bit, but I'm probably not going to feel good about the trade until after next season (if it goes well).

Yeah we can be happy about KD but imagine **** on Bridges/Johnson after the way they’ve performed with the Nets lol. Talk about clueless.

Now I’d be more than happy to **** on Crowder the “role player” for all he wants though.

[Revived]

Why is it a criticism that Booker only talks smack when the Suns are up or about to win?

Do people want him to talk smack prematurely? Or when they're losing? Because I'm pretty sure he'd take even more heat for that.

Seems like Luka and Dallas fans are just salty.

He’s done it when he’s losing as well so not sure what more they want

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[Saberestar]

Josh Okogie went 0/8 from 3 @ DAL - 7 of those misses were with Luka Doncic helping off him.

PHX adjusted their lineup down the stretch & who was guarding the shooter on 5 of the final 7 Suns made 3s?

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[POLI]

Nit picking right now and it doesn't matter since we won but Ayton has to control himself in the future where he got that tech. Game was wayyyy too tight to pull that.
In fairness, it's rare for him to get T'd, but I hope Monty talks to him about it

It was not strange that he got that T, as the officiating was terribly in favor of the home team.
Except for the final first half play in which Paul clearly touches Luka's arm, the rest of the calls were always terrible form us.
I do not know what the NBA referees have in favor of the Mavs, but it is ridicoulus the number or times that our player received wrong calls.
AMAZING.