NBA PLAYOFFS: Round 2 l Game 1: (4) Phoenix Suns @ (1) Denver Nuggets l Saturday l 5:30pm l TNT

[SunsRback4Good]

Who: Phoenix Suns @ Denver Nuggets

When: Saturday, April 29th @ 5:30pm (8:30ET) l TNT

Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO







Phoenix Suns starting lineup:


C- DomiAyton

F- Durant

F- Craig

G- Booker

G- CP3


Reserves: Payne/Okogie/Biyombo/Shamet





Denver Nuggets starting lineup:


C- Jokic

F- Gordon

F- Porter

G- KCP

G- Murray


Reserves: Brown/Green/Braun/Purple

[bwgood77]

Looks like game is set for Saturday.

[Revived]

Simple logic says Gordon would be the primary defender on KD and KCP would be the one on Booker.

However, I don’t think KCP really bothered Booker much in the Lakers series few years ago when he was defending him and Gordon has given Booker some trouble in the past. KD is great but the Clippers used Eric Gordon to defend him plenty and KD usually passed or deferred instead of attacking Gordon. So I could see Denver using the smaller KCP on KD actually and putting Gordon on Booker. It’ll be interesting to see.

I think every game in this playoff series should be very high scoring because both teams are disastrous defensively. Hope our guys stay healthy.

[PittsburghSuns]

The overs will be a popular play in Vegas. I have a hard time seeing either team stop the other defensively. I’m worried about guys like CP3 and Durant running out of gas if we don’t get some better bench play. Hopefully Payne is back and healthy now. CP3 in particular played better the last couple games of Clippers series but it was round 2 last year that he completely fell apart.

[RedIndian]

Gotta start Okogie in this series. You need quality POA defense against Murray which means good screen navigation. Ayton will be on the drop, and I don't think you can ever hedge or trap on the screens because of Jokic. Craig just can't navigate screens quickly enough to guard someone like Murray.

[Frank Lee]

They will smother CP. thats a given. TyLoo gloved him with Batum. CP cant shake nobody. Our offense bogs down with him having the ball 14seconds to start every predictable sequence.

[sunsbg]

Gotta start Okogie in this series. You need quality POA defense against Murray which means good screen navigation. Ayton will be on the drop, and I don't think you can ever hedge or trap on the screens because of Jokic. Craig just can't navigate screens quickly enough to guard someone like Murray.

Wouldn't this mean CP3/Book defending a bigger and stronger player though. I think we'll see the same lineup with Craig trying to prevent Gordon dominating the offensive glass. Booker vs Murray matchup to overshadow DA vs Jokic ( ) in this series. Our bench may do better against Nuggets average second unit.

[King4Day]

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[King4Day]

I don't believe it would have impacted either KD or Biz' availability had we lost last night, but both had some minor injuries that should heal up by game one. Bruises, soreness, etc.
Good reason to have finished the job

[WeekapaugGroove]

The 3 day break now and then again before game 3 is good for Phoenix. They should be able to play KD and Booker 40+ a night.

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[Bogyo]

Gotta start Okogie in this series. You need quality POA defense against Murray which means good screen navigation. Ayton will be on the drop, and I don't think you can ever hedge or trap on the screens because of Jokic. Craig just can't navigate screens quickly enough to guard someone like Murray.

Wouldn't this mean CP3/Book defending a bigger and stronger player though. I think we'll see the same lineup with Craig trying to prevent Gordon dominating the offensive glass. Booker vs Murray matchup to overshadow DA vs Jokic ( ) in this series. Our bench may do better against Nuggets average second unit.

Yeah, tough question on who starts, Craig or Okogie. If it's Craig then its Book on Murray as Craig is not quick enough to guard Murray. CP on Murray would be a disaster, he has to be on KCP, no other solution there. Maybe Okogie starts and gets Murray, but then we get outrebounded most likely every night.
Porter can be a big X factor in this series, whoever we go with he is likely getting a weaker defender than desireable from our standpoint. Hope he misses a lot.

[King4Day]

The 3 day break now and then again before game 3 is good for Phoenix. They should be able to play KD and Booker 40+ a night.

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I fully expect another 2 or 3 days off after game 4 and/or 5 too. Maybe both so they assure a game 6 on that Sat or Sunday. It'll be a long series, just because of scheduling. But as you said, this is def a good thing for our guys. Especially considering how we looked after getting the 2 days off (last night).

G1 - Saturday in Denver
G2 - Monday in Denver
**3 more full days off**
G3 - next Friday, May 5, in Phoenix
G4 - next Sunday, May 7, in Phoenix

I could see Game 5 on Wednesday and Game 6 on Saturday or Sunday.

[POLI]

Indeed the 4 day rest is better for us. They are in the risk of losing their rhythm and we will enjoy that rest.

I believe we desperately need more players to contribute and I hope Monty is willing and capable of doing so by finding roles for Warren, Ross, Landale... Landale in particular could be a better fit to play against Bryant or Jordan, as Biyombo is smaller and does not offer other tools different from the ones they have, them being 4 inches taller.

But in the end I think Monty has set up his mind and no more players are going to play for us. He tried during the RS to find a role for Warren, Ross, Landale... but finally it seems like he has decided against them and in favour of Biyombo, Lee, Okogie, etc.

[POLI]

Related to strategy for game 1 and the games in Denver, I believe it is important to attack the offensive board, as they run a lot, especially thinking about that endurance point playing in high altitude.
Craig and Ayton should be important there and prevent Jokic from getting easy rebounds and outlet passes.

Then I believe we should use Ayton a lot around the FT line so he can shoot, as he usually does, and find passes to cutting forwards in KD, Craig. Anything that can put Jokic far from the basket.

[grumpysaddle]

Ugh. Got tickets to see one of my favorite bands Saturday. Hopefully the game is early. Or I need to just not pay attention to the internet and watch it when I get home.

[grumpysaddle]

It feels stupid that they start round 2 when round 1 is still going on and no telling how long it goes.

[WeekapaugGroove]

It feels stupid that they start round 2 when round 1 is still going on and no telling how long it goes.

It's a TV thing, they fill the weekend slate out as much as they can.

Can't forget at the end of the day the NBAs main purpose is an entertainment product.

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[grumpysaddle]

It feels stupid that they start round 2 when round 1 is still going on and no telling how long it goes.

It's a TV thing, they fill the weekend slate out as much as they can.

Can't forget at the end of the day the NBAs main purpose is an entertainment product.

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Yeah, still sucks though.

[WeekapaugGroove]

It feels stupid that they start round 2 when round 1 is still going on and no telling how long it goes.

It's a TV thing, they fill the weekend slate out as much as they can.

Can't forget at the end of the day the NBAs main purpose is an entertainment product.

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Yeah, still sucks though.

I think it's a great schedule for the Suns. I'd much rather them play the two games then get a 3 day break before game 3 than starting like Tuesday and playing every other day.

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[King4Day]

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