NBA PLAYOFFS: Round 2 l Game 3: (1) Denver Nuggets @ (4) Phoenix Suns l Friday l 7:00pm l ESPN l DEN Leads series 2-0

[WeekapaugGroove]

Wins a win and at this point KD and Booker basically need to take all the shots. Doesn't seem sustainable but hey they are great so we'll see.

I don't envy Monty. He has 240 minutes to fill a game and he can count on about 85 from KD and Booker and the other 155 are a god damn mystery on who he can count on night to night.

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[Ghost of Kleine]

When is Paul coming back?

Who cares? Just don't play Shamet a million minutes.

But we need him to win our first title this year.

I actually have us winning it next season. With Shamet averaging a 38 point game taking over for Paul!

[RedIndian]

Agreed that this duo is genuinely amazing. Unfortunately, we have at best a 1 year window to win a title before KD regresses.

Will have to absolutely nail this offseason.

The Ayton and CP3 decisions are going to be tricky because I don't imagine they will have a ton of value.

[sunsbg]

Booker going supernova is the only way this team can beat the Nuggets unfortunately.

Durant with 39 and still feeling disappointed with his inefficient shooting. Was against the trade, but assumed watching one of the greatest shooters of all time will be fun. Not the case so far.

Similarly to KD, hoped to see 2021 version of Ayton, but the guy was benched for scrub Landale in the end. He's gone. Not sure on which planet DA was in this game, but will take the flat-earther at this point.

[RayLight]

It seems Ayton's 2021 playoffs were a one-off and not a reality.

[bwoolf2]

The Shamet minutes are unavoidable unfortunately with the CP3 injury but my god does it have to be so many minutes??

They literally are avoidable as ****.

It makes sense in theory to play Shamet because, in theory, he can handle the ball and hit shots. But he is not doing either one of those things. He is getting cooked on defense as well so you might just play anybody else.

He is a terrible ball handler and hasn't hit shots in 2 years here so that just doesn't hold water

[Calvin Klein]

They literally are avoidable as ****.

It makes sense in theory to play Shamet because, in theory, he can handle the ball and hit shots. But he is not doing either one of those things. He is getting cooked on defense as well so you might just play anybody else.

He is a terrible ball handler and hasn't hit shots in 2 years here so that just doesn't hold water

Well, that's what i meant. He is supposed to be that but he isn't.

[Revived]

The sad thing is we coulda been up 2-1 if we had played Warren/Ross last game

This is why I laugh when people say “fans don’t know anything, coaches get paid to be coaches and see these guys in practice so they always know better”.

Same bullsht is said about GMs too.

Many fans know better than many idiot HCs and GMs in all sports. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact.

[starbosa10]

It seems Ayton's 2021 playoffs were a one-off and not a reality.

He was playing for his max back then, now that he has it he's checked out

[Revived]

Read on Twitter

Ayton might actually be more of a locker room issue than guys like Morris twins and Bledsoe ever were.

[bhawk]

A few things… Booker may be the greatest Sun of all time. Just wow! I’m from the Barkley era and remember some incredible games… but never anything as efficient and as well rounded as Book!

We may not beat Denver in this series, but it will not be from a lack of heart or effort from Booker and Durant!

Can we please talk about Ayton? First time all year that he was benched at the end of the 4th. About time Monty! Bench that buffoon if he is playing poorly. Were Suns fans actually booing Ayton? Game recognizes game and Ayton hasn’t had any game in this series. Hope he wakes the **** up!

Let’s win again on Sunday!

[RayLight]

Read on Twitter

Ayton might actually be more of a locker room issue than guys like Morris twins and Bledsoe ever were.

Yeah, CP3 made him a player two years ago and now the gamer is playing it annoyed. I hope Indiana still want him for Turner.

[Revived]

I don’t understand why Craig got shunned completely and Shamet gets so many mins.

[sunskerr]

Read on Twitter

Ayton might actually be more of a locker room issue than guys like Morris twins and Bledsoe ever were.

Yeah, CP3 made him a player two years ago and now the gamer is playing it annoyed. I hope Indiana still want him for Turner.

A lot of times the answer to this question can be answered:

If Turner was on the Suns, would you trade him for Ayton?

The answer is a resounding **** no

[Hitachi77]

I don’t understand why Craig got shunned completely and Shamet gets so many mins.

Def bizarre. If you want to give Craig’s minutes to Warren or Ross, go ahead. But Shamet has given very little these playoffs while Craig was great vs the Clippers.

Almost feels like Monty is using a random generator to decide who to play.

[darealjuice]

Hard to lose when the Suns put up 90 points between Booker, KD, and Ayton!

[Revived]

If Shamet and Ayton both just tested tomorrow for PEDs or something and got suspended by NBA for rest of the playoffs and next season or whatever, I would feel much better about Suns winning this series. Our odds would improve drastically.

[darealjuice]

If Shamet and Ayton both just tested tomorrow for PEDs or something and got suspended by NBA for rest of the playoffs and next season or whatever, I would feel much better about Suns winning this series. Our odds would improve drastically.

Ayton's getting tested for ambien addiction

[sunsbg]

Can't Craig defend Murray ? Jamal was doing whatever he wanted against Okogie in 1st Q. Fortunately he's inconsistent player and cooled off. Other than steal an offensive rebound here and there Josh is not offering much on offense. Gets open around the FT line and barely hits the front of the rim. Had similar play in the previous game. On the other hand, Craig did hit such shots in Clippers series in addition to being hot from three.

[Ghost of Kleine]

I need all the “build around Ayton” people to identify themselves for a public shaming.

I'll be the first to admit that I have supported Ayton for so long unconditionally under the hope and irrational patience that in the right situation he'd finally start realizing his potential. But it's become fairly apparent (as I've said for awhile now) that he's mentally and emotionally checked out and ready to move on! I do still believe that in a different environment and with a fresh start somewhere else, He'll regain his value and impact that he had shown in his 1st postseason with us! I believe our imbecilic front office and cheapskate azz hat of an owner poisoned the relationship initially back in 2021 by not valuing him after that dominant postseason performance he exhibited to help us reach the finals. And even then, after they decided to not offer the 5 yr max, We should have traded him straight away back then when he still had value and was somewhat motivated! Instead, we chose to string him along for two seasons and not just move on. Our front office poisoned the well so to speak. But Ayton did help anything either by quietly checking out! What's done is done and we need to just bite the bullet and move on! It's the best decision for both parties involved now.

I'm just not sure what team might covet him aside from maybe these 4 teams:
1- Dallas (but not for Irving). Because they'd intend to create their own big three for Doncic.
2- Houston. After hiring Udoka and soon adding Harden this summer.
3- Charlotte. IF they miss out on Wemby and don't have to give up their top 5 pick this season!
4- Portland. IF they attempt a big trade to appease Lillard for now.