Game 45: Phoenix Suns (26-18) @ Indiana Pacers (25-20) Friday l 5:00pm l AZFamily

[grumpysaddle]

And of course Luka had to go and score 73. Wtf.

[enigmatics]

Just finished watching. Pacers were playing football out there the entire second half and somehow had ZERO fouls for the 4th quarter. Suns needed to do a better job on the boards, but that was some awful officiating. And once again it's that same lady ref. She should be banned from officiating Suns games.

Book was ridiculous.

I have noticed that it is always her every single time. Gettin' really tired of it.

[bwgood77]

This is STILL happening on this awful board?


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No, but he likes to say it for some reason. Some people just not happy we blew the lead and lost...like fans do.

Two guys have already said we cannot win in the playoffs IN THIS VERY THREAD. Reading is fundamental.

They are not saying the sky is falling...but that we need to work on some things like defense or current construction, like teams.

I mean, we are currently in 7th place. Even in 5th place, you wouldn't be EXPECTED to win in the playoffs. We have gotten better, and had a nice streak, but we have had some crazy comebacks after being down a lot.

The top teams are still playing better for the most part. So yes, i wouldn't say the sky is falling but winning in the playoffs under any circumstances will be hard given how tough the west is, particularly the top 4. The Clippers were bad early and lost the first 5 with Harden and still only have 14 losses total. They may be the best team since that 0-5 stretch, Denver we know is tough, OKC is very tough. Minny is in 1st...but I have to see how we play them. We lost twice to the Kings but did finally beat them with that crazy comeback.

But we did have some nice wins like a big wins vs 2 others in the bottom half of the playoff race, the Pelicans and Mavs. But at things stand, we wouldn't play either of those teams unless both us and them won in the first round.

This was not a game I totally expected to win, even without Haliburton (even though I still think the Pacers are a better team WITH him..and do agree they are better with Siakam than before they had him and it definitely helps to have him with Haliburton out). Nembhard played admirably in place of Haliburton tonight.

The Pacers are well coached and play hard.

I don't think this is a bad loss though. It's a road loss against a team with a similar record...a well coached team.

[kennydorglas]

We dont need a deep team to win it all. Denver won with a 8 player rotation.
Problem we dont even have 6 guys rn and thats expecting an injury free run.

[enigmatics]

They are not saying the sky is falling...but that we need to work on some things like defense or current construction, like teams.

I mean, we are currently in 7th place. Even in 5th place, you wouldn't be EXPECTED to win in the playoffs. We have gotten better, and had a nice streak, but we have had some crazy comebacks after being down a lot.

The top teams are still playing better for the most part. So yes, i wouldn't say the sky is falling but winning in the playoffs under any circumstances will be hard given how tough the west is, particularly the top 4. The Clippers were bad early and lost the first 5 with Harden and still only have 14 losses total. They may be the best team since that 0-5 stretch, Denver we know is tough, OKC is very tough. Minny is in 1st...but I have to see how we play them. We lost twice to the Kings but did finally beat them with that crazy comeback.

But we did have some nice wins like a big wins vs 2 others in the bottom half of the playoff race, the Pelicans and Mavs. But at things stand, we wouldn't play either of those teams unless both us and them won in the first round.

This was not a game I totally expected to win, even without Haliburton (even though I still think the Pacers are a better team WITH him..and do agree they are better with Siakam than before they had him and it definitely helps to have him with Haliburton out). Nembhard played admirably in place of Haliburton tonight.

The Pacers are well coached and play hard.

I don't think this is a bad loss though. It's a road loss against a team with a similar record...a well coached team.

I can't take you seriously when you start rattling off about being in 7th place. Literally one game separates them from being in 5th place (which they were prior to the loss).

I also stand by my comments. The same people who have been trashing the Suns since the beginning of the year are still doing it now. It's unwavering. The team is CLEARLY on a better path than what we saw earlier in the year. There shouldn't be such a tidal wave of depression when they drop a closely contested game vs. a team which has a pretty good chance of making the Finals.

[enigmatics]

We dont need a deep team to win it all. Denver won with a 8 player rotation.
Problem we dont even have 6 guys rn and thats expecting an injury free run.

Yeah I was gonna say Denver wasn't deep at all.

They're also likely not done tweaking the roster. Bol was looking like he could contribute. They just need to unearth two more guys.

[SkyBill40]

Just finished watching. Pacers were playing football out there the entire second half and somehow had ZERO fouls for the 4th quarter. Suns needed to do a better job on the boards, but that was some awful officiating. And once again it's that same lady ref. She should be banned from officiating Suns games.

Book was ridiculous.

I have noticed that it is always her every single time. Gettin' really tired of it.

Say it a little louder. Or perhaps you'd better not as there's an admin handing out account strikes for sexism and discrimination against her in threads.

Sent from my [Samsung Z4 Fold] using RealGM mobile app

[bwgood77]

They are not saying the sky is falling...but that we need to work on some things like defense or current construction, like teams.

I mean, we are currently in 7th place. Even in 5th place, you wouldn't be EXPECTED to win in the playoffs. We have gotten better, and had a nice streak, but we have had some crazy comebacks after being down a lot.

The top teams are still playing better for the most part. So yes, i wouldn't say the sky is falling but winning in the playoffs under any circumstances will be hard given how tough the west is, particularly the top 4. The Clippers were bad early and lost the first 5 with Harden and still only have 14 losses total. They may be the best team since that 0-5 stretch, Denver we know is tough, OKC is very tough. Minny is in 1st...but I have to see how we play them. We lost twice to the Kings but did finally beat them with that crazy comeback.

But we did have some nice wins like a big wins vs 2 others in the bottom half of the playoff race, the Pelicans and Mavs. But at things stand, we wouldn't play either of those teams unless both us and them won in the first round.

This was not a game I totally expected to win, even without Haliburton (even though I still think the Pacers are a better team WITH him..and do agree they are better with Siakam than before they had him and it definitely helps to have him with Haliburton out). Nembhard played admirably in place of Haliburton tonight.

The Pacers are well coached and play hard.

I don't think this is a bad loss though. It's a road loss against a team with a similar record...a well coached team.

I can't take you seriously when you start rattling off about being in 7th place. Literally one game separates them from being in 5th place (which they were prior to the loss).

I also stand by my comments. The same people who have been trashing the Suns since the beginning of the year are still doing it now. It's unwavering. The team is CLEARLY on a better path than what we saw earlier in the year.

Sure, I think everyone knew we would be in a better place when we got healthy. I always thought it would take a while too.

Only two things really concern me. Potential injuries (mainly KD which would be a killer), and that our schedule gets way way tougher. BUT, the way we handled the Mavs and especially the Pelicans showed me we may step up against good teams. I think the Mavs didn't have Kyrie but they have usually been missing one of him or Luka most of the season and have continued to play pretty well.

Defense is concerning but I don't see that changing much and with our big 3 our net rating is so strong that our offense trumps the bad defense by a lot...kind of like SSOL (though of course we had Marion there..and sometimes Raja and K Thomas). And Beal has been impressive on D.

As far as standings, 5th, 7th...it's close before and after tonight obviously. My point is that we would have to play a top 4 seed on the road in the first round which holds either way. 5th is probably the last place I'd want to be. I'd prefer 8th, at least for the 1st round....but of course we need to avoid the play in too.

[schnakenpopanz]

You've got Beal who was hit in the face twice not playing with the same spark and Nurk out with a thumb injury.

Once again how many times do guys have to learn that in order for this team to win they have to have their staple players healthy and involved. They're simply not deep enough otherwise. Even having said that they dropped a close game ON THE ROAD by one freakin' bucket to an Easter Conference tier 1 ball club.

if you rely on health to be successful, you gamble.
that's why you have to have good role players and a deep team, but what do i know. i have seen pringles going 6 deep in the pos season and expecting miracles.

One basket bro, ONE.

this is not the point. you have to see how it gets t this one basket loss and learn from that.
if you have the chance watch the replay of the last quarter.
what did the suns do on defense to win this game and slow the pacers down?
what did eric gordon do all quarter?
suns have 0 defensive presence in the middle.
and bad rebounding.
that is a recipie for disaster in the post season.

last year booker and durant had historic post season scoring at times which won the suns games.
here they needed 39 and 47 from booker and durant
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305050PHO.html
here 36 and 36 from both
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305070PHO.html

and the series was tied. next two games the suns were held to 102 and 100 points, when no other one whowed up thant cam payne in an elimination game. you can tell that the frustration from recent years is the main reason some of us are negative, because we have seen this before. nothing personal, just life of a 30 year long suns fan.

[enigmatics]

if you rely on health to be successful, you gamble.
that's why you have to have good role players and a deep team, but what do i know. i have seen pringles going 6 deep in the pos season and expecting miracles.

One basket bro, ONE.

this is not the point. you have to see how it gets t this one basket loss and learn from that.
if you have the chance watch the replay of the last quarter.
what did the suns do on defense to win this game and slow the pacers down?
what did eric gordon do all quarter?
suns have 0 defensive presence in the middle.
and bad rebounding.
that is a recipie for disaster in the post season.

last year booker and durant had historic post season scoring at times which won the suns games.
here they needed 39 and 47 from booker and durant
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305050PHO.html
here 36 and 36 from both
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305070PHO.html

and the series was tied. next two games the suns were held to 1002 and 100 points, when no other one whowed up thant cam payne in an elimination game. you can tell that the frustration from recent years is the main reason some of us are negative, because we have seen this before. nothing personal, just life of a 30 year long suns fan.

I'm not gonna read this wall of text. Thank you though.

It's likely the same sh- you were saying two months ago.

[schnakenpopanz]

wall of text? smh, just gave reasoning that you are pointing at some of us being mad for no reason.

[Calvin Klein]

if you rely on health to be successful, you gamble.
that's why you have to have good role players and a deep team, but what do i know. i have seen pringles going 6 deep in the pos season and expecting miracles.

One basket bro, ONE.

this is not the point. you have to see how it gets t this one basket loss and learn from that.
if you have the chance watch the replay of the last quarter.
what did the suns do on defense to win this game and slow the pacers down?
what did eric gordon do all quarter?
suns have 0 defensive presence in the middle.
and bad rebounding.
that is a recipie for disaster in the post season.

last year booker and durant had historic post season scoring at times which won the suns games.
here they needed 39 and 47 from booker and durant
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305050PHO.html
here 36 and 36 from both
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305070PHO.html

and the series was tied. next two games the suns were held to 102 and 100 points, when no other one whowed up thant cam payne in an elimination game. you can tell that the frustration from recent years is the main reason some of us are negative, because we have seen this before. nothing personal, just life of a 30 year long suns fan.

Don’t waste your time buddy.

Are you really in Germany by the way??

[garrick]

Beal wasn't the same after the hit and Booker going insane early a bit affected the team's play and shot selection but I have no issues with that. What I don't understand was rebounding and insisting on keeping EG on the floor. He was horrible tonight. Metu or Okogie would have helped tremendously or just get Nurkic back in.

Vogel can't adjust or more like he doesn't have the personnel to do it.

Notice that Hield played very few minutes tonight after he was routinely torched the last time the Suns played and they kind of proved that if you play physically that's the best way to beat us.

I am not as down on this loss as others but yes losing a double digit lead and not being able to get enough stops and rebounds is a huge concern.

[schnakenpopanz]

One basket bro, ONE.

this is not the point. you have to see how it gets t this one basket loss and learn from that.
if you have the chance watch the replay of the last quarter.
what did the suns do on defense to win this game and slow the pacers down?
what did eric gordon do all quarter?
suns have 0 defensive presence in the middle.
and bad rebounding.
that is a recipie for disaster in the post season.

last year booker and durant had historic post season scoring at times which won the suns games.
here they needed 39 and 47 from booker and durant
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305050PHO.html
here 36 and 36 from both
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305070PHO.html

and the series was tied. next two games the suns were held to 102 and 100 points, when no other one whowed up thant cam payne in an elimination game. you can tell that the frustration from recent years is the main reason some of us are negative, because we have seen this before. nothing personal, just life of a 30 year long suns fan.

Don’t waste your time buddy.

Are you really in Germany by the way??

yes i am, been for years. so you can see why i am watching in the middle of the night suns games for nearly 30 years now. thank god i work for a company in the us and my working hours match my passion for this team and i have a very tolerant fiance.

[enigmatics]

wall of text? smh, just gave reasoning that you are pointing at some of us being mad for no reason.

You bring up the past like a Vietnam vet. There's no point in reading any of it.

[sashaturiaf]

Tough loss but hey nights like this happen.

See Halliburton isn't all that, he's a product of the Pacers system.

[SkyBill40]

Tough loss but hey nights like this happen.

See Halliburton isn't all that, he's a product of the Pacers system.

He's more the spark that gets the gears moving and once it's running, it goes on without much effort. Clearly he's just another player on the team and while a hugely important one, isn't the key as they can obviously win without him. Kinda like Morant.

Sent from my [Samsung Z4 Fold] using RealGM mobile app

[Calvin Klein]

this is not the point. you have to see how it gets t this one basket loss and learn from that.
if you have the chance watch the replay of the last quarter.
what did the suns do on defense to win this game and slow the pacers down?
what did eric gordon do all quarter?
suns have 0 defensive presence in the middle.
and bad rebounding.
that is a recipie for disaster in the post season.

last year booker and durant had historic post season scoring at times which won the suns games.
here they needed 39 and 47 from booker and durant
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305050PHO.html
here 36 and 36 from both
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202305070PHO.html

and the series was tied. next two games the suns were held to 102 and 100 points, when no other one whowed up thant cam payne in an elimination game. you can tell that the frustration from recent years is the main reason some of us are negative, because we have seen this before. nothing personal, just life of a 30 year long suns fan.

Don’t waste your time buddy.

Are you really in Germany by the way??

yes i am, been for years. so you can see why i am watching in the middle of the night suns games for nearly 30 years now. thank god i work for a company in the us and my working hours match my passion for this team and i have a very tolerant fiance.

That’s crazy. I have been staying late to watch for years (until 3am usually) but I can’t this season. I start working at 7am so most games I will watch in the morning. And I don’t want to go to sleep mad after a loss like this one

At least they played early tonight

[bwgood77]

wall of text? smh, just gave reasoning that you are pointing at some of us being mad for no reason.

You bring up the past like a Vietnam vet. There's no point in reading any of it.

What are you on a message board for? Just to hear yourself talk? It's funny you talk of the negativity when you've been one of the most negative people here the last couple years along with a couple others.

[schnakenpopanz]

wall of text? smh, just gave reasoning that you are pointing at some of us being mad for no reason.

You bring up the past like a battered spouse. There's no point in reading any of it.

you can't win in the future if you don#t learn from your past mistakes. i don't think there is another way to do it.
like you said rightfully for denver: they adjusted. they had 8 very godd quality players and that is the deep team you need in the post season to have success. suns have 5.5 at times when they are lucky. vs dallas okogie had a good game at times eubanks or gordon.
i can not think of assets for the trade market that will make this team 7/8 player deep. buy out market has been a gamble and last year the terence rosses and tj warrens are out of the league for a reason.