Game 31: Charlotte Hornets (14-16) @ Phoenix Suns (20-10) l Wednesday l 7:00pm l FSNAZ

[Slim Charless]

Really important to win these next 3 against Charlotte, Chicago and Minnesota. All games we SHOULD win, but we HAVE to take care of business. The Lakers have Utah, Portland and GSW across those same span of games before they face us.

Not inconceivable for us to go 3-0 and the Lakers to go 1-2, then we beat the LAL and we end up 2 games ahead of them going into the ASG. That HAS to be the goal. I'm not sweating the Clippers at the moment, but LAL are vulnerable with Davis missing time and we need to capitalize on that and get ourselves into a higher seed.

As long as we can get SAS. I said it before but I think they match up great for us. Bridges should be able to handle demar with little trouble and Ayton will (should) have no problems with LaMarcus too. Their points are decent defensively but CP3 and Booker have dealt with worse.

Plus we still owe them a cpl more playoff losses

[Barkley6]

Really important to win these next 3 against Charlotte, Chicago and Minnesota. All games we SHOULD win, but we HAVE to take care of business. The Lakers have Utah, Portland and GSW across those same span of games before they face us.

Not inconceivable for us to go 3-0 and the Lakers to go 1-2, then we beat the LAL and we end up 2 games ahead of them going into the ASG. That HAS to be the goal. I'm not sweating the Clippers at the moment, but LAL are vulnerable with Davis missing time and we need to capitalize on that and get ourselves into a higher seed.

As long as we can get SAS. I said it before but I think they match up great for us. Bridges should be able to handle demar with little trouble and Ayton will (should) have no problems with LaMarcus too. Their points are decent defensively but CP3 and Booker have dealt with worse.

Plus we still owe them a cpl more playoff losses

I think being home as much as possible is more important in these playoffs than any other year because of COVID travel restrictions and the like, which means guys are going to be confined to hotels, their families likely wont be able to travel with them, etc.. I think if we can ensure that we are home for as many games as possible...it will help immensely.

[Biff]

Haven't seen too many Hornets games this year and excited to see Lamelo play. I was one of the few guys on here that was REALLY high on him when we were debating the draft, so it's nice to feel validated. He has been fantastic so far this year in the little bit I've gotten to see and I think he's going to be something special.

That said, I hope we mop the floor with them.

[TouchPassDario]

Everyone picking Spurs is crazy. Pop is not who you want to face in a playoff series. I would rank them in following order

1. Mavs
2. Blazers
3. Warriors
4. Spurs
5. Nuggets

Nuggets by far most talent.

[SunsRback4Good]

Everyone picking Spurs is crazy. Pop is not who you want to face in a playoff series. I would rank them in following order

1. Mavs
2. Blazers
3. Warriors
4. Spurs
5. Nuggets

Nuggets by far most talent.

There is good chance we may face the Nuggets as a 4th/5th seed and I don't like it. Would like us to at least make the 2nd round but the possibility of facing Denver scares me.

[TouchPassDario]

Mavs/Blazers aren’t good
Warriors are ok
Spurs aren’t good but Pop
Nuggets are really good

[Wilber85]

U really trying to dodge teams like some scared people!!!!! Face whoever you get, and win. Thats what contenders do!

[grumpysaddle]

U really trying to dodge teams like some scared people!!!!! Face whoever you get, and win. Thats what contenders do!

[SunsRback4Good]

U really trying to dodge teams like some scared people!!!!! Face whoever you get, and win. Thats what contenders do!

thanks for the laugh. Lol

We are not there yet, maybe in a year or two though.

[spanishninja]

I feel bad for the Hornets. They're first victims of the Booker pain train after the snub.

[Seattlesun]

U really trying to dodge teams like some scared people!!!!! Face whoever you get, and win. Thats what contenders do!

thanks for the laugh. Lol

We are not there yet, maybe in a year or two though.

Why not now bro?

[SunsRback4Good]

U really trying to dodge teams like some scared people!!!!! Face whoever you get, and win. Thats what contenders do!

thanks for the laugh. Lol

We are not there yet, maybe in a year or two though.

Why not now bro?

I just dont see is being good enough to compete and beat Jazz, Clippers or Lakers in a 7 game series. Besides CP3, Crowder, & Saric our team has very little experience in the playoffs. Not many teams miss playoffs for multiple years then add a few pieces and become contenders. I hope that I am wrong but I just dont see us in same conversation as those three teams above us.

[Bogyo]

I feel bad for the Hornets. They're first victims of the Booker pain train after the snub.

Just came here to post about the same. Watch out, Book coming hot with the fresh-snub 40 burger.

[Slim Charless]

Really important to win these next 3 against Charlotte, Chicago and Minnesota. All games we SHOULD win, but we HAVE to take care of business. The Lakers have Utah, Portland and GSW across those same span of games before they face us.

Not inconceivable for us to go 3-0 and the Lakers to go 1-2, then we beat the LAL and we end up 2 games ahead of them going into the ASG. That HAS to be the goal. I'm not sweating the Clippers at the moment, but LAL are vulnerable with Davis missing time and we need to capitalize on that and get ourselves into a higher seed.

As long as we can get SAS. I said it before but I think they match up great for us. Bridges should be able to handle demar with little trouble and Ayton will (should) have no problems with LaMarcus too. Their points are decent defensively but CP3 and Booker have dealt with worse.

Plus we still owe them a cpl more playoff losses

I think being home as much as possible is more important in these playoffs than any other year becauseof COVID travel restrictions and the like, which means guys are going to be confined to hotels, their families likely wont be able to travel with them, etc.. I think if we can ensure that we are home for as many games as possible...it will help immensely.

I agree. I'm hoping that by the time the playoffs start, the restrictions will be lightened and some more fans will be allowed in the arenas.

NBA playoffs are always fun, but it's way better with more people in the bldg.

[Keith_myath]

Don't think I give 2 **** about this game now that Jones is no longer a Sun.

[SunsRback4Good]

Don't think I give 2 **** about this game now that Jones is no longer a Sun.

I agree. I mean who is next Ty-Shon Alexander? Jones just had the number 1 play on top 10 plays in the league a few days ago. Yet this is how James Jones and Sarver reward him? Unbelievable!

[Barkley6]

thanks for the laugh. Lol

We are not there yet, maybe in a year or two though.

Why not now bro?

I just dont see is being good enough to compete and beat Jazz, Clippers or Lakers in a 7 game series. Besides CP3, Crowder, & Saric our team has very little experience in the playoffs. Not many teams miss playoffs for multiple years then add a few pieces and become contenders. I hope that I am wrong but I just dont see us in same conversation as those three teams above us.

7 game series come down to coaching. When you look back to the Nash era, every series we lost....we were the more talented team. We lost because we got outcoached. All your weaknesses and tendencies get exposed, teams take away what you want to do, and you've gotta do the same to them. I dont know how Monty will be in the playoffs, it seems like he gets things right eventually but it takes him a long time to get there. Can't do that in a seven game series.

[King4Day]

thanks for the laugh. Lol

We are not there yet, maybe in a year or two though.

Why not now bro?

I just dont see is being good enough to compete and beat Jazz, Clippers or Lakers in a 7 game series. Besides CP3, Crowder, & Saric our team has very little experience in the playoffs. Not many teams miss playoffs for multiple years then add a few pieces and become contenders. I hope that I am wrong but I just don't see us in same conversation as those three teams above us.

I look at the bubble though. We needed to win every single game to have a realistic chance. Guys like Booker and the Cam's showed up.
Ayton is the one I'd worry most about as I don't know what his mind is like but even with him, I believe he will be fine.

[Wilber85]

U really trying to dodge teams like some scared people!!!!! Face whoever you get, and win. Thats what contenders do!

Bunch of cowards afraid to face a real team lol

[Wilber85]

Why not now bro?

I just dont see is being good enough to compete and beat Jazz, Clippers or Lakers in a 7 game series. Besides CP3, Crowder, & Saric our team has very little experience in the playoffs. Not many teams miss playoffs for multiple years then add a few pieces and become contenders. I hope that I am wrong but I just don't see us in same conversation as those three teams above us.

I look at the bubble though. We needed to win every single game to have a realistic chance. Guys like Booker and the Cam's showed up.
Ayton is the one I'd worry most about as I don't know what his mind is like but even with him, I believe he will be fine.

Bench depth as well. Next man up. I think with our depth, if we stay healthy. We can take any of those teams in a 7 game series