NBA PLAYOFFS: Game 6 - (2) Phoenix Suns @ (7) Los Angeles Lakers l Thursday l 7:30pm l TNT l PHX wins series (4-2)

[SunsRback4Good]

Utah scares me let's just forfeit now to avoid humiliation.

[Barkley6]

The fact that the Lakers are publicly saying 'its up to the team doctor' as to whether AD plays or not, tells me he isn't going to play.

Vogel, nor AD want to be accountable to the fans if they lose this series with AD sitting out due to an injury (that he likely caused because he was flopping). So they are going to pin it on the team docs and say "Well, you listen to the medical professionals in that case"

Literally every team consults with their doctors and if the doctors say it's a no go, it's a no go. Stating that you're doing that publicly, and shirking the responsibility makes it seem like they are looking for someone to blame who wont catch flak from the fan base.

[Barkley6]

Utah scares me let's just forfeit now to avoid humiliation.

Utah has looked very good this season against pretty much everyone except us. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to meet Dallas in the WCF, but Utah is the 3rd scariest team in the West playoffs to me (Behind the LA teams)

[lilfishi22]

That's really playing with fire in an elimination game. Dare 42% and a 39% 3 point shooters to hit shots? Both of whom have gotten it going the last two games? That's a REALLY dangerous plan and seems like a good way to dig an early hole.

I don't think the Lakers think their issue is on the defensive end. We shot 45/33% in a blow out. It's not like we just shot the lights out. Their offense was putrid.

They are going to look to find some better, more consistent offense and not turn the ball over. I think we see more THT as a secondary ball handler/playmaker. I think they are going to try to run some Gasol point-center, and obviously LeBron is going to be their primary threat on that end.

What becomes crucial for us is to win the minutes when LeBron sits. There won't be a lot of them, but we need to use those opportunities to clamp down on defense either narrow a deficit or expand a lead. Even if he's only sitting for 1:30 of game time, if we can whittle a lead down by 3-4 or expand a lead by 3-4 in those minutes that will be key to being successful in this one.

In their wins against us, they played stellar defense, our shooters couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but honestly, their offense didn't look that great as you mentioned. In G2-3, they just got to the line a million times and Schroder got hot. Chris Paul could barely play and Booker put up a dud. Their offense just isn't overwhelming like the Nets if they can't rely on refs calling fouls. They become a handful when they have refs calling BS fouls and get to the FT line. When they can't get to the line 30+ times a game, they have to rely on their shooting which they are abysmal at. In the 1 regular season loss against them, they got to the line 41 times (17FTA for AD).

So I do think we'll see a bit more THT to try and create a bit more offense, get more offensive movement and get more opportunities to draw fouls. But if they can't generate those calls, they just can't win because Lebron just isn't driving with the frequency he's used to and when he does, he passes them out and the Lakers can't shoot. I just keep hearing and hearing about how Lebron is still the best penetrator in the league lol but that's not some trump card they've been keeping up their sleeve, they've been trying but those drives haven't generated the points.

They have no answer on offense (so far) when the whistles don't go their way. And AD is the best at drawing fouls. If he's out, or not very aggressive, that favors us immensely because aside from LeBron turning into a volume 3 point shooter, I haven't seen anything in the last two games to suggest that they have a go to source of offense.

Lebron turning into a volume 3pt shooter and not being the driving threat he used to be has been a revelation for us. Even in games where they won, Lebron wasn't the guy that used to barrel into defenders and either finish over guys or draw the foul. He's just not that guy anymore. Lebron isn't a good 3PT shooter and while he's not bad enough to just give him the open shot, I'd rather force their possession to end with a Lebron pull up 3PT shot than some sort of 3PT shot off a drive and kick.

Watching the Suns defense against Lebron, it's clear we are just walling off the driving lane, making him pass it and forcing others to beat us. Lebron is still a great passer and if they get more motion in their offense, they could still be dangerous but I feel like we have the defenders match that motion.

Our key weakness and it's LA's strength is the ref whistle.

[King4Day]

Utah scares me let's just forfeit now to avoid humiliation.

Utah has looked very good this season against pretty much everyone except us. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to meet Dallas in the WCF, but Utah is the 3rd scariest team in the West playoffs to me (Behind the LA teams)

Agreed, but we cross that bridge if we get there. For now, game 6. Then hopefully sitting back and watching a Blazer/Nugget game 7

[King4Day]

I asked Flex if he heard anything about Paul's status. Not sure how much his contacts know about it but could be a good sign.

Read on Twitter

[SlovenianDragon]

should i get tickets to this game? What should i throw at LeBron? popcorn or a water bottle?

[Frank Lee]

JaBronnie looking like Joe Namath on the Rams*.... We throw fresh bodies on him... Crowder, Bridges, Johnson, and Craig... dude was looking very pedestrian... tired of the nation narrative of the James summon the inner super hero mystic. F-er is a high mileage player, bound to slow/break down sometime. Asking a lot to carry that bunch of ragtaggers he plays with. Ive got even money he never wins another ring.













*Yeah, I’m dirt old

[King4Day]

should i get tickets to this game? What should i throw at LeBron? popcorn or a water bottle?

Yes, go.
Fling poo

[King4Day]

JaBronnie looking like Joe Namath on the Rams*.... We throw fresh bodies on him... Crowder, Bridges, Johnson, and Craig... dude was looking very pedestrian... tired of the nation narrative of the James summon the inner super hero mystic. F-er is a high mileage player, bound to slow/break down sometime. Asking a lot to carry that bunch of ragtaggers he plays with. Ive got even money he never wins another ring.

*Yeah, I’m dirt old

If they don't pull it off this year, I believe the title window for the Lakers is closed.
With Utah, Denver, Phoenix, and Dallas coming up, and with the Warriors getting back to full strength, unless LA lands another stud, their title window is closing fast.

[lilfishi22]

should i get tickets to this game? What should i throw at LeBron? popcorn or a water bottle?

Prepare to get your *** beat if you throw anything more than insults at their king in LA

[Qwigglez]

should i get tickets to this game? What should i throw at LeBron? popcorn or a water bottle?

You don't want to knock him over, find something a bit lighter.

[SunsRback4Good]

Watch on YouTube

17 second mark

[SunsRback4Good]

should i get tickets to this game? What should i throw at LeBron? popcorn or a water bottle?

You don't want to knock him over, find something a bit lighter.

Will this work?

[bwgood77]

Utah scares me let's just forfeit now to avoid humiliation.

Utah has looked very good this season against pretty much everyone except us. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to meet Dallas in the WCF, but Utah is the 3rd scariest team in the West playoffs to me (Behind the LA teams)

Clippers are the scariest. After that it's tough. We have played Utah well. We have played Dallas well. But Luka is the type of player that lives for playoffs and is about as true competitor as there is in the NBA. I mean his neck is strained or whatever and he has like 42 with 6 3s, 14 assists and 8 boards. I mean even if he had 17 pts and the 14 assists and 8 boards it would be impressive. Or 42/7/7 but the fact he is putting these numbers up so many points, 3s, and assists is crazy, especially going against defenders like Kawhi and George.

Though of course before we'd meet any of those teams we have to get by Portland or Dallas...

and of course the Lakers first and foremost.

[SlovenianDragon]

Utah scares me let's just forfeit now to avoid humiliation.

Utah has looked very good this season against pretty much everyone except us. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to meet Dallas in the WCF, but Utah is the 3rd scariest team in the West playoffs to me (Behind the LA teams)

Clippers are the scariest. After that it's tough. We have played Utah well. We have played Dallas well. But Luka is the type of player that lives for playoffs and is about as true competitor as there is in the NBA. I mean his neck is strained or whatever and he has like 42 with 6 3s, 14 assists and 8 boards. I mean even if he had 17 pts and the 14 assists and 8 boards it would be impressive. Or 42/7/7 but the fact he is putting these numbers up so many points, 3s, and assists is crazy, especially going against defenders like Kawhi and George.

Though of course before we'd meet any of those teams we have to get by Portland or Dallas...

and of course the Lakers first and foremost.

No1 can beat the Phoenix Hydrogen Stars!

[bwgood77]

JaBronnie looking like Joe Namath on the Rams*.... We throw fresh bodies on him... Crowder, Bridges, Johnson, and Craig... dude was looking very pedestrian... tired of the nation narrative of the James summon the inner super hero mystic. F-er is a high mileage player, bound to slow/break down sometime. Asking a lot to carry that bunch of ragtaggers he plays with. Ive got even money he never wins another ring.

*Yeah, I’m dirt old

If they don't pull it off this year, I believe the title window for the Lakers is closed.
With Utah, Denver, Phoenix, and Dallas coming up, and with the Warriors getting back to full strength, unless LA lands another stud, their title window is closing fast.

Well yes, without LeBron or even an older LeBron it would be tough. But if Kawhi picks up his option next year and LeBron played one more year, Kawhi could join AD on the Lakers or something like that. I'm sure some other big star will go there if they have AD and a max slot.

But anyway, if you count LeBron out because he's over the hill, Paul's in the same boat, and without him we are at best a fringe playoff team....so we need to address that, but yeah those other teams are all up n coming along with most of our roster and perhaps Payne is good enough to almost replace Paul at some point. We will obviously need depth though...but probably more of a vet PG. Our team plays a bit out of control when Paul isn't there.

[bwgood77]

I asked Flex if he heard anything about Paul's status. Not sure how much his contacts know about it but could be a good sign.

Read on Twitter

Of course this is the same guy that said he wasn't going to play in game 4.

Though I feel the same...that Paul will play and probably be fine.

[Bogyo]

I asked Flex if he heard anything about Paul's status. Not sure how much his contacts know about it but could be a good sign.

Read on Twitter

Of course this is the same guy that said he wasn't going to play in game 4.

Though I feel the same...that Paul will play and probably be fine.

Yup, just another guy who got 1 thing right, and been living off that eversince. Good for him, but I don't really trust his info.

[insomniac00]

I asked Flex if he heard anything about Paul's status. Not sure how much his contacts know about it but could be a good sign.

Read on Twitter

Of course this is the same guy that said he wasn't going to play in game 4.

Though I feel the same...that Paul will play and probably be fine.

To be fair to him, the plan was reportedly to sit Paul for Game 4 until Paul talked Monty out of it. So that info might have been fine for when he gave it.