Western Conference | Round 1 | (1) Phoenix Suns VS. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (PHX 3-2)

[sunsbum]

I’ve learned not to put too much weight into regular season performances and records.

But in this special case the suns who were up 2-0 on the bucks in the finals is an exception.

Blowing a 2-0 lead against the first healthy team they faced isn’t the flex you think it is lmao

A flex? ok. I'm just pointing out you're a literal contradiction to every **** take you've put out tonight. Lets be honest, the only reason you've won a playoff game this year is because Embid is hurt.

[Vampirate]

Lol suns fans you worried yet?

Pels **** y’all up god damn.

I’ll concede tonight’s officiating wasn’t great tho seemed to favor the pels a bit. No excuse tho book no book you should rolling the Pelicans.

I'm on the record respecting the pelicans. And why should the Suns be rolling the pelicans ? Especially without Book? Nobody giving the pelicans respect. They are far better than their record.

Pelicans earned this win. Suns are lucky to be 2-2 honestly.

As for the officiating, favored the pels a bit? Come on. It's ok to point out how one sided it was and still say pelicans won this game

The thing is you guys won 64 games this year and had the best point differential in basketball and losing Booker is not in the same realm as losing someone like Jokic. Though Booker is still an All Star.

In the playoffs, 98% of the time stars win, plain and simple.

If losing an all Star caliber player, not a Superstar caliber player is enough to derail your post season hopes, then the house of cards is truly fragile. It would show how shallow the Suns are on Star talent despite being a very deep team.

That being said the series isn't over and for all I know the Suns trounce the Pels the next 2 games, but as it stands now? Not looking good.

[Tor_Raps]

I'm sure that is going to be the starting lineup, but I don't think that will be their best lineup.

That's 3 guys that want the ball. One of BI or CJ will have to turn into primarily an off ball guy in that trio.

I'm sure the lineups that only has 2 offensive guys out there at one time will be the better lineups.

As long as CJ and Ingram can spot up shoot when they don't have the ball, the lineup can work greatly. Herb should also improve his catch and shooting too.

But that's my point. When all 3 are out there at once, if the plan is to just turn CJ into a catch and shoot guy. Might as well have a 3&D guy, instead of CJ who is a horrible defender.

I think it's overkill when you have 3 guys out there at once who want the ball. You can do that with 2 guys, can't do it with 3.

CJ has the exact game that is ideal to be the 6th man for this team when Zion is healthy.

I didn't mean be spot up shooters permanently but just be good enough when you don't have the ball. You do make a great point so let's see how they look once fully healthy.

One thing for sure is that McCollum will get traded before he becomes a 6th man.

[Bruin]

But in this special case the suns who were up 2-0 on the bucks in the finals is an exception.

Blowing a 2-0 lead against the first healthy team they faced isn’t the flex you think it is lmao

A flex? ok. I'm just pointing out you're a literal contradiction to every **** take you've put out tonight. Lets be honest, the only reason you've won a playoff game this year is because Embid is hurt.

Yes, you’re acting like the fact they were up 2-0 in the finals is a good thing when in reality they blew it and lost

Raptors have been as banged up as anyone in the playoffs so not really a great take from yourself bud. Also Raptors are playing with house money as a young team and having just recently won a rifle . Suns are the ones who went all in with the CP3 deal and need a title

[skones]

Blowing a 2-0 lead against the first healthy team they faced isn’t the flex you think it is lmao

A flex? ok. I'm just pointing out you're a literal contradiction to every **** take you've put out tonight. Lets be honest, the only reason you've won a playoff game this year is because Embid is hurt.

Yes, you’re acting like the fact they were up 2-0 in the finals is a good thing when in reality they blew it and lost

Raptors have been as banged up as anyone in the playoffs so not really a great take from yourself bud. Also Raptors are playing with house money as a young team and having just recently won a rifle . Suns are the ones who went all in with the CP3 deal and need a title

[Que Rico]

I don't want to hear about officiating when Crowder is getting every single flopping call. CP3 should have been tossed as Herb frustrated him and he took a cheap shot.

[sunsbum]

But in this special case the suns who were up 2-0 on the bucks in the finals is an exception.

Blowing a 2-0 lead against the first healthy team they faced isn’t the flex you think it is lmao

Bucks were not healthy. They lost a starter in the first round and GA was coming off the knee injury.

So it seems to me that injury's are apart of basketball. Fantastic that we agree. PrinceAli's original whine was ridiculous in that the only reason the Suns went to the finals was because of injury's when you both haven proven with your own statements this is irrelevant.

[SpreeS]

Ya'll won a championship playing against an injured Iggy and no KD, I mean lets play tit for tat here, you were lucky to win the finals.

Playing 1 round with injuries vs every round with injuries. Yeah a fantastic comparison man

2015 Warriors played every round with injuries and I don't think their title is illegitimate

Pl write names for both teams

[Bruin]

A flex? ok. I'm just pointing out you're a literal contradiction to every **** take you've put out tonight. Lets be honest, the only reason you've won a playoff game this year is because Embid is hurt.

Yes, you’re acting like the fact they were up 2-0 in the finals is a good thing when in reality they blew it and lost

Raptors have been as banged up as anyone in the playoffs so not really a great take from yourself bud. Also Raptors are playing with house money as a young team and having just recently won a rifle . Suns are the ones who went all in with the CP3 deal and need a title

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

[sunsbum]

Yes, you’re acting like the fact they were up 2-0 in the finals is a good thing when in reality they blew it and lost

Raptors have been as banged up as anyone in the playoffs so not really a great take from yourself bud. Also Raptors are playing with house money as a young team and having just recently won a rifle . Suns are the ones who went all in with the CP3 deal and need a title

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

And all this just proves my point, Injury's are apart of basketball. You can only control what's in front of you. It's weird to watch you chase your own tail on the subject so I'll just let you hash that out.

[Bruin]

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

And all this just proves my point, Injury's are apart of basketball. You can only control what's in front of you. It's weird to watch you chase your own tail on the subject so I'll just let you hash that out.

When did I say that injuries are not a part of the game?

[Duke4life831]

As long as CJ and Ingram can spot up shoot when they don't have the ball, the lineup can work greatly. Herb should also improve his catch and shooting too.

But that's my point. When all 3 are out there at once, if the plan is to just turn CJ into a catch and shoot guy. Might as well have a 3&D guy, instead of CJ who is a horrible defender.

I think it's overkill when you have 3 guys out there at once who want the ball. You can do that with 2 guys, can't do it with 3.

CJ has the exact game that is ideal to be the 6th man for this team when Zion is healthy.

I didn't mean be spot up shooters permanently but just be good enough when you don't have the ball. You do make a great point so let's see how they look once fully healthy.

One thing for sure is that McCollum will get traded before he becomes a 6th man.

Then I would look to trade CJ. The vast majority of 3 star lineups see one guy taking a major step back and with this team that guy would be CJ and CJ doesnt have the size or the defense to still be very valuable in a relegated role. And I think the ideal scenario for the Pels is to continue to give BI and Zion a bigger and bigger role on offense. So ya if CJ doesnt want to accept a 6th man role, I would look to move him.

[garrick]

Yes, you’re acting like the fact they were up 2-0 in the finals is a good thing when in reality they blew it and lost

Raptors have been as banged up as anyone in the playoffs so not really a great take from yourself bud. Also Raptors are playing with house money as a young team and having just recently won a rifle . Suns are the ones who went all in with the CP3 deal and need a title

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

None of those players come close to the impact that Joel a MVP candidate has on the game. Kind of a ridiculous comparison.

[Phystic]

Lol suns fans you worried yet?

Pels **** y’all up god damn.

I’ll concede tonight’s officiating wasn’t great tho seemed to favor the pels a bit. No excuse tho book no book you should rolling the Pelicans.

I'm on the record respecting the pelicans. And why should the Suns be rolling the pelicans ? Especially without Book? Nobody giving the pelicans respect. They are far better than their record.

Pelicans earned this win. Suns are lucky to be 2-2 honestly.

As for the officiating, favored the pels a bit? Come on. It's ok to point out how one sided it was and still say pelicans won this game

I was kidding about the a bit part tonight’s game was horrific but the pels aren’t good. They’re a young up and coming team with a couple decent scorers and defenders but give me a break.

I know book is out it’s not an excuse for the suns they are deep with a lot of versatile defenders.

I’ll say tho I do like the Pelicans team and they’re not terrible but suns should be easily winning.

The pelicans post CJ trade are a different team.

[Bruin]

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

None of those players come close to the impact that Joel a MVP candidate has on the game. Kind of a ridiculous comparison.

Joel is still playing. Comparing 2 starters (1 all star and 1 ROTY) and a key rotation player to Embiid who is still playing is a ridiculous comparison?

[skones]

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

You've got Lowry, Middleton, Luka, Murray, Lonzo, Porter, Booker, Embiid, etc. out and you're putting the Raptors on those tiers? It's a stretch, and as you ironically stated, not a great take.

[Bruin]

Fred playing on a bad knee and hip and having to leave the game yesterday and possibly out tomorrow, Scottie sprained his ankle (missed 2 games and had to play very limited in Game 4), Gary Trent was unplayable in Game 1 and 2 cause he was sick, Thad Young with a thumb injury and basically couldn’t do **** until game 4. Yeah I’d say we’re pretty banged up

You've got Lowry, Middleton, Luka, Murray, Lonzo, Porter, Booker, Embiid, etc. out and you're putting the Raptors on those tiers? It's a stretch, and as you ironically stated, not a great take.

So you’re saying Lonzo and Porter are more important than Fred? I’d say the combination of having an All Star and the ROTY out with injury is pretty comparable to teams missing a Lowry, Lonzo, Porter, Middleton, etc. And Embiid isn’t out, he’s still playing

[Phystic]

Lol suns fans you worried yet?

Pels **** y’all up god damn.

I’ll concede tonight’s officiating wasn’t great tho seemed to favor the pels a bit. No excuse tho book no book you should rolling the Pelicans.

I'm on the record respecting the pelicans. And why should the Suns be rolling the pelicans ? Especially without Book? Nobody giving the pelicans respect. They are far better than their record.

Pelicans earned this win. Suns are lucky to be 2-2 honestly.

As for the officiating, favored the pels a bit? Come on. It's ok to point out how one sided it was and still say pelicans won this game

The thing is you guys won 64 games this year and had the best point differential in basketball and losing Booker is not in the same realm as losing someone like Jokic. Though Booker is still an All Star.

In the playoffs, 98% of the time stars win, plain and simple.

If losing an all Star caliber player, not a Superstar caliber player is enough to derail your post season hopes, then the house of cards is truly fragile. It would show how shallow the Suns are on Star talent despite being a very deep team.

That being said the series isn't over and for all I know the Suns trounce the Pels the next 2 games, but as it stands now? Not looking good.

So because Booker isn't the MVP then the loss isn't a big deal? Some pretty big gaps in logic to hold that opinion.

Not having Booker is a huge loss. He is a clutch scorer. And more importantly creates his own shot. Also helps relieve pressure from CP3. Also creates open looks when Paul sits.

This series honestly is a perfect storm. Book out. Pelicans being healthy healthy finally coming into playoffs and hitting their stride. And more importantly Suns absolutely crumbling from 3pt.

Now some of it can be attributed to an aggressive Pelicans defense but the sheet number of clear/open shots being missed is crazy.

Two airballs from Payne and 2 from Johnson tonight alone.

[skones]

So you’re saying Lonzo and Porter are more important than Fred? I’d say the combination of having an All Star and the ROTY out with injury is pretty comparable to teams missing a Lowry, Lonzo, Porter, Middleton, etc. And Embiid isn’t out, he’s still playing

Fred has literally missed zero games man. You can't be serious.

[Bruin]

So you’re saying Lonzo and Porter are more important than Fred? I’d say the combination of having an All Star and the ROTY out with injury is pretty comparable to teams missing a Lowry, Lonzo, Porter, Middleton, etc. And Embiid isn’t out, he’s still playing

Fred has literally missed zero games man. You can't be serious.

He left the game early in game 4 and likely misses tomorrow and was playing at like 60% all series. He’s been playing through a knee injury that’s been effecting him on both ends since the All Star break. So yes, I’m serious