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

[sunsbg]

Let's be honest, Pelicans have two great scorers and a big Suns make look like Chamberlain on the rebounds. Their role players are young and hitting 3s and play with great energy. This is not your typical 8th seed. Pels are better than Mavs, especially without Luka, Jazz and Nuggets. Suns 1a/1b player goes down. Just a bad luck for the Suns. It's a wide open series.

[DusterBuster]

Such a classic Chris Paul series.

[1st banana]

So your counterargument to Pelicans being underrated is to site the predictions that came from them being underrated? Interesting.

Book missed about 1/3 of game 2 and it was a close game.

Pels are a .500 team since cj got there not like they’ve been on some miraculous turn around.

Given how his acquisition (along with others) has turned that team from being in the running for the league's worst record to one of potentially upending the league's best team record wise and long considered NBA Finals fave, what's gone on in NO has been nothing short of miraculous.

Lol it’s starting to look miraculous now. I guess I was overrating Phoenix then I just thought they would handle NOLA easily and it hasn’t been the case.

I’m still not sold on the Pelicans are actually good tho but they have an up and coming team that I’m feelin for sure.

[Scoundreldays]

Coming from someone who was rooting for the Clippers. Pelicans fans have a fun team to watch. I'm rooting for you guys.

[IamBBAnalysis]

Lost in all of the booker talk/excuses from the suns side is that the pelicans are quite literally missing their best player who pitched in 27ppg on over 60% shooting the last season he played.

Who's making excuses as a Suns fan about Booker being out? Can you show a post? Suns fans are not Laker fans.

[IamBBAnalysis]

For the remaining series it's interesting to see if the refs allow the Pelicans to play this physical to CP3. There are some borderline calls which could easily turn Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado into foul trouble. If the refs allow this level of contact, the Suns may be in trouble. Not having Booker allows the Pelicans to go all out blitz to CP3.

Yeah, that will probably deterine the series. Good post. They let the Pelicans play very physical in this last game. The Suns will be trying to draw fouls in game 5 at home.

[IamBBAnalysis]

I do wonder if people realize just how valuable Booker is to the Suns and how much he impacts the game when hes on the floor.

Yeah, but that is to talk about later. Right now he is not in uniform.

[PaKwAn]

To people that think that barely making the play ins and playoffs to just get demolished by the higher seed isn't worth it...well i introduce to you to the New Orleans Pelicans! Even though the series isn't over yet win or lose i already think this was a big win for this team to get that experience in especially with a young team who mostly haven't been on this stage yet... really proud of these guys and extremely happy what this experience would do for our future!

[Phystic]

Lost in all of the booker talk/excuses from the suns side is that the pelicans are quite literally missing their best player who pitched in 27ppg on over 60% shooting the last season he played.

Who's making excuses as a Suns fan about Booker being out? Can you show a post? Suns fans are not Laker fans.

Agreed. Losing Booker made the series much harder but the Suns struggles aren't solely because of Booker. Suns are playing like trash and not matching pelicans effort.

With that said, not having a player for the entire season is vastly different from losing a player mid game/series.

Time to acclimate and adjust is important

[BuddyBuckets]

There are a few people elsewhere on the internet who claim to kinda have an inside track on Pels staff and post on other forums.... They are kinda suggesting Zion isn't a part of the teams future.

This is total nonsense, no one with any connections is saying this whatsoever.

bruh

Nance played after 1 5v5 practice.

Zion is 'doing controlled 5v5' I guess against stuffed animals and geriatrics from the make a wish foundation.



At some point reality kicks in,

[Duke4life831]

To people that think that barely making the play ins and playoffs to just get demolished by the higher seed isn't worth it...well i introduce to you to the New Orleans Pelicans! Even though the series isn't over yet win or lose i already think this was a big win for this team to get that experience in especially with a young team who mostly haven't been on this stage yet... really proud of these guys and extremely happy what this experience would do for our future!

Yup. Especially for the Pels since they weren't going to get their own pick anyways really (unless they got lucky in the lotto). And ya there is no way you can watch what this team is doing and think this isnt going to be great for them long term.

Just from a confidence stand point. BI has to have taken a huge step in the confidence department. BI isnt playing like a borderline All Star in this series, he is playing like an All NBA level player in this series. Then watching the young guys like Herb and Jose not flinch in these moments, its going to be huge for this team going forward.

[BuddyBuckets]

To people that think that barely making the play ins and playoffs to just get demolished by the higher seed isn't worth it...well i introduce to you to the New Orleans Pelicans! Even though the series isn't over yet win or lose i already think this was a big win for this team to get that experience in especially with a young team who mostly haven't been on this stage yet... really proud of these guys and extremely happy what this experience would do for our future!

Yup. Especially for the Pels since they weren't going to get their own pick anyways really (unless they got lucky in the lotto). And ya there is no way you can watch what this team is doing and think this isnt going to be great for them long term.

Just from a confidence stand point. BI has to have taken a huge step in the confidence department. BI isnt playing like a borderline All Star in this series, he is playing like an All NBA level player in this series. Then watching the young guys like Herb and Jose not flinch in these moments, its going to be huge for this team going forward.

Agree as long as the team doesn't pull an Atlanta and start to think they're a playoff team on cruise control next year.

Still lots of change and improvement needed and guys gotta take every game serious, West is still brutal when healthy, no-one is assured a playoff spot.

[Duke4life831]

To people that think that barely making the play ins and playoffs to just get demolished by the higher seed isn't worth it...well i introduce to you to the New Orleans Pelicans! Even though the series isn't over yet win or lose i already think this was a big win for this team to get that experience in especially with a young team who mostly haven't been on this stage yet... really proud of these guys and extremely happy what this experience would do for our future!

Yup. Especially for the Pels since they weren't going to get their own pick anyways really (unless they got lucky in the lotto). And ya there is no way you can watch what this team is doing and think this isnt going to be great for them long term.

Just from a confidence stand point. BI has to have taken a huge step in the confidence department. BI isnt playing like a borderline All Star in this series, he is playing like an All NBA level player in this series. Then watching the young guys like Herb and Jose not flinch in these moments, its going to be huge for this team going forward.

Agree as long as the team doesn't pull an Atlanta and start to think they're a playoff team on cruise control next year.

Still lots of change and improvement needed and guys gotta take every game serious, West is still brutal when healthy, no-one is assured a playoff spot.

Agreed. Hoping it goes more in line of the Grizz from last year to this year kind of thing.

[bradybunch]

WTH happened to Chris Paul.

Yikes.

[Pachinko_]

Well, no team has come back from 3-0
but plenty of teams have come back from 3-2, and as far as I can see it's 3-2 right now

[babyjax13]

Read on Twitter

[lordjeff05]

Pels are a .500 team since cj got there not like they’ve been on some miraculous turn around.

Given how his acquisition (along with others) has turned that team from being in the running for the league's worst record to one of potentially upending the league's best team record wise and long considered NBA Finals fave, what's gone on in NO has been nothing short of miraculous.

Lol it’s starting to look miraculous now. I guess I was overrating Phoenix then I just thought they would handle NOLA easily and it hasn’t been the case.

I’m still not sold on the Pelicans are actually good tho but they have an up and coming team that I’m feelin for sure.

The record when both CJ and Ingram played, while a small sample size, is still much more impressive

[Ballerhogger]

Come on pelicans ! No booker obviously hurting the the suns . If ayton wants max he better go 110% and produce

[Ballerhogger]

Read on Twitter

Cp3 still most unlikable guard ever

[Ballerhogger]

WTH happened to Chris Paul.

Yikes.

Father Time