WC | Rd. 2| (2) Suns vs (3) Nuggets [4-0 Suns]

[rockmanslim]

Chris Haynes asked CP3 a question similar to what Jared Greenberg asked KD. CP answered it cordially.

KD hates the media lol

[OldSchoolNoBull]

16-0 run without a timeout... nice job, coach.

Malone is terrible stopping the momentum of opposing teams. He would leave a unit that is losing terribly in hopes that they can pull it out. Then when all is lost he calls a time out and replaces them. He is also married with his rotations and makes zero in game adjustments.

Phil Jackson always used to do that - let his teams play through it when the other team was making a run.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

This Suns team is why you can't really judge draft picks until year 3-4. Gives me hope as a Cavs fan lol

Most fans want rookies and 2nd year players moved on if they don't hit the ground running.

What is crazy is that Jalen Smith doesn’t even play for this team. He is not going to be a bust.

[Ballerhogger]

16-0 run without a timeout... nice job, coach.

Malone is terrible stopping the momentum of opposing teams. He would leave a unit that is losing terribly in hopes that they can pull it out. Then when all is lost he calls a time out and replaces them. He is also married with his rotations and makes zero in game adjustments.

Phil Jackson always used to do that - let his teams play through it when the other team was making a run.

Yea it doesn’t work when you don’t have all time goat players

[bwgood77]

Who knew CP3 for Rubio would be the difference between a lotto team and a possible champion?

Except that's not what it is.

Rubio -> CP3
Bridges progression
Ayton progression
Booker progression
Crowder
Craig
Cam Payne full season

But sure, it's just Rubio for CP3

That's the big upgrade here, let's be honest. It's not just his on-court play, which is clearly 1000x that of Rubio (barely an NBA worthy player), but the fact that he instills leadership and a calm demeanor necessary to close out games.

And a lot of the other guys' progression is because of CP3. His impact on everyone else and how they play, think, see and study the game is immeasurable.

[JoeyLightYears]

Except that's not what it is.

Rubio -> CP3
Bridges progression
Ayton progression
Booker progression
Crowder
Craig
Cam Payne full season

But sure, it's just Rubio for CP3

That's the big upgrade here, let's be honest. It's not just his on-court play, which is clearly 1000x that of Rubio (barely an NBA worthy player), but the fact that he instills leadership and a calm demeanor necessary to close out games.

No argument there. But there were a lot of other factors here that make CP3 work well here. We can't let him play reasonable minutes without Cam Payne playing good backup minutes. We don't become a top defensive team without Ayton, Bridges, Crowder. We don't maintain a balanced offense without Booker's maturation. Like I said, so many factors.

Put it another way. Orlando was 33-40 last season and actually made the playoffs. Do you think Chris Paul going to Orlando would make them the 2nd best team in the league? Of course not.

Orlando wasn't as good as Phoenix last year but they were in a weaker conference. If CP3 went there this year I think they'd be a good team similar to how he turned OKC around. The guy is just a winner and it's a damn shame he hasn't made the Finals. Hopefully this year. This Phoenix team is a pure joy to watch.

[Phystic]

Is it just me or does Reggie Miller constantly say the most random, irrelevant stuff?

To end the 3rd the Suns are on fire, Jokic is out of gas and not playing well, and going into commercial he emphasizes "the recovery" on Jokic's block of the last second desperation drive of Cam Payne. Not "the Suns are on a run, the momentum has shifted, Jokic looking overwhelmed, one quarter to turn it around."

The guy has no idea about context, he just says whatever comes into his mind, and a lot of it is dumb.

In the first half I was pretty confident he had a stroke on the air. He started and messed up the same sentence like 3 times then just stopped mid sentence. And they were both quiet for a few seconds

[LV-Suns]

Chris Haynes asked CP3 a question similar to what Jared Greenberg asked KD. CP answered it cordially.

KD hates the media lol

He asks the most awkward questions. Right after Booker dominated Lakers in game 5, the first question he asked was about the double team in practice 3 years ago.

[WD]

Good suns win

[OkcSinceSGA]

CP3 being back to his usual level = Suns in 5. Will become a blood bath if he’s healthy IMO.

I like the overreactions after one game. lmao

Dude the Nuggets guards are overmatched AF and Ayton can bang with Jokic. If CP3 plays at this type of level it’s over, one game or not. If he returns to Lakers 8/8 type numbers obviously that’s different. 20/10 CP3 will sweep them tho.

[AleksandarN]

The guard depth really hurt the nuggets in this game. Jokic with a sub par game. Ayton played good defense on him but he also missed some easy shots he usually makes, Good job Suns on to the next game

[JoeyLightYears]

Chris Haynes asked CP3 a question similar to what Jared Greenberg asked KD. CP answered it cordially.

KD hates the media lol

KD just seems like a miserable person who despite having all the talent and success in the world just hates everything. Or else I can't explain how someone like that would give a **** about what idiots on the Internet think. KD is probably here so maybe he can answer for us.

[manchambo]

I think this game basically told us something we already knew: without Murray (or Barton or Dozier) Jokic needs to be dominant for Denver to win playoff games. He was off tonight, but it would be very surprising if he was off next game.

[AleksandarN]

CP3 being back to his usual level = Suns in 5. Will become a blood bath if he’s healthy IMO.

I like the overreactions after one game. lmao

Dude the Nuggets guards are overmatched AF and Ayton can bang with Jokic. If CP3 plays at this type of level it’s over, one game or not. If he returns to Lakers 8/8 type numbers obviously that’s different. 20/10 CP3 will sweep them tho.

a sweep now? ok no overreaction. I stand corrected

[Papi_swav]

Still got Suns and this game showed why. Suns guards are too good for Nuggets to keep up with. Like I said Jokic is going to get his but at least Ayton could match half of his game.

[agentofatlas]

This might be a good competitive series. I know the Nuggets seem overwhelmed right now but they're cockroaches by nature.

[bwgood77]

People are still fooling themselves that the Nets can be beat?

Come on.

They'd have the 3 best players in the series vs the Suns. It'd be a sweep.

You are assuming that they will defend Booker and Paul. I don’t think Paul gets terribly outplayed by Kyrie.

The way the Suns space the floor is extremely impressive. Brooklyn relies on isolation plays.

I hope that is what the finals turn out to be. Because I can’t wait!

The Suns have no one to guard KD.

Harden will run riot.

It'd be a sweep and Brooklyn were moving the ball really well vs the Bucks.

They're completely overmatched.

Ayton's pretty good at covering KD. He is a very versatile defender that can stick with a lot of wings...and he has the length. Bridges could probably bother him a bit too...and Crowder be pretty physical.

But no one can really totally stop KD....just like Jokic.

For the Suns it would mostly come down to their 3 pt shooting though. The Suns were the most efficient team in the midrange this season and Ayton scores over 60% or so (but if they go small he could be at 80% like he was against the Lakers...he was at about 70% tonight)...so it you hit your 3s too there really isn't a reason you can't beat anyone.

[ATTL]

This Suns team is why you can't really judge draft picks until year 3-4. Gives me hope as a Cavs fan lol

Most fans want rookies and 2nd year players moved on if they don't hit the ground running.

What is crazy is that Jalen Smith doesn’t even play for this team. He is not going to be a bust.

He has a great jumper, quick, switchable. This was basically a redshirt year for him to just watch.

[manchambo]

High scorer in the game is Bridges at 23–who would have predicted that?

[cpower]

Who knew CP3 for Rubio would be the difference between a lotto team and a possible champion?

Except that's not what it is.

Rubio -> CP3
Bridges progression
Ayton progression
Booker progression
Crowder
Craig
Cam Payne full season

But sure, it's just Rubio for CP3

most importantly they got rid of Oubre