2018 Playoffs Thread

[elindholm]

It's a bit frustrating to see former Suns go on to play well for other team. I'm not saying the Suns made the wrong move, but the Suns have had some problems with working through issues with some of their former players.

The wrong move was to put the Morrii on the same roster. Once that happened, they both had to go. They needed to be forced to mature as individuals, not as a his-and-his tag team.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think we can say or hope some of these moves were learning steps for a new GM. The Knight trade still hurts the most.

I wasn't against the Knight trade as much as I didn't like the IT trade. I never viewed the Lakers pick as some great asset. We got that pick for Nash in a sign and trade so it didn't cost us anything, really, so it was playing with house money IMO. It was a good asset that we should have held onto but I know why we dealt it. Knight was supposed to be the "star" that the Suns were able add because he became available, like McD talked about since he came here. Unfortunately he petered out and never got back to the level of play he was at for the Bucks that season which sucks for us. Had we not gambled on that deal though I think we could be locked into a worse deal, what that would be I'm not sure but I think McD became more cautious after that trade didn't pan out.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It's a bit frustrating to see former Suns go on to play well for other team. I'm not saying the Suns made the wrong move, but the Suns have had some problems with working through issues with some of their former players.

Marcus had a decent game but he's not playing well for another team, quite the opposite. He's had a horrible playoffs to date, Boston is winning in spite of him IMO. He brings toughness to the Celtics and he's a good teammate but he's not a plus player by any means.

 

[AzStevenCal]

They gave Marcus away, which was a mistake. I know it was in an attempt to sign Aldridge but that didn't happen so they shouldn't have traded him for nothing. That's one deal that McD made that I was against at the time and that I still view as a big mistake. Could have gotten something or someone for him.

Giving him away wasn't the mistake (IMO). Between his on-court performance, his off-court problem and the towel incident, he had to go. Given the way we signed them though, I think it was a mistake for Ryan and/or Babby to not sit down with the twins in advance of the trade.

 

[Mainstreet]

The wrong move was to put the Morrii on the same roster. Once that happened, they both had to go. They needed to be forced to mature as individuals, not as a his-and-his tag team.

I'm sure you are right. However, it looked so perfect at the time.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wasn't against the Knight trade as much as I didn't like the IT trade. I never viewed the Lakers pick as some great asset. We got that pick for Nash in a sign and trade so it didn't cost us anything, really, so it was playing with house money IMO. It was a good asset that we should have held onto but I know why we dealt it. Knight was supposed to be the "star" that the Suns were able add because he became available, like McD talked about since he came here. Unfortunately he petered out and never got back to the level of play he was at for the Bucks that season which sucks for us. Had we not gambled on that deal though I think we could be locked into a worse deal, what that would be I'm not sure but I think McD became more cautious after that trade didn't pan out.

My biggest issue with the Knight trade, it appeared McDonough was shooting from the hip as a reaction to Dragic demanding out.

Right or wrong, I got the impression McDonough was sending a message tp Dragic that he could be replaced.

 

[Mainstreet]

Marcus had a decent game but he's not playing well for another team, quite the opposite. He's had a horrible playoffs to date, Boston is winning in spite of him IMO. He brings toughness to the Celtics and he's a good teammate but he's not a plus player by any means.

I haven't watched Marcus much at all so you have, you have that on me. His per is 14.57 though.

If he can slow Lebron he will be worth every penny.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I haven't watched Marcus much at all so you have, you have that on me. His per is 14.57 though.

If he can slow Lebron he will be worth every penny.

Yes but I believe his PER for the playoffs is more like 10.0.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes but I believe his PER for the playoffs is more like 10.0.

I was giving his season per.

Maybe the Celtics want to rethink starting him against the Cavs.

 

[Chaplin]

They gave Marcus away, which was a mistake. I know it was in an attempt to sign Aldridge but that didn't happen so they shouldn't have traded him for nothing. That's one deal that McD made that I was against at the time and that I still view as a big mistake. Could have gotten something or someone for him.

At the time, I'm not sure Marcus could have gotten us much.

 

[JCSunsfan]

At the time, I'm not sure Marcus could have gotten us much.

Notoriously bad attitude. Under felony indictment. T's constantly. I think you are right.

The big mistake the Suns made was signing him in the first place.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Paul and Harden literally committ a foul on every play. HOU is the NBA version of the Legion of Boom.

 

[Russ Smith]

Paul and Harden literally committ a foul on every play. HOU is the NBA version of the Legion of Boom.

Who gets a T first Paul or Durant? Paul has gotten away with about 3 elbows, one of them he hit Klay with the elbow and the shoulder on a drive and they called the foul on Klay. Then the elbow to Durant after their little shouting match. Harden sort of got the best of it at the end there, Durant should have dunked that last drive he missed and it led to a dunk.

My complaint as always, you can't call the game this tight on the ball, and this loose off the ball. The way Houston defends Curry and Klay is to just grab and hold them so they can't make the cut. They're not calling it eitehr way so CUrry and Klay have started pushing off and back cutting for layups when being held.

I have a feeling the 3 fouls on Draymond and Iggy are going to be a big factor if it was just one of them you can get by but with both of them it requires more bench play from Young and Livingston.

Also think David West has a chance to be a big factor in this series, Houston is playing VERY physical, a big tough guy like West can really help the Warriors match that physicality.

The Warriors shot 55% in the first half but it's tied because they only shot THREE free throws in a half, and it's not like they took a ton of 3's, teh Rockets actually took 4 more 3's than the Warriors did.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

We need KD to step up his D.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This is such an odd DA team. Total ISO ball on O, big man who can anchor the middle.

They seem to have to work SO HARD right now just to stay close to GS when it looks like GS hasn’t turned it on yet.

 

[Hoop Head]

Ariza is out with 5 fouls now. Home court will be big for Houston but Golden State has been here before, experience is on their side. I'd be surprised if this doesn't go all 7 games. Winning game 7 in Houston will be hard for the Warriors but this is basically the finals. Whoever wins this series should have no issue with the Cavs or Celtics, unless the Celtics get Kyrie and Hayward back for the finals but I don't see that happening.

 

[Russ Smith]

Really obvious Currys knee is not near 100%. he must have fallen down 5 times already in the 3rd quarter, one was a flop trying to draw a charge on yet another elbow by Paul but most of them is just he doesn't have his balance wtih that knee

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Paul gets away with a blatant shove again, right on front of Foster. Worst ref in pro sports.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer but is it not a technical to deflect an inbounds pass as you're coming in from out of bounds? harden has done it twice tonight and tried again, and Iggy just tried to do it after a dunk and when they blew the whistle for teh TO, I assumed they were calling him for a T.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Ariza is out with 5 fouls now. Home court will be big for Houston but Golden State has been here before, experience is on their side. I'd be surprised if this doesn't go all 7 games. Winning game 7 in Houston will be hard for the Warriors but this is basically the finals. Whoever wins this series should have no issue with the Cavs or Celtics, unless the Celtics get Kyrie and Hayward back for the finals but I don't see that happening.

I see GS winning in 6. Houston just can't afford to lose a single home game and I don't think will be able to win all of them.

 

[Cheesebeef]

5 games MAX.

 

[Russ Smith]

Looney has gotten so good on defense. He's been so good tonight on switches, and while he's not blocking shots he's made Houston miss about 5 in the paint in the 3rd quarter.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Looney is a very solid defender.

 

[Cheesebeef]

So, LeBron to Houston? I’ve believed for a while that he wouldn’t want to go West because it’s a tougher conference, but the East is no slouch at this point, especially assuming Philly’s superstars get better (which they will) and the Celtics get a healthy Kyrie and Hayward back (which might be dicey with Kyrie).

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Looney has gotten so good on defense. He's been so good tonight on switches, and while he's not blocking shots he's made Houston miss about 5 in the paint in the 3rd quarter.

He's a UFA after this year.