Lakers @ Suns Sunday Playoff game thread 5-23-2021 - Game 1

[Suns_fan69]

Sample size renders this all but useless for predictions, but here's how Lebron has fared against Phoenix defenders recently:

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[Muggz]

there’s one major problem with the above. We’re not a running team.

We make the Lakers run by moving the ball.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Similar look at AD vs Suns defenders:

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[Proximo]

I wish the Suns had given Jalen Smith more playing time during the season but I thought he was too raw until the regular season finale against the Spurs. He didn't look half bad in that game.

Getting playing time against the Lakers is a lot to ask but the Suns might have to use him some. I'm guessing this is why they drafted him, to add more size and athleticism to the front court.

Jalen Smith is not strong enough. Even if he wasn't raw, he would get pushed around more than even a Cam Johnson would.

 

[Proximo]

We make the Lakers run by moving the ball.

I agree we need to be a running team in this series.

 

[pokerface]

Relax
Lakers cant hang with us, not for four games.
We need to run the ball tire those old folks out.
Lebrons got the ankles of a 90 year old grape stomper.
Our team is built for the playoffs.
We have 5 dudes sitting on the bench that can jump on and drop 30 on any given night.
The Lakers have a 7-8 man rotation at best.

If we play it smart this is a 4-5 game series.

I actually thought that. I think I heard a coach say that once as far as youth vs talent. But they got size soooo...Im still scared

 

[pokerface]

It will be interesting to see who guards Lebron and Anthony Davis. Crowder and Bridges could draw either assignment. I'm sure Torrey Craig and Cam Johnson will get their chances as well. I can even see Ayton trying to guard Davis.

However, if things go South guarding Anthony Davis, sometime in the series I'd like to see Monty try Stix on him.

It seems a bit off the wall because Stix hasn't played much this season but his quickness and height might provide a new wrinkle or at least give the Suns some more fouls to burn.

Yeah right. Ayton is too valuable to risk foul trouble with AD. But maybe ok to involve him in random double teams once in awhile

 

[Cheesebeef]

so, we making predictions or what?

I sadly say Lakers in 6, but if we win Game 1, puncher's chance of Suns in 7!

 

[95pro]

I'm going bold here, Suns in 6.

Win
Lose
Win
Win
Lose
Win

 

[taz02]

Relax
Lakers cant hang with us, not for four games.
We need to run the ball tire those old folks out.
Lebrons got the ankles of a 90 year old grape stomper.
Our team is built for the playoffs.
We have 5 dudes sitting on the bench that can jump on and drop 30 on any given night.
The Lakers have a 7-8 man rotation at best.

If we play it smart this is a 4-5 game series.

You should post more

 

[pokerface]

It speaks really poorly of Ayton that when we talk about who should guard Davis, he’s the last person mentioned.

Davis will completely destroy Crowder. We know we’re likely to get next to nothing from Ayton on offense. If we’re also taking him off the most important defensive matchup series, he’s almost useless out there.

Nah that's too harsh. Ayton seems more like in the mold of Mutombo as in a team defender. Besides no one can guard AD. It's going to take a team effort. We need Ayton not to be in foul trouble. He gives us a bit of everything out there.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Nah that's too harsh. Ayton seems more like in the mold of Mutombo as in a team defender. Besides no one can guard AD. It's going to take a team effort. We need Ayton not to be in foul trouble. He gives us a bit of everything out there.

man, I don't see this at all.

and AD isn't dominant against the entire league. He averaged 22 ppg this year. I just think people see AD as unstoppable because most of what they've seen is him routinely tuning us up.

 

[Finito]

Suns in 5

 

[Ronin]

Duane Rankin
@DuaneRankin
·
2h
"We'll see. Our game plan to do our best to have those guys ready." Monty Williams on Cam Johnson (wrist) and Deandre Ayton (knee).

"They're trending in a good place." #Suns

 

[Ronin]

Kellan Olson
@KellanOlson
·
2h


Monty Williams said LeBron James is perhaps the greatest athlete we've seen in any sport. Said he continues to defy what we normally see in terms of drop-off at that age.

 

[Ronin]

Kellan Olson
@KellanOlson
·
2h


Monty Williams said "we'll see" on Cam Johnson being ready for Sunday. Same answer in terms of them trending in that direction but nothing official yet.

 

[Ronin]

Kellan Olson
@KellanOlson
·
2h


Monty said Cam has gotten up "a few shots" with no cast on. Working on strength and conditioning stuff with his wrist and has been practicing

 

[Ronin]

Kellan Olson
@KellanOlson
·
1h


Monty Williams said the Suns being picked against is something they can use as limited motivation. He's not worried about listening to those people. Said no one predicted them to win 51 games so why would they listen now.

 

[pokerface]

man, I don't see this at all.

and AD isn't dominant against the entire league. He averaged 22 ppg this year. I just think people see AD as unstoppable because most of what they've seen is him routinely tuning us up.

If Ayton racks up fouls against AD and we have to sit him thats going to hurt us in general...plus AD will still get his anyway. The only compromise I see in this is if Ayton gets by in the first half without being a foul magnet then let him have a crack at Davis in the second half.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jalen Smith is not strong enough. Even if he wasn't raw, he would get pushed around more than even a Cam Johnson would.

Since Jalen Smith didn't play much this season it would be experimental. No doubt he needs to get stronger. Still his athleticism and length might alter some shots.

 

[Ronin]

Duane Rankin
@DuaneRankin
·
1h


"Everything is on the other side of hard. Right now the Lakers are our hard." Monty Williams when asked if #Suns should be bitter about playing the #Lakers in the first round. He said the Suns aren't bitter and are looking forward to the challenge.

 

[Ronin]

Kellan Olson
@KellanOlson
·
1h


Monty Williams said the Suns were able to scrimmage today and he was pleased with what he saw.

 

[Ronin]

Dave McMenamin
@mcten
·
1h


Suns coach Monty Williams pushes back against the notion of PHX, as the No. 2 seed, being disappointed by drawing the Lakers: "It's not like somebody did something to our Cheerios ... Everything you want is on the other side of hard. Right now, the Lakers are our hard"

 

[Ronin]

Kellan Olson
@KellanOlson
·
1h


Devin Booker said he's more about ignoring the outside noise than using it as motivation. A buddy texted him saying "they" picked the Lakers to win. He replied with, "Who are they?" which speaks to his mentality as a whole on listening to any of that stuff.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If Ayton racks up fouls against AD and we have to sit him thats going to hurt us in general...plus AD will still get his anyway. The only compromise I see in this is if Ayton gets by in the first half without being a foul magnet then let him have a crack at Davis in the second half.

I'm not saying we SHOULD play Ayton against Davis, I'm saying we should BE ABLE to play him against Davis if he wasn't such a disappointment. Unfortunately, he's not the defender we all hoped he'd be, so you're right. they have to hide him against what is the natural matchup you'd expect from two #1 picks who were both Centers.