Lakers @ Suns Tuesday Playoff game thread 5-25-2021 - Game #2

[WhyAlwaysMe]

And both losses to the Mavericks have been at home.

Home court in LA is pretty weak right now.

FWIW.

 

[Mainstreet]

If one steps back and looks at the game, the Suns got production from Booker (31), Ayton (22) and Payne (19 with 7 assists).

The bigger problem, is no one else stood up to carry the load.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Mikal freaking Bridges was getting HUNTED on defense tonight. The playoffs are not for the faint of heart (or Dario).

 

[Covert Rain]

Whatever. I don’t recall CP3 doing much at all out there in this game, or the last.

Uh.....DUH. He is hurt. This team isn't the same without him in there. Hence....his team IMO. He is the reason they had the 2nd best record and a huge reason why him being hurt gives the Lakers a chance. Him being our floor general gave the Suns one of the biggest turnarounds in the regular season in history and our first playoff appearance in over a decade.

No reason not to keep the Lakers guessing but I'd rather rest him for one game and have him for the rest of the series.

As painful as it might be to go down possibly 1-2 it might be the best shot we have at winning the series. Even a 80 to 90% CP3 is better than putting him out there at half that and letting him play hurt.

 

[Mainstreet]

We need a new campaign to free Frank Kaminsky.

 

[GatorAZ]

During the game, an ex-NFL team doctor tweeted out that the Kinesio tape Paul was wearing on his right arm was more consistent with shoulder subluxation and labral injury. That spells trouble for the rest of the postseason.

https://arizonasports.com/story/266...f-phoenix-suns/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Covert Rain]

We need a new campaign to free Frank Kaminsky.

I would much rather see Frank out there than Dario.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Ayton being this ready for playoff basketball at 22 against LeBron and AD bodes extremely well. He is (thus far, and it is still really early) besting 22 y/o Bam’s work in the Finals, as well as 24 y/o Nikola’s work in the WCF.

LeBron/LA has played amazing defense to neutralize Mikal.

 

[Hoop Head]

There were plenty of people who hoped he could and even more that were optimistic at his contributions at PF.

"He could end up being what we need from the PF spot"

"he'll be an upgrade over what we've used at PF"

"I fully expect Saric to be much more effective on offense than Anderson was and for that reason alone will play a lot more minutes and games."

"Dario is a good passer and a good shooter and because of those things Ayton's life will be much easier on that end."

"Hes got good hands, good exp for a 25 yr old and has better control of his body. The bottom line is its an upgrade."

"He is a solid player."

"Saric is being underrated by some on here.

"Saric's ability to help run the offense could be an x-factor."

"Saric has decent athleticism and skills."

"His b-ball IQ and passing acumen will help immensely."

"a significant piece would be missing if they had not been able to re-sign Dario Saric"

He is a big piece of our bench and a rotation player but I don't think anyone here has referred to him as a PF since he was acquired and through the first half of last season. Are you pulling quotes from last year to try and make your point?

This year he was big for us early on but seemed to fall apart in mid to late February.

 

[Mainstreet]

I would much rather see Frank out there than Dario.

Sometimes I think Monty sticks when certain players who are having an off game to a fault.

Kaminsky, Craig or even Smith might have been more effective than Saric.

 

[Covert Rain]

Ayton being this ready for playoff basketball at 22 against LeBron and AD bodes extremely well. He is (thus far, and it is still really early) besting 22 y/o Bam’s work in the Finals, as well as 24 y/o Nikola’s work in the WCF.

LeBron/LA has played amazing defense to neutralize Mikal.

Ayton has showed up. There was one play though that still shows he has that young guy mentality. He caught the ball with LeBron covering him. Ayton should have tried to take him to the hoop. Then there was that one play where he was wide open last game. Man...would have loved to see him at least try on that play tonight. However, he has showed up.

 

[Covert Rain]

He is a big piece of our bench and a rotation player but I don't think anyone here has referred to him as a PF since he was acquired and through the first half of last season. Are you pulling quotes from last year to try and make your point?

This year he was big for us early on but seemed to fall apart in mid to late February.

Uh...yeah. Because that's specifically what I was referring to. Some people were excited about getting him with some high hopes at his contributions. I knew he had some really good games in the past but he always struck me as one of those guys that was never going to be a solution for our FC. Too inconsistent and at times completely disappeared at the defensive end.

 

[Hoop Head]

Sometimes I think Monty sticks when certain players who are having an off game to a fault.

Kaminsky, Craig or even Smith might have been more effective than Saric.

I agree. I think he's worried about damaging guys confidence by benching them. We will need Dario to snap out of his funk if we hope to make a finals run so pulling him could set him back, mentally. It needs to be done though. Frank deserves a shot out there, at least, because Saric has been awful.

 

[Cheesebeef]

There were plenty of people who hoped he could and even more that were optimistic at his contributions at PF.

"He could end up being what we need from the PF spot"

"he'll be an upgrade over what we've used at PF"

"I fully expect Saric to be much more effective on offense than Anderson was and for that reason alone will play a lot more minutes and games."

"Dario is a good passer and a good shooter and because of those things Ayton's life will be much easier on that end."

"Hes got good hands, good exp for a 25 yr old and has better control of his body. The bottom line is its an upgrade."

"He is a solid player."

"Saric is being underrated by some on here.

"Saric's ability to help run the offense could be an x-factor."

"Saric has decent athleticism and skills."

"His b-ball IQ and passing acumen will help immensely."

"a significant piece would be missing if they had not been able to re-sign Dario Saric"

literally NONE of those say “he’s the answer”. You have TWO comments about him being a PF. Every one else universally believed he’d be a good player off the bench.

 

[Covert Rain]

Sometimes I think Monty sticks when certain players who are having an off game to a fault.

Kaminsky, Craig or even Smith might have been more effective than Saric.

He definitely seems to have shortened the rotation. I never get it when coaches do that. I mean, use what got you here all season long.

 

[Matt L]

Ayton being this ready for playoff basketball at 22 against LeBron and AD bodes extremely well. He is (thus far, and it is still really early) besting 22 y/o Bam’s work in the Finals, as well as 24 y/o Nikola’s work in the WCF.

LeBron/LA has played amazing defense to neutralize Mikal.

I like Ayton's effort on defense and his putbacks and finishing the lobs but he had chances to score when it mattered and he shrunk. You just wish he would see Caruso on him and take it right to the rim.

 

[pokerface]

I agree. I think he's worried about damaging guys confidence by benching them. We will need Dario to snap out of his funk if we hope to make a finals run so pulling him could set him back, mentally. It needs to be done though. Frank deserves a shot out there, at least, because Saric has been awful.

Hey playoffs are ruthless. We are even considering benching CP3 for a game

 

[Cheesebeef]

Home court in LA is pretty weak right now.

FWIW.

don’t assume HCA is at all the same for the Clippers as it is the Lakers. Speaking as someone who lives there, No one in LA gives a crap about the Clippers.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Ayton has showed up. There was one play though that still shows he has that young guy mentality. He caught the ball with LeBron covering him. Ayton should have tried to take him to the hoop. Then there was that one play where he was wide open last game. Man...would have loved to see him at least try on that play tonight. However, he has showed up.

He is still a little green. His issues are mostly correctable, and he has already shown an ability to take criticism and improve. I would LOVE to see him attack off the dribble more in space.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

don’t assume HCA is at all the same for the Clippers as it is the Lakers. Speaking as someone who lives there, No one in LA gives a crap about the Clippers.

I was referring to number of fans allowed into the arena. Obviously, LA is a Lakers town.

 

[Covert Rain]

literally NONE of those say “he’s the answer”. You have TWO comments about him being a PF. Every one else universally believed he’d be a good player off the bench.

Plenty of people felt he could be a solid contributor for our FC. You want to split hairs over what minutes over what position? That's not even the point. The point was they thought he was at least part of the answer to fill that gaps in our FC. Also, literally NONE of those comments specifically said anything about him coming off our bench.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree. I think he's worried about damaging guys confidence by benching them. We will need Dario to snap out of his funk if we hope to make a finals run so pulling him could set him back, mentally. It needs to be done though. Frank deserves a shot out there, at least, because Saric has been awful.

Saric's confidence seems to have already taken a hit this season. Whoever is producing is the player that should be out there. It's too late to worry about hurting someone's feelings or confidence.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

The Lakers are just a tough match-up for Dario (and Frank). Anyone else in the West they could both play against (in spots). Nobody else has LeBron and Davis to stagger.

 

[Covert Rain]

He is still a little green. His issues are mostly correctable, and he has already shown an ability to take criticism and improve. I would LOVE to see him attack off the dribble more in space.

Oh..completely agree. Just would have loved to see him at least try to back down Lebron. I don't think anybody else was near him if I remember that play correctly. Maybe just morbid curiosity.

 

[Mainstreet]

He definitely seems to have shortened the rotation. I never get it when coaches do that. I mean, use what got you here all season long.

Most of the coaches do it so there much be a logic but it's not like Saric has been setting the world on fire with his play.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I was referring to number of fans allowed into the arena. Obviously, LA is a Lakers town.

ah. Still, that place sounded MUCH louder just like week in the Lakers GS game.

place had all the energy of a morgue for the Clippers. Which makes sense since that team’s MO is to roll over and play dead in the playoffs.