Nuggets @ Suns Monday Playoff game thread 6-7-2021 - Game 1

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Bridges having the game of his young career so far… if he keeps this up watch out


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He was better in that Pacers game.

 

[Mainstreet]

@CardsSunsDbacks

This is my recollection as well. This is why he fell in the draft to #14 in 2018.

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[WhyAlwaysMe]

Just looking at the box score, every starter except Booker has taken least 11 field goal attempts. Book only has 9. Glad to see them playing well without him producing that much. Something they will need to correct in future games though because Mikal isn't going to do this every night.

I think Mikal can average 20ppg this series. Denver has one okay defender and he guards Book. They also are awful at guarding the three point line and have zero rim protection.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think Mikal can average 20ppg this series. Denver has one okay defender and he guards Book. They also are awful at guarding the three point line and have zero rim protection.

Man, every time Mikal has a breakout game, people expect him to continue to score at that clip. I’ll be shocked if he averages 20 ppg. He won’t need to is one reason he likely won’t. And he’s just not that aggressive to do it over a stretch of 5-6 games.

but if he can still keep d’ing up and hitting that corner three to the tune of double figures night in, night out, that’ll be fine and dandy.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Deandre Ayton with 20 points, 10 rebounds and a steal.

He has four such games in 7 playoff games. He had 9 in the regular season.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Defense in the second half was way better. That’s why we won.

Mikal clamped Porter
DA clamped Jokic

Morris got clamped by CamPayne.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Being able to play jokic straight up with Ayton is enormous. Bc we don’t have to double it means jokic isn’t a facilitator. He only had 3 assists tonight. That’s freaking awesome.

4 turnovers, too.

 

[Mainstreet]

Devin Booker says Monty Williams is our Coach of the Year.

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[WhyAlwaysMe]

Priceless, the looks on the Nuggets' faces during that run.

They can’t rely on Daddy Jokic when things get tough. Ayton makes him play like a wing.

 

[Mainstreet]

It may not seem like a lot but Dario Saric gave the Suns a much needed 9 minutes shooting (2-4) for 5 points and added 2 rebounds. He also had a steal.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He has four such games in 7 playoff games. He had 9 in the regular season.

this is why we bang on him so much in the regular season. He’s GOT THIS IN HIM. Anyone who thinks he’s just a “role playing center” is making excuses for reasons beyond me.

that said, I am LOVING what he’s bringing to the table right now. If he can continue this level of play we won’t just win the West... we might actually be able to beat that juggernaut in the East and win this whole freaking thing!

 

[GatorAZ]

Not sure if it’s been posted but TG Marv Albert isn’t doing this series. Harlan and Reggie are tremendous.

 

[Cheesebeef]

They can’t rely on Daddy Jokic when things get tough. Ayton makes him play like a wing.

Ayton was GREAT tonight and Joker wasn’t but it’s one game. In the immortal words of Winston Wolf:

Let’s not start ******* each other off, quite yet gentlemen.

Jokic did average something like 30/12/8 against us this season.

but tonight was a great start.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

this is why we bang on him so much in the regular season. He’s GOT THIS IN HIM. Anyone who thinks he’s just a “role playing center” is making excuses for reasons beyond me.

that said, I am LOVING what he’s bringing to the table right now. If he can continue this level of play we won’t just win the West... we might actually be able to beat that juggernaut in the East and win this whole freaking thing!

Ayton outplaying KD in the Finals, but still having ISSUES WITH HIS HANDS, would be fun.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Ayton was GREAT tonight and Joker wasn’t but it’s one game. In the immortal words of Winston Wolf:

Let’s not start ******* each other off, quite yet gentlemen.

Jokic did average something like 30/12/8 against us this season.

but tonight was a great start.

Even if DA outplays him ONE more time this series it will be impressive. The man is the MVP.

I don’t put much stock in Jokic’s regular season numbers: going off against Frank and whatnot. Ayton held him to 13-34 with no free throws and more turnovers than assists when he was matched up on him in the RS anyways.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Man, every time Mikal has a breakout game, people expect him to continue to score at that clip. I’ll be shocked if he averages 20 ppg. He won’t need to is one reason he likely won’t. And he’s just not that aggressive to do it over a stretch of 5-6 games.

but if he can still keep d’ing up and hitting that corner three to the tune of double figures night in, night out, that’ll be fine and dandy.

Correct. Mikal and Cam seem to take turns. Sometimes they play really well at the same time. It works.

 

[SunsTzu]

Ayton was GREAT tonight and Joker wasn’t but it’s one game. In the immortal words of Winston Wolf:

Let’s not start ******* each other off, quite yet gentlemen.

Jokic did average something like 30/12/8 against us this season.

but tonight was a great start.

I don't remember the stats off the top of my head but Jokic did most of his damage in those games with Ayton on the bench. To me Ayton staying out of foul trouble is the biggest key to the series.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ayton was GREAT tonight and Joker wasn’t but it’s one game. In the immortal words of Winston Wolf:

Let’s not start ******* each other off, quite yet gentlemen.

Jokic did average something like 30/12/8 against us this season.

but tonight was a great start.

Maybe a little optimism is in order. The Suns were 8-8 when they finished the season series against Denver. They were just learning how to play together. They also played one of those games without Booker. Meanwhile the Nugs had Murray.

My fear in this series was what Porter would bring. Not afraid anymore. He puts up stats but does not play good team ball.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't remember the stats off the top of my head but Jokic did most of his damage in those games with Ayton on the bench. To me Ayton staying out of foul trouble is the biggest key to the series.

right. But he was able to do that because he put Ayton in foul trouble. But Ayton has played very very smart so far through every game of the playoffs on D. He’s got to keep that up.

also, I do think there’s a role for Dario in this series. If he can stop falling down on every play. I mean, even his three good plays... the steal that led to the Craig oop, the awkward jumper on the baseline that somehow went in and even his DUNK, he fell to the ground!

 

[Mainstreet]

I enjoyed these comments from Mike Singer who covers the Nuggets. Yes, the Suns crowd is insane!

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[95pro]

right. But he was able to do that because he put Ayton in foul trouble. But Ayton has played very very smart so far through every game of the playoffs on D. He’s got to keep that up.

also, I do think there’s a role for Dario in this series. If he can stop falling down on every play. I mean, even his three good plays... the steal that led to the Craig oop, the awkward jumper on the baseline that somehow went in and even his DUNK, he fell to the ground!

That shot from the baseline/corner was bizarre, we all screamed when it magically went in.

 

[SunnyBaller]

Maybe a little optimism is in order. The Suns were 8-8 when they finished the season series against Denver. They were just learning how to play together. They also played one of those games without Booker. Meanwhile the Nugs had Murray.

My fear in this series was what Porter would bring. Not afraid anymore. He puts up stats but does not play good team ball.

Porter is way over hyped , he's got alot to like scoring wise but he brings nothing else to the table, bad defender, average at best rebounder, and doesn't help his teammates much. If he gets hot it's a problem but if he doesn't shoot lights out he's normally a negative on the court

 

[Suns_fan69]

Denver is a good team. Portland won big in their first game too (and on the road no less) which amounted to nothing in the end. The Suns shouldn't take this team lightly, they can and will play better at some point.

 

[Mainstreet]

right. But he was able to do that because he put Ayton in foul trouble. But Ayton has played very very smart so far through every game of the playoffs on D. He’s got to keep that up.

also, I do think there’s a role for Dario in this series. If he can stop falling down on every play. I mean, even his three good plays... the steal that led to the Craig oop, the awkward jumper on the baseline that somehow went in and even his DUNK, he fell to the ground!

The good part is I didn't think Saric could dunk.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Maybe a little optimism is in order. The Suns were 8-8 when they finished the season series against Denver. They were just learning how to play together. They also played one of those games without Booker. Meanwhile the Nugs had Murray.

My fear in this series was what Porter would bring. Not afraid anymore. He puts up stats but does not play good team ball.

oh, I’m optimistic. I called the series Suns in 6 back on page 1. just don’t want to start lighting victory cigars quite yet. Game 1 isn’t always the harbinger of things to come. At least not this easily.