Playoffs: Clippers @ Suns Tuesday game thread 4-18-2023 - Game 2

Ronin

Wut?
Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Posts
144,579
Reaction score
66,140
Location
Crowley, TX
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Ronin

Wut?
Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Posts
144,579
Reaction score
66,140
Location
Crowley, TX
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

DJ Tabooh

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jul 14, 2021
Posts
1,082
Reaction score
884
Location
Austin, TX
Craig is NOT a better matchup for defending Kawhi. Okogie is a better individual on ball defender. Craig is a better help defender. I would park Okogie on Kawhi and make his life hell. Craig is not that guy.
I know, that’s why I admitted I made a mistake lol. I thought Torrey’s length would give Kawhi problems in the mid post area.

I honestly don’t mind if Kawhi makes a bunch of tough two’s. If he has to make 10 midrange shots, I’d live with that. We just can’t put him on the foul or let him get open threes. Easier said than done I know.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
117,963
Reaction score
58,212
I never thought I would say this but we need him.

The sad part is, we all knew this. The least the Suns could have done is add another point guard before playoff rosters were set.

Point guard and power forward depth is and has been the Suns Achilles heel.
 

Ronin

Wut?
Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Posts
144,579
Reaction score
66,140
Location
Crowley, TX
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Proximo

ASFN Icon
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Posts
12,712
Reaction score
10,597
The sad part is, we all knew this. The least the Suns could have done is add another point guard before playoff rosters were set.

Point guard and power forward depth is and has been the Suns Achilles heel.
We need bench scoring. We don't really need a point guard if either Durant or Booker is on the court.

But yes, I think we could use him. Unlike pretty much all of our other bench players, he can create his own shot.
 

Finito

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Posts
21,060
Reaction score
13,827
KD has to have the ball in order for him to disappear. Ty Lue in his presser said he made it a point to make other guys not named KD, Booker, Ayton not beat them. Plus, you play the lineup he has been playing for weeks, the team is likely more organized and those points from Craig come off the bench.

Changing the lineup after settling it, allegedly, prior to game one has to be the biggest bonehead move I have seen from a Suns coach in a very long time.

You can do the the whole we’re not gonna let this guy beat us but it’s never we’re not gonna let these 3 guys beat us.

This is where Monty gets the blame. You got KD for a reason so you can’t double Booker, those two should probably be getting all the shots late. Instead Monty is running the same Chris Paul offense and KD is playing the role of Bridges just being ignored.
 

82CardsGrad

7 x 70
Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Posts
36,138
Reaction score
8,044
Location
Scottsdale
You can do the the whole we’re not gonna let this guy beat us but it’s never we’re not gonna let these 3 guys beat us.

This is where Monty gets the blame. You got KD for a reason so you can’t double Booker, those two should probably be getting all the shots late. Instead Monty is running the same Chris Paul offense and KD is playing the role of Bridges just being ignored.
But the Suns were 8 & 0 with KD playing in a Suns uniform! :)

Might be interesting to see what was different then about the team/rotations versus now...
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,555
Reaction score
57,913
Location
SoCal
You can do the the whole we’re not gonna let this guy beat us but it’s never we’re not gonna let these 3 guys beat us.

This is where Monty gets the blame. You got KD for a reason so you can’t double Booker, those two should probably be getting all the shots late. Instead Monty is running the same Chris Paul offense and KD is playing the role of Bridges just being ignored.
Yup yup yup
 

82CardsGrad

7 x 70
Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Posts
36,138
Reaction score
8,044
Location
Scottsdale
Okogie starting?
;)
I mean... sure. Why not I guess. But it's lost on me as to how starting Okogie would've improved the outcome from last night. Craig is a more reliable scorer, and that was very much needed last night. Craig averages more rebounds per game as well. I like Okogie as a person and as a very end of the bench guy. But I just don't see why so many think he should be a starter... Odd...
 

mjb21aztd

ASFN Icon
Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Posts
15,993
Reaction score
8,155
Man im getting bad vibes on suns now vs clippers plus leonard is almost a giannis type ughhhhhhh!!!!

Please prove me wrong suns

God how awful would it be if suns colapsed in gm 2 :(
 

Covert Rain

Father smelt of elderberries!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Posts
36,507
Reaction score
15,595
Location
Arizona
You can do the the whole we’re not gonna let this guy beat us but it’s never we’re not gonna let these 3 guys beat us.

This is where Monty gets the blame. You got KD for a reason so you can’t double Booker, those two should probably be getting all the shots late. Instead Monty is running the same Chris Paul offense and KD is playing the role of Bridges just being ignored.
It doesn't litterally mean stop all of the other 3 guys at the same time. It's rotating a defender to wither KD or Book for example. Plus, not sure anybody is scared of Ayton or Chris at this point either. Basically, the plan is to ignore everyone else and make someone else beat you. Ayton and Chris Paul are going to have to score or nobody will care.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
117,963
Reaction score
58,212
I mean... sure. Why not I guess. But it's lost on me as to how starting Okogie would've improved the outcome from last night. Craig is a more reliable scorer, and that was very much needed last night. Craig averages more rebounds per game as well. I like Okogie as a person and as a very end of the bench guy. But I just don't see why so many think he should be a starter... Odd...

I think it's mostly all about the timing of the move. Okogie had been starting prior to the playoffs. It's kind of awkward to make the change now. Maybe nothing would have changed if Craig came off the bench and Okogie started.

For me, it's mostly about the bench or lack thereof compared to the Clippers.
 

Covert Rain

Father smelt of elderberries!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Posts
36,507
Reaction score
15,595
Location
Arizona
I think it's mostly all about the timing of the move. Okogie had been starting prior to the playoffs. It's kind of awkward to make the change now. Maybe nothing would have changed if Craig came off the bench and Okogie started. For me, it's mostly about the bench or lack thereof compared to the Clippers.
Hey...so is there not another game until Sunday according to your post title? ;)
 

AzStevenCal

ASFN IDOL
Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2004
Posts
36,757
Reaction score
16,524
I mean... sure. Why not I guess. But it's lost on me as to how starting Okogie would've improved the outcome from last night. Craig is a more reliable scorer, and that was very much needed last night. Craig averages more rebounds per game as well. I like Okogie as a person and as a very end of the bench guy. But I just don't see why so many think he should be a starter... Odd...
My problem was the timing. We had no good answer for the last starter question but making the change in between your last game and your first playoff game is highly questionable.

Was Monty all that shocked that teams were completely ignoring Okogie on offense or was his reaction due to the fact that we also froze the guy out in the fourth quarter? When your own team is unwilling to pass it to a wide open Okogie it should be no surprise that every opposing coach is going to follow the same strategy.
 
OP
OP
Mainstreet

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
117,963
Reaction score
58,212
My problem was the timing. We had no good answer for the last starter question but making the change in between your last game and your first playoff game is highly questionable.

Was Monty all that shocked that teams were completely ignoring Okogie on offense or was his reaction due to the fact that we also froze the guy out in the fourth quarter? When your own team is unwilling to pass it to a wide open Okogie it should be no surprise that every opposing coach is going to follow the same strategy.

Again, the 5th starter is a problem. The Suns may have to roll with Lee, Ross or Warren more off the bench.

Okogie started off as a defensive specialist. Maybe that should be his job.
 

Ronin

Wut?
Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Posts
144,579
Reaction score
66,140
Location
Crowley, TX
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Finito

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Posts
21,060
Reaction score
13,827
I still blame Ayton.
Dude should be punishing teams
Sadly not even close

Do not know what you’re watching? He literally sets 2/3 screens per possession that’s his role on this team he’s a screen setter for the Chris Paul offense.

He’s playing the role he’s told
 
Top