Playoffs: Nuggets @ Suns Friday game thread 5-5-2023 - Game 3

[Ronin]

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[Mainstreet]

Chris Paul was working out in the weight room, but not on the court. The injury report will come out later.

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[Phrazbit]

Cam Payne as a starter:

23: 15 games, 14.9 points, 7.1 assists, 2 TO, 40% fg, 39% from 3.

22: 12 games, 14-9-2 42% fg, 36% 3.

21: 2 playoff games: 20-9-.5

He's played waaaaaaaaaay better as a starter over the last few years, including this year. Hopefully he continues the trend.

 

[Mainstreet]

Chris Paul is officially listed as OUT.

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[JosiahLee]

Chris Paul is officially listed as OUT.

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Yeah let’s be honest, he’s out game 4 too.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah let’s be honest, he’s out game 4 too.

It's hard to see Chris Paul returning in the Nuggets series. He may have well played his last game as a Sun.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yeah let’s be honest, he’s out game 4 too.

Good news, he'll probably be back for game 8.

 

[Yuma]

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I cringe when I read any quotes from Ayton now.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Must win game today no way around it

 

[95pro]

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Did he really say we have nothing to lose???

 

[mjb21aztd]

Im getting those bad az poff vibes already..... lol

Just please no bs blow out loss lol im bracing myself gonna be a long n

Want to see big gms by kd book ayton and a smart coached gm by monty

 

[Germz249]

Lets get it!! Will check back after the game.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

You still didn't answer the question. We are not the only team in the history of the playoffs to have a questionable 5th starter either.

With the Suns, it's not just having a questionable 5th starter...its having no 5th starter, plus a garbage bench...zero depth. Other teams at least have had a bench they can use to rotate a 5th starter and then some. The Suns simply don't have that now...and with Paul out, they need a 4th and 5th starter. Monty will continue to have to throw crap at the wall, until someone gets hot for a half, or hopefully a game.

 

[Ronin]

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[Peter Sheldon]

The Payne cycle goes like this. Payne plays well. Payne gets injured. Payne returns from injury and plays horribly. Payne gradually (but slowly) plays himself into game shape and finally reaches the point where his shot is falling and the game slows down enough for him to look like a real point guard. Then a few games after hitting his peak, he gets injured again. Repeat cycle.

This is the most eloquent Payne descriptions I have yet to see! Well done! Absolutely all you need to know about Payne in one handy synopsis!

 

[Proximo]

I think this game will go one of two ways, Suns come out and play inspired and keep a single digit lead throughout most the game and pull it out.

Or the Suns will get destroyed and humiliated.

 

[Yuma]

With the Suns, it's not just having a questionable 5th starter...its having no 5th starter, plus a garbage bench...zero depth. Other teams at least have had a bench they can use to rotate a 5th starter and then some. The Suns simply don't have that now...and with Paul out, they need a 4th and 5th starter. Monty will continue to have to throw crap at the wall, until someone gets hot for a half, or hopefully a game.

The guys on First Take think that may be TJ Warren, although Monty hasn't even looked at him, barely. I mean, might as well. They could always go Okogie AND Torrey Craig at the same time. I have been hearing on the radio to expect Cam Payne to start. That probably means Ross or Lee is our second PG?

 

[RON_IN_OC]

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I don't think it can be overstated how much this team needs Ayton to play well enough to take some pressure off of Booker and KD.

 

[Finito]

Got to run TJ and Ross.

Stop trying to play this defensive game plan they got to many weapons you have to try and out score them

The problem is with Paul you can’t get out and run he slows the game down to much

 

[Yuma]

Got to run TJ and Ross.

Stop trying to play this defensive game plan they got to many weapons you have to try and out score them

The problem is with Paul you can’t get out and run he slows the game down to much

I haver been thinking the Suns would be better off in this series with Cam Payne starting. Tonight I guess I get to see if that's true.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Got to run TJ and Ross.

Stop trying to play this defensive game plan they got to many weapons you have to try and out score them

The problem is with Paul you can’t get out and run he slows the game down to much

The defensive game plan is the only thing that kept them in game 2 until the final 5 minutes, when Paul's absence caught up with them.

 

[Yuma]

The defensive game plan would be nice. We need someone in Paul's slot on the offensive side of the floor because Denver was using the guy covering on Paul to double and add extra defense. We never made them pay for sagging off of CP3. CP3 on the offensive end was essentially the fifth guy. Maybe if we get a confident Cam Payne, we can turn the tide on the offensive end of the floor.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I'm struggling to figure out how the line tonight is Suns -4.5.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I'm struggling to figure out how the line tonight is Suns -4.5.

Denver is a questionable road team, and the Suns are desperate?

 

[95pro]

I'm struggling to figure out how the line tonight is Suns -4.5.

We at home. Everyone usually plays better at home, even Murray.