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

[Raindog]

Yeah, honestly it's not an "either or" thing when placing blame for incompetence on Monty or Jones. They both have equally dropped the ball over the last couple years, and I'm convinced that in some instances, it was even a concerted effort between the two of them... trading for and extending Shamet, the (mis)handling of the Crowder situation, etc.

 

[Finito]

Cam Payne was never amazing. He was good vs the Lakers and had that one big game vs the Clippers our finals year. Other than he’s been somewhere between bad and terrible. He’s got more shot attempts than points in his playoff career as a Sun.

Idk what the hell some of you guys expect. Dude your back up PG giving you that kind of production is insane.

 

[elindholm]

Good season, folks.

Was it?

 

[TJ]

No Shamet will start

Permaban cc: @Chris_Sanders

 

[TJ]

Was it?

Not one bit. I hate this team

 

[elindholm]

Can anyone here build a solid argument as to how we win this series?

I picked Denver in 5 originally, but even so, I don't think the Suns are completely done.

They shot a historically low number of free throws in Game 2. It's inexplicable. Surely someone at the league has noticed, and it's likely that there will be communication with Game 3's officiating crew. Durant is one of the marquee players left in the playoffs, and it's good for the league if he gets more air time.

So it's not unthinkable that the Suns get some home cooking and win the next two games. Now it's a best of three, with Paul potentially back for the last two of those games.

I sure wouldn't put money on it, but Suns in 7 is still a fringe possibility.

 

[GatorAZ]

Idk what the hell some of you guys expect. Dude your back up PG giving you that kind of production is insane.

I’ll take any backup PG left in the playoffs over Payne (not named Jordan Poole).

 

[82CardsGrad]

I picked Denver in 5 originally, but even so, I don't think the Suns are completely done.

They shot a historically low number of free throws in Game 2. It's inexplicable. Surely someone at the league has noticed, and it's likely that there will be communication with Game 3's officiating crew. Durant is one of the marquee players left in the playoffs, and it's good for the league if he gets more air time.

So it's not unthinkable that the Suns get some home cooking and win the next two games. Now it's a best of three, with Paul potentially back for the last two of those games.

I sure wouldn't put money on it, but Suns in 7 is still a fringe possibility.

Warriors shot 6 FT’s tonight… made five of ‘em.

 

[DJ Tabooh]

Warriors shot 6 FT’s tonight… made five of ‘em.

They also took 53 threes out of their 106 shots while the Lakers got the ball inside to AD. It’s tough. Steph hasn’t gotten a great whistle even though he’s constantly tugged and held.

 

[Finito]

I’ll take any backup PG left in the playoffs over Payne (not named Jordan Poole).

Yeah this year and that was the whole point of my post. Why have things gone left with guys who were on the right track

 

[clyde2tw]

I picked Denver in 5 originally, but even so, I don't think the Suns are completely done.

They shot a historically low number of free throws in Game 2. It's inexplicable. Surely someone at the league has noticed, and it's likely that there will be communication with Game 3's officiating crew. Durant is one of the marquee players left in the playoffs, and it's good for the league if he gets more air time.

So it's not unthinkable that the Suns get some home cooking and win the next two games. Now it's a best of three, with Paul potentially back for the last two of those games.

I sure wouldn't put money on it, but Suns in 7 is still a fringe possibility.

I also still have hope for Suns in 7. First, we played good enough D except for final 6 or so mins to keep Nugs score less than 100. Okogie was annoying to Murray, and as team we had sufficient focus on D. The main problem is too simplistic offensive plan of ISO after ISO for Book and KD at the perimeter, mostly with other 3 planted in the opposite 3pt line and DA at the paint, and not changing when KD was missing jumpers due to double teams. Okogie when on the court should not stand at 3pt line who can be left there dusting by the other team. He may very well do more pick setting on and off ball and cutting into paint offering a passing option to the double teamed KD or Book. The just need to create a little more space for our playmakers KD and Book. Last, we have hope that Damion, Payne, Craig and even Shamet may be finally hitting their fair share of 3pt shots.

 

[djm75]

Nothing left to do
When you've got to go on waiting
Waiting for the miracle to come

 

[JosiahLee]

6. Cam Payne elevates his game now that he's thrust into the starting role, reaching his averages as a starter of 15 ppg & 8 apg. Starting Payne also energizes the Suns and cause us to play more up tempo.

Oh man I honestly hate Payne but they may not have a choice. Sometimes he finds that rare game where is shot is falling, but usually it’s him jacking up bricks and having no care in the world and still continuing to jack them up.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

With the Suns not playing until Friday, this may end up being the biggest collection of anti-Suns diatribes, kicking the dog when it is down type threads that we have seen on this side of the Cardinals forum in some time. Some of it is deserved of course, but it is all stuff we have heard before, many many times around here.

Not sure what my point is, maybe I don't even have one, but with CP3 out I guess I still hold out some glimmer of hope that someone will step up and help us survive the next two games on our home court to stay alive.

 

[wagonmound464]

Friday night is showtime for both Cam Payne and Shamet, as both will play. Their future status with the Suns
depends on their stats. A big win keeps them smiling,,,a loss puts them in the bottom of the shyt-box wondering
where they can find a home for 2024. At this point I don't have a lot of expectations for either one of them, and
if the Suns end up 0-3 the series is all but over. I'm wishing for a miracle.

 

[BirdGangThing]

With the Suns not playing until Friday, this may end up being the biggest collection of anti-Suns diatribes, kicking the dog when it is down type threads that we have seen on this side of the Cardinals forum in some time. Some of it is deserved of course, but it is all stuff we have heard before, many many times around here.

Not sure what my point is, maybe I don't even have one, but with CP3 out I guess I still hold out some glimmer of hope that someone will step up and help us survive the next two games on our home court to stay alive.

I'm not saying CP3 being out is a good thing, but it will switch things up quite a bit. Might even dare I say see some Ross and/or TJ as apparently everybody minus Booker couldn't hit a 3 to save their lives. When line ups change, assignments change, the rhythm changes, and like Obama said... we need change

 

[AzStevenCal]

I can't. There might be a crazy scenario where KD goes crazy, as does Booker, and couple of bench guys get hot, but chances of that are only slightly better than me being the starting point guard for the Suns next year.

Coming into the series I thought we'd win it in 6 or lose it in 7 but I'm not sure how losing CP3 is going to affect us. The best we've played, IMO, during this short KD era was a second half stretch where most of the starters were out there without CP3. We played with tempo and our defense seemed invigorated. It was probably a fluke but maybe not. So I'm not counting us out yet and I don't think it will take a miracle, just a little luck.

 

[Bufalay]

I do. Not having set rotations leading into the playoffs is gross negligence. If you can show me another coach still tinkering with his starting and bench rotations leading into R2 I would like to know. Keep in mind that Monty spent weeks leading up to R1 to solidify rotations only to toss it out game 1 in R1. I get he should tinker with the bench if the bench is not performing. The issue is, guys need stability in the starting rotation and off the bench to get used to playing with each other. It's been in constant flux....IN THE FREAKING PLAYOFFS.

Miami

 

[Chaplin]

Miami

Because Jimmy Butler is injured. Not sure that counts.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I picked Denver in 5 originally, but even so, I don't think the Suns are completely done.

They shot a historically low number of free throws in Game 2. It's inexplicable. Surely someone at the league has noticed, and it's likely that there will be communication with Game 3's officiating crew. Durant is one of the marquee players left in the playoffs, and it's good for the league if he gets more air time.

So it's not unthinkable that the Suns get some home cooking and win the next two games. Now it's a best of three, with Paul potentially back for the last two of those games.

I sure wouldn't put money on it, but Suns in 7 is still a fringe possibility.

Denver isn't nearly as good on the road, and we had every chance to win game 2 until the Paul injury. (Even with the free throws/bench/KD off night)

I'm not saying it's likely or probable, but let's not wave the white flag until we lose game 3?

 

[BirdGangThing]

Because Jimmy Butler is injured. Not sure that counts.

I don't think any other teams had such a radical roster change just before the playoffs either

 

[Pokinmik]

I’m encouraged the Suns showed they can D them up in game 2. Game 1 was kinda like damn we might not have any answers for their offense. If they can keep playing solid defense we definitely have a chance. All the nuggets did so far was protect their home court. Now our turn to do the same.

 

[Covert Rain]

Al McCoy today on the radio mentioned that the unstable rotations are impacting players and inferred it’s contributing to the lack of production. He said guys need to know if they will play and how long. He was basically saying they need time with each other. He said there have been times that our bench players have come in for a minute or two at a time then put back to the bench. He said the teams needs to be more locked in for rotations.

 

[Bufalay]

Because Jimmy Butler is injured. Not sure that counts.

The Suns whole team has been injured all season. How could they know which lineups work?

 

[Bufalay]

Because Jimmy Butler is injured. Not sure that counts.

Also the Clippers have been changing their lineups constantly for three years now.