Suns @ Bucks Wednesday Finals game thread 7-14-2021 - Game 4

[Cheesebeef]

The most disheartening thing for me about the loss tonight is this is the type of game the Suns have won all season especially in the playoffs. If Chris Paul even has an average game the Suns win. He is a master at closing out games. It was simply not there tonight.

yup. Even in games they couldn’t close out on offense, the D usually made the stops... or the other team just couldn’t get over the hump.

tonight just blew.

 

[Matt L]

I didn’t want him in there at the very end. Unfortunately you have to ride with Paul even with him playing atrocious. But... hell... I don’t know.

that game just sucked something fierce. This team and its youth will now be tested at the highest level. Game 5 is gonna be nuts!

This game SUCKED! BUT, Booker responded, I don't think Giannis looked dominant and their role players stepped up.

My biggest disappointment was that we didn't take large leads in the 1st and 3rd quarters. Their offense was stagnant and we didn't put the pressure on with our scoring. Connaughton and Lopez (and Giannis free throws) kept them in the game.

 

[Matt L]

yup. Even in games they couldn’t close out on offense, the D usually made the stops... or the other team just couldn’t get over the hump.

tonight just blew.

The league isn't built to count on the D making the stops. That's more of an anomaly.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This game SUCKED! BUT, Booker responded, I don't think Giannis looked dominant and their role players stepped up.

My biggest disappointment was that we didn't take large leads in the 1st and 3rd quarters. Their offense was stagnant and we didn't put the pressure on with our scoring. Connaughton and Lopez (and Giannis free throws) kept them in the game.

yup. And every time we pumped the lead to 9, we gave up a wide open 3. We could never get that ONE stop and spurt to push it to double digits. Jae and Payne had a three wide open 3 pointers as the game got closer to 5 minutes left that would have just been huge.

big missed opportunity.

 

[Krangodnzr]

The jinx is BS, accept it, this is our year.

I don't think so. The jinx is alive and well.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't think so. The jinx is alive and well.

it’s not a jinx when you say stick a fork in us and then we lose Krang! You’re putting negative Juju in the air!

I think we win this in 7... with the next three games rivaling the excruciating/exhilarating feeling of the 2001 World Series. There’s no other way Phoenix teams can possible win a title.

 

[Matt L]

yup. And every time we pumped the lead to 9, we gave up a wide open 3. We could never get that ONE stop and spurt to push it to double digits. Jae and Payne had a three wide open 3 pointers as the game got closer to 5 minutes left that would have just been huge.

big missed opportunity.

But at home, guys like connaughton/tucker/Lopez step up.

I'm definitely concerned for CP and I hope he figures it out, everything he's done this season points to him bouncing back.

 

[Hoop Head]

Again, we’ll have to agree to disagree.
What Paul did this season was amazing… historic! And, if anyone (@Chaplin perhaps?) we’re to go back into any of the reg season threads, you’ll see me raving about what CP3 was doing!
He’s an old man. And he’s logged more post season mins than every other point guard in the modern era!
And now, he’s got a young strong stud beating on him all game long…
Calling it as you see it doesn’t mean you’re not a fan fellas… geeez…

Holiday is not some young stud. He's in his 12th year at 31 years old. He's doing a good job on defense, no one denies that, but Chris Paul is hurt and hasn't looked like himself the last 2 games. He's gotten worse since this series started and while Holiday deserves some credit for playing him well, he's not causing Paul to throw awful passes 3-4 feet away from where they should be or causing his shots to all be short.

 

[Cheesebeef]

But at home, guys like connaughton/tucker/Lopez step up.

I'm definitely concerned for CP and I hope he figures it out, everything he's done this season points to him bouncing back.

yup. I know his hand is bothering him... but it was bothering him in the Clippers series where he dropped 41 in Game 6, 32 in Game 1 of the Finals and 23 in Game 2 of the Finals.

he’s overcome the shoulder, Covid and at times the wrist. He’s overcome too much this entire season for me to stop believing in him now and I expect Bridges to actually show up on Saturday.

and if he doesn’t... well, that will royally suck. But I ain’t going there that he’s permanently stuck in Suckitude at this point.

We’re in the Finals. It’s a 3 game series and our next game is back in front of the best fans in the playoffs. I’m excited for another BIG TIME game.

 

[Azjose86]

No doubt CP3 had an awful game. But let's not forget that we are in these finals because of him. The guys has completely changed the losing culture this team had been acostumed to.

We are now in a best of 3 with 2 of those game possibly being played at home. Still in a good position. The Bucks didn't make it to the finals by laying down. They are a solid team and the way they responded was to be expected. Now it's the Suns turn to respond at home

 

[82CardsGrad]

Holiday deserves some credit for playing him well, he's not causing Paul to throw awful passes 3-4 feet away from where they should be or causing his shots to all be short.

Actually, he is causing Paul to throw awful passes and causing his shots to be short.
Holiday, at 31, has nowhere near the wear & tear of a 36 year old Paul. Is he Booker young? Nope… but he is significantly younger, fresher, bigger and stronger than Paul.

 

[Matt L]

yup. I know his hand is bothering him... but it was bothering him in the Clippers series where he dropped 41 in Game 6, 32 in Game 1 of the Finals and 23 in Game 2 of the Finals.

he’s overcome the shoulder, Covid and at times the wrist. He’s overcome too much this entire season for me to stop believing in him now and I expect Bridges to actually show up on Saturday.

and if he doesn’t... well, that will royally suck. But I ain’t going there that he’s permanently stuck in Suckitude at this point.

We’re in the Finals. It’s a 3 game series and our next game is back in front of the best fans in the playoffs. I’m excited for another BIG TIME game.

I'm going to remain hopeful

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

That not Ayton’s fault for the most part. Ayton gets his baskets on dribble penetration. The two primary guys who set him up are CP3 and Booker. Booker was hitting everything. So that leaves Paul to set him up. Paul was terrible. He couldn’t pass. Ayton needs both of them to be effective.

He also has scored well all playoffs off the boards. He had one offensive rebound. One. Can’t do much offensively with one offensive rebound. Let’s not make excuses for him. And he shot 3-9. That’s putrid for him.

 

[82CardsGrad]

He also has scored well all playoffs off the boards. He had one offensive rebound. One. Can’t do much offensively with one offensive rebound. Let’s not make excuses for him. And he shot 3-9. That’s putrid for him.

Chalking this up to more learning opportunities for the big man… Man I wish he could play with a basketball IQ of a Giannis. But at 22, Giannis was at this level either…

 

[mjb21aztd]

Man anyone else feeling weird vibe now i am.... my mind now turning not soooo great thinking....

If it's to a do or go home in Milwaukee so be it

Amazing season regardless

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Doesn’t matter if u “stuck around” you’re a casual who don’t know anything about professional basketball. The momentum is clearly on the Bucks and they have adjusted. You can’t even bring up the post saying “ the clippers will win the series”.

He’s not a “casual” fan. That’s a terrible post.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm going to remain hopeful

same. We’re in the Finals for the first time in almost 30 YEARS and we’re tied with 2 home games left and need to win 2 games. This is SO RARE, I don’t know when we’re ever getting back here, so I’m gonna remain hopeful because... why the hell else not?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Again, we’ll have to agree to disagree.
What Paul did this season was amazing… historic! And, if anyone (@Chaplin perhaps?) we’re to go back into any of the reg season threads, you’ll see me raving about what CP3 was doing!
He’s an old man. And he’s logged more post season mins than every other point guard in the modern era!
And now, he’s got a young strong stud beating on him all game long…
Calling it as you see it doesn’t mean you’re not a fan fellas… geeez…

I think you’re wrong. His handle only looks as has as it did tonight when he’s got something wrong physically. Like with his shoulder. Now it seems it’s his hand/wrist. Is holiday making things worse? Sure. But Paul’s failures tonight and last game I believe to be primarily physical due to injury. Here’s hoping a couple days rest helps.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

They are forcing Paul to his left. They have adjusted. He’s not seeing the elbows like he used too.

It’s not that simple. He’s been forced left before and almost always snakes back to the right effectively. His handle is not tight enough right now with the injury to get there. If he were right, physically, I think we would’ve smashed them tonight.

 

[DJ Tabooh]

same. We’re in the Finals for the first time in almost 30 YEARS and we’re tied with 2 home games left and need to win 2 games. This is SO RARE, I don’t know when we’re ever getting back here, so I’m gonna remain hopeful because... why the hell else not?

Absolutely. Tonight definitely stings, I think we can all agree. Book was incredible tonight. Cam Johnson is fearless. We haven’t played our best game yet....you can say game 2 but I think we can play at an even higher level. More to do, More to come.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

no one is saying you’re not a fan. You’re just a fan who ****** their pants and quits at the first sign of trouble.

Dude. Enough. The dance you two do every game is dumb and repetitive. Y’all don’t even come up with any new moves.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Wilbon captured all this well… Saying how the NBA has never been a league that “allows” worst to first stories, unlike the NFL for example.
Winning it all in the NBA requires going thru pain. He mentioned how the Bulls lost to the Pistons three straight years before finally breaking thru. Lebron losing and losing before breaking through…
Tonight is the height of the pain this team has ever experienced. They are now heading home and have a few days to lick their wounds and regroup.
They’re so young… it remains to be seen if they can rally and pull this thing out. History is against them…. But this team has surprised us all season long. Just two more damn W’s… TWO! It’s possible! Even in the face of history saying nope!

 

[Cheesebeef]

Dude. Enough. The dance you two do every game is dumb and repetitive. Y’all don’t even come up with any new moves.

someone’s got to put on a show with you and Chap/Finito taking a brief hiatus!

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think you’re wrong. His handle only looks as has as it did tonight when he’s got something wrong physically. Like with his shoulder. Now it seems it’s his hand/wrist. Is holiday making things worse? Sure. But Paul’s failures tonight and last game I believe to be primarily physical due to injury. Here’s hoping a couple days rest helps.

Why would these next two days of rest help, when these past few days of rest didn’t?
If you guys are right - which I seriously don’t believe you are - and his wrist/hand is so jacked up that this is the best we will see from him, we then are seriously screwed…

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I get very frustrated with Monty in that he is reminding me of D'Antoni in that he has a Plan A and... nothing else.

I don't feel very confident that he has the flexibility to mix things up, even just within game on a short term basis, when the wheels come off.

I don't think Paul or anyone else needs to be benched, but he has to recognize when things are "off" (for lack of a better word) and then make some kind of adjustments... even just to realign the momentum. But for the most part he seems content with just going with the flow, for better or worse. Either that, or he's just too obstinate to try something different.

I have to admit that it has mostly worked so far... but the season could hinge on his refusal to try something different one of these games. I don't want to see this opportunity go down in flames because Monty is sitting on his hands refusing to counter everything the Bucks are doing.

I don’t think it’s a refusal to try something different, I’m unsure he’s got another hand to play. Bridges, Ayton, crowder, Craig, and to a lesser degree cam Johnson just aren’t shot creators. When two of your three shot creators are struggling your team has to play the system to generate shots. When the system is stymied you’re, well, here. Losing a couple games.