Suns @ Nuggets Sunday Playoff game thread 6-13-2021 - Game 4

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He's kind of like a basketball version of Gronk

Lol he’s not nearly as cool as gronk. He’s like gronk’s goofy little brother.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The Rockets traded Chris Paul AND 4 first round picks for Russell Westbrook.

Good lord that’s crazy in hindsight.

 

[Dr. Jones]

The Suns acquiring Chris Paul is like capturing lightning in a bottle twice.

The other time was Steve Nash.

Both players were available because many thought they were past their prime.

You could say the exact same thing about Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer for the Cardinals too.

Since I am old........ Tom Chambers & Charles Barkley are the others I remember.

The city’s love affair has been rekindled in a big way.

I don't care how you slice it or how good the Cards get....... this is a basketball town first and foremost. The Suns will always have that. Always.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Rockets traded Chris Paul AND 4 first round picks for Russell Westbrook.

I wonder how history will treat that trade.

 

[95pro]

I wonder how history will treat that trade.

Then the rockets trade Russell to try and appease Harden again?

 

[AzStevenCal]

What I'm seeing is not they only won because Jokic got ejected but man what a wussy move by Jokic. he knew they were going to lose and didn't want to play the rest of it out so he lost his cool, took a cheap shot and got ejected. That was my take on it immediately he knew Phoenix was the better team and even if they somehow managed to win game 4 they were going to lose the series and he didn't want to deal with that so he got kicked out.

I love his game, great player but he really seemed to wuss out there IMO.

Yeah it's hard to say what was going through his mind. I just thought the pressure of the expectations on his shoulders and the frustration from not getting the calls he wanted caused him to cross the line. I doubt he was trying to injure Cameron, he just let his frustration drive his actions.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Then the rockets trade Russell to try and appease Harden again?

Yeah they ended up with a John Wall contract and a lottery protected future first. Unless Wall comes back fully healthy and plays to at least an all star level, they really mishandled things there.

 

[SunsTzu]

Then the rockets trade Russell to try and appease Harden again?

Then Harden forces his way out anyway. Also cost them a top GM who never wanted the Westbrook trade to begin with.

 

[SunsTzu]

I have to say Jokic is a great player but I lost lots of respect for him on that play. He said he was trying to shake up his team but it was clearly he thought he got fouled earlier and he got mad. but he basically slapped at Payne and then followed through with a forearm so it wasn't a "hard foul" it was a cheapshot that didn't connect so he followed through with the forearm.

Again great player had a great year but that was completely uncalled for. Tough series for them for sure but don't wuss out and get yourself ejected.

Jokic is my favorite non-Suns player and it was really out of character. Given how he apologized on his way out and didn't cause any significant injury I don't think any less of him. It actually felt closer to a flagrant 1 than a 2 to me but I think the Suns would have won regardless, they just couldn't get any stops all series long.

 

[leclerc]

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Suns in four.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jokic is my favorite non-Suns player and it was really out of character. Given how he apologized on his way out and didn't cause any significant injury I don't think any less of him. It actually felt closer to a flagrant 1 than a 2 to me but I think the Suns would have won regardless, they just couldn't get any stops all series long.

I like Nikola Jokic as well even though I didn't approve of the way he swung at Cam Payne. As you say, it was out of character.

This is more like the Jokic I know.

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Since I am old........ Tom Chambers & Charles Barkley are the others I remember.



I don't care how you slice it or how good the Cards get....... this is a basketball town first and foremost. The Suns will always have that. Always.

They’re the granddaddy of professional sports in az, experienced early success, and had been a gleaming gem for the city for so long before the last decade of awfulness. It makes sense that AZ would be a basketball town. Will be interesting to see if that continues with the younger generation as our generation fades due to the fact that the cards and dbacks now have a firm history here. I think the battle for the soul of the city will be driven (as it should be) by success.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Suns acquiring Chris Paul is like capturing lightning in a bottle twice.

The other time was Steve Nash.

Both players were available because many thought they were past their prime.

Twice? You forget about Barkley? He put this team on the map Nationally. We were the biggest away draws during that time and had the largest TV ratings ever at the time. Also, the 76ers felt Barkley had maybe only 4 more seasons or so in his prime left and wanted to get value. Much like Nash they were both coming off their 8th season with questions on how much longer they could stay on top of their game.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yeah it's hard to say what was going through his mind. I just thought the pressure of the expectations on his shoulders and the frustration from not getting the calls he wanted caused him to cross the line. I doubt he was trying to injure Cameron, he just let his frustration drive his actions.

I think he took a jab at Malone when he said he was trying to change the flow of the game with a hard foul. Kinda like, you wanna keep calling us soft and quitters? Here I tried your way. How did that work out for us?

 

[Dr. Jones]

They’re the granddaddy of professional sports in az, experienced early success, and had been a gleaming gem for the city for so long before the last decade of awfulness. It makes sense that AZ would be a basketball town. Will be interesting to see if that continues with the younger generation as our generation fades due to the fact that the cards and dbacks now have a firm history here. I think the battle for the soul of the city will be driven (as it should be) by success.

I'm a big believer in history and the culture of Phoenix. With all of the transplants to the valley I expect the Bears, Steelers, among many others to continue to cost the Cards and DBacks dearly on the home front with current fans of those teams.

Meanwhile, the Suns have a legacy that always seemed to transcend the transplant nature of things. Even CP3 mentioned how well the Suns fans travel.

Man I'm so happy. Just wish there was a Colangelo who owned the team. If we make the finals....... I will be at at least one of the road games if they land in Philly or Brooklyn. ATL maybe. Milwaukee, probably not.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think he took a jab at Malone when he said he was trying to change the flow of the game with a hard foul. Kinda like, you wanna keep calling us soft and quitters? Here I tried your way. How did that work out for us?

That's quite possible. I hadn't thought about that but I do know that Jokic took issue with Malone's comments after games 1 and 2.

 

[Mainstreet]

Twice? You forget about Barkley? He put this team on the map Nationally. We were the biggest away draws during that time and had the largest TV ratings ever at the time. Also, the 76ers felt Barkley had maybe only 4 more seasons or so in his prime left and wanted to get value. Much like Nash they were both coming off their 8th season with questions on how much longer they could stay on top of their game.

I didn't put Barkley in the category because he was not past his prime. He was 29 in his first season with the Suns.

Although it proved to be a steal, the Suns gave up Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang in the trade. All three players were well regarded although certainly not fair value for a superstar.

The Suns only gave up cash to sign Nash because Mark Cuban didn't want to pay him because of concerns with his back.

And the suns only gave up Oubre (expiring), Rubio (overpaid) and a protected first round pick for Paul.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm a big believer in history and the culture of Phoenix. With all of the transplants to the valley I expect the Bears, Steelers, among many others to continue to cost the Cards and DBacks dearly on the home front with current fans of those teams.

Meanwhile, the Suns have a legacy that always seemed to transcend the transplant nature of things. Even CP3 mentioned how well the Suns fans travel.

Man I'm so happy. Just wish there was a Colangelo who owned the team. If we make the finals....... I will be at at least one of the road games if they land in Philly or Brooklyn. ATL maybe. Milwaukee, probably not.

Wisconsin is actually really nice this time of year. Likely nicer than philly or NYC and definitely nicer than Atlanta.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I didn't put Barkley in the category because he was not past his prime. He was 29 in his first season with the Suns.

Although it proved to be a steal, the Suns gave up Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang in the trade. All three players were well regarded although certainly not fair value for a superstar.

The Suns only gave up cash to sign Nash because Mark Cuban didn't want to pay him because of concerns with his back.

And the suns only gave up Oubre (expiring), Rubio (overpaid) and a protected first round pick for Paul.

that was also a different scenario because Chuck came to a 50 and fade win club, that had even been to the WCF twice just two years previously. Nash and Paul came to non playoff teams and had massive turnarounds that almost no one saw coming.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I didn't put Barkley in the category because he was not past his prime. He was 29 in his first season with the Suns.

Although it proved to be a steal, the Suns gave up Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang in the trade. All three players were well regarded although certainly not fair value for a superstar.

The Suns only gave up cash to sign Nash because Mark Cuban didn't want to pay him because of concerns with his back.

And the suns only gave up Oubre (expiring), Rubio (overpaid) and a protected first round pick for Paul.

I don't have the quote but I know Barkley actually said he was already in decline even before the trade to Phoenix. I can't recall whether he said it before or after he retired, maybe someone else can chime in with it. Regardless, that deal was a steal.

 

[Mainstreet]

that was also a different scenario because Chuck came to a 50 and fade win club, that had even been to the WCF twice just two years previously. Nash and Paul came to non playoff teams and had massive turnarounds that almost no one saw coming.

Agreed. Nash and Paul turned the Suns franchise around.

Here is Nash coming to the Suns at age 30 with a previous history of back concerns who Mark Cuban decides not to match the Suns offer.

And there is Chris Paul at age 35 with a huge salary who the Suns pick up for pieces they feel they didn't need. Also many considered Paul past his prime.

Also Nash and Paul are point guards which were key positions to make the turnaround quickly.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Just saw a commentator who said the Suns shot 50-40-90 aaa TEAM for the series.

is that true?!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't have the quote but I know Barkley actually said he was already in decline even before the trade to Phoenix. I can't recall whether he said it before or after he retired, maybe someone else can chime in with it. Regardless, that deal was a steal.

I think that was the general thought but then Barkley went out and went nuts on the Dream Team in the Olympics.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Just saw a commentator who said the Suns shot 50-40-90 aaa TEAM for the series.

is that true?!

If true, that’s crazy

 

[Dr. Jones]

Wisconsin is actually really nice this time of year. Likely nicer than philly or NYC and definitely nicer than Atlanta.

I would want to make it a quick trip. Non-stop from Harrisburg is a huge impediment to "quick".

I guess I could go to Chicago then head north. But driving to Philly or Brooklyn seem easier to me.