Game Day: Suns (48-19) @ Lakers (37-30), Sun 5/9/21

[Split T]

Caruso with the successful box out on a lob pass. Should be a foul, but can't call that on Alex Caruso.

Meh..maybe, but there was minor contact...Ayton can’t let a 6’4 guard get his hand on that ball

[djy2j]

Booker being reinserted for Payne was a terrible mistake.

Also someone needs to tell Caruso he’s the new generation Pat Burke. He’s a trash victory cigar but manages to stay healthy so he gets PT so I’m not sure why he’s out there flexing. He’s a human participation trophy

[The Bobster]

Booker's ego wouldn't have liked it, but Payne should have been playing down the stretch instead of him.

[Mori Chu]

Well I hope the guys take this game as a lesson. You have to raise your level of play if you want to win in a playoff atmosphere. We still have a ways to go.

[specialsauce]

Other than Payne, we played scared tonight. Book out of control. DA didn’t want the ball and was fine setting a pick and hiding behind the defender on the roll. Should be embarrassed.

[specialsauce]

Caruso with the successful box out on a lob pass. Should be a foul, but can't call that on Alex Caruso.

Meh..maybe, but there was minor contact...Ayton can’t let a 6’4 guard get his hand on that ball

Softest 7 footer in the league

[Split T]

We found the offense a bit...defense wasn’t good though. We fouled too much and we didn’t stop anything. AD got his(42 points) and they got tons of open looks from 3.

I don’t know what we do when Lebron is back, but I think you need Ayton to step up and defend AD without any help for us to have any kind of shot at beating them.

[Flagrant Fowl]

They have to figure out a way to get the Lakers to take Drummond off the court besides hitting an unrealistic percentage of three pointers.

Even if Ayton shows up defensively on AD, Drummond will clean up on the offensive glass.

[Split T]

They have to figure out a way to get the Lakers to take Drummond off the court besides hitting an unrealistic percentage of three pointers.

Even if Ayton shows up defensively on AD, Drummond will clean up on the offensive glass.

I think that’s something we might just have to live with. He got a bunch of offensive boards, but I think we did ok overall in the Drummond minutes.

[The Bobster]

They have to figure out a way to get the Lakers to take Drummond off the court besides hitting an unrealistic percentage of three pointers.

Even if Ayton shows up defensively on AD, Drummond will clean up on the offensive glass.

I think that’s something we might just have to live with. He got a bunch of offensive boards, but I think we did ok overall in the Drummond minutes.

They gave up 14 offensive rebounds, including 7 to Drummond. They got outrebounded 41-32. Davis went for 42/12/5.

This is the kind of thing that happens when you're trying to guard Davis with players like Kaminsky and Crowder. Even if Saric didn;t look lost out there they'd still be under-manned against the Lakers' front line.

And if your small guys aren't beating theirs, you're in big trouble.

[Mori Chu]

I am seeing some people on Twitter saying that we threw this game. That we would never single cover AD so long after it was obvious he was torching us. That we didn't really run our offense. That Monty didn't want to show LA what we can really do.

Do you buy it? I find it highly doubtful and think we just plain got beat, by a depleted Lakers team no less. Our bigs had a horrible night, and the only reason it was close was due to a furious comeback run led by Payne.

[Superbone]

That was NOT the message you want to send to a potential 1st round matchup that was short handed.

[Superbone]

So their plan is to go big, eh? We'll see how that works out. Personally I love it for us. Just try to keep up with us for 4 quarters playing Drummond and Davis, go ahead.

That didn’t age well.

[Superbone]

Really don’t know why James Jones didn’t prioritize getting another big. It could be our (early) undoing. Frank’s not gonna cut it against the Lakers.

I was thinking that during the game. If we go out to this team in the first round, it will at least show Jones what we’re missing.

[Superbone]

Ayton going to shoot this half or is going to wait and take one the second half?

He was pretty much invisible for most of the game.

[Split T]

They have to figure out a way to get the Lakers to take Drummond off the court besides hitting an unrealistic percentage of three pointers.

Even if Ayton shows up defensively on AD, Drummond will clean up on the offensive glass.

I think that’s something we might just have to live with. He got a bunch of offensive boards, but I think we did ok overall in the Drummond minutes.

They gave up 14 offensive rebounds, including 7 to Drummond. They got outrebounded 41-32. Davis went for 42/12/5.

This is the kind of thing that happens when you're trying to guard Davis with players like Kaminsky and Crowder. Even if Saric didn;t look lost out there they'd still be under-manned against the Lakers' front line.

And if your small guys aren't beating theirs, you're in big trouble.

I don’t disagree, but trying to match the Lakers size is not the answer...that just plays into what they want. Drummond isn’t very good. Yes he got 7 offensive boards, but he was also 2/7 from the field and was only a +3. The Lakers fared better with Gasol out there.

We’re going to get beat on the boards...that should be a given. What we can’t do is let AD go for 42 and let their 3 pt shooters get tons of open looks. You need to take something away...also can’t put them on the line 41 times.

[JeremyG]

Really don’t know why James Jones didn’t prioritize getting another big. It could be our (early) undoing. Frank’s not gonna cut it against the Lakers.

I was thinking that during the game. If we go out to this team in the first round, it will at least show Jones what we’re missing.

Just not cutting Damian Jones would at least give us 6 fouls to use.

[Superbone]

Im going to be so disappointed if this season ends in the first round against the Lakers.

You better steel yourself. It could very well happen.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I am seeing some people on Twitter saying that we threw this game. That we would never single cover AD so long after it was obvious he was torching us. That we didn't really run our offense. That Monty didn't want to show LA what we can really do.

Do you buy it? I find it highly doubtful and think we just plain got beat, by a depleted Lakers team no less. Our bigs had a horrible night, and the only reason it was close was due to a furious comeback run led by Payne.

The Suns didn't throw the game. Anyone who says that is just firing off hot takes for clout.

[Flagrant Fowl]

They have to figure out a way to get the Lakers to take Drummond off the court besides hitting an unrealistic percentage of three pointers.

Even if Ayton shows up defensively on AD, Drummond will clean up on the offensive glass.

I think that’s something we might just have to live with. He got a bunch of offensive boards, but I think we did ok overall in the Drummond minutes.

They gave up 14 offensive rebounds, including 7 to Drummond. They got outrebounded 41-32. Davis went for 42/12/5.

This is the kind of thing that happens when you're trying to guard Davis with players like Kaminsky and Crowder. Even if Saric didn;t look lost out there they'd still be under-manned against the Lakers' front line.

And if your small guys aren't beating theirs, you're in big trouble.

I don’t disagree, but trying to match the Lakers size is not the answer...that just plays into what they want. Drummond isn’t very good. Yes he got 7 offensive boards, but he was also 2/7 from the field and was only a +3. The Lakers fared better with Gasol out there.

We’re going to get beat on the boards...that should be a given. What we can’t do is let AD go for 42 and let their 3 pt shooters get tons of open looks. You need to take something away...also can’t put them on the line 41 times.

He also drew the two fouls on Ayton in the first quarter.