SUNS NEWS: 2021 FINALS EDITION SUNS vs BUCKS

[JeremyG]

"we are assuming Giannis will be 100 percent"...why would he assume something that is impossible? There's zero chance of Giannis being "100 percent" just 72 hours after he was unable to play in a closeout game.

[Charlie Smithy!]

What a horrible reason for picking the Bucks in this series:

https://www.nba.com/news/nba-finals-pre ... -paul-suns

The pick:

Purely from an accomplishment standpoint, the Bucks have the most to lose here. They had the best record in the league the previous two years, then fizzled in the playoffs. Coach Mike Budenholzer has been “fired” multiple times by social media, and he now goes against Monty Williams, a good tactician and motivator. Also, Giannis has those pair of MVP awards and no rings. This should be enough motivation by the Bucks to finally deliver, for the first time since 1971. Again, we are assuming Giannis will be 100 percent. Milwaukee is the better defensive team, brings the best player and the individual matchups are mainly in the Bucks’ favor. Bucks in six.

I really wish the Suns had enough motivation to win the Finals. Oh well, maybe next year.

[Superbone]

What a horrible reason for picking the Bucks in this series:

https://www.nba.com/news/nba-finals-pre ... -paul-suns

The pick:

Purely from an accomplishment standpoint, the Bucks have the most to lose here. They had the best record in the league the previous two years, then fizzled in the playoffs. Coach Mike Budenholzer has been “fired” multiple times by social media, and he now goes against Monty Williams, a good tactician and motivator. Also, Giannis has those pair of MVP awards and no rings. This should be enough motivation by the Bucks to finally deliver, for the first time since 1971. Again, we are assuming Giannis will be 100 percent. Milwaukee is the better defensive team, brings the best player and the individual matchups are mainly in the Bucks’ favor. Bucks in six.

I really wish the Suns had enough motivation to win the Finals. Oh well, maybe next year.

LOL! Ha. Nice one!

Unfortunately, the Suns were just happy to get there unlike the Bucks.

[JeremyG]

A list of every player Devin Booker has played with so far:

Abdel Nader
Alan Williams
Alec Peters
Alex Len
Archie Goodwin
Aron Baynes
Brandon Knight
Bryce Cotton
Cameron Johnson
Cameron Payne
Chase Budinger
Cheick Diallo
Chris Paul
Cory Jefferson
Danuel House
Dario Saric
Davon Reed
De’Anthony Melton
Deandre Ayton
Derrick Jones Jr.
Dragan Bender
E’Twaun Moore
Elfrid Payton
Elijah Millsap
Ellie Okobo
Emanuel Terry
Eric Bledsoe
Eric Moreland
Frank Kaminsky
George King
Greg Monroe
Isaiah Canaan
Jae Crowder
Jalen Lecque
Jalen Smith
Jamal Crawford
Jared Dudley
Jared Harper
Jarell Eddie
Jawun Evans
Jevon Carter
Jimmer Fredette
John Jenkins
Jon Leuer
Jonah Bolden
Jordan McRae
Josh Gray
Josh Jackson
Kelly Oubre
Kris Humphries
Langston Galloway
Leandro Barbosa
Lorenzo Brown
Markieff Morris
Marquese Chriss
Mikal Bridges
Mike James
Mirza Teletovic
Orlando Johnson
P.J. Tucker
Phil Pressey
Quincy Acy
Ray Spalding
Richaun Holmes
Ricky Rubio
Ronnie Price
Ryan Anderson
Shaquille Harrison
Sonny Weems
T.J. Warren
Tariq Owens
Torrey Craig
Trevor Ariza
Troy Daniels
Ty Jerome
Ty-Shon Alexander
Tyler Johnson
Tyler Ulis
Tyson Chandler

https://arizonasports.com/story/2712084 ... urnaround/

[Superbone]

Whoa. Can you say 'turnover'? I knew that you could.

[Nodack]

Did NOT like reading this in the Ringer article:

Who is the biggest X factor in the Finals?

Dollinger: Scott Foster. Jrue Holiday is a hell of a defender, but something tells me Chris Paul is a lot more worried about his longtime archnemesis, Scott Foster, in this series. As CP3 noted earlier this postseason, he’s lost 11 straight playoff games that Foster has officiated. And that really doesn’t even do the rivalry—and maybe the bitterness toward one another—justice. The referee assignments haven’t been announced yet, but Foster’s career is arguably as decorated as Paul’s. This will be Foster’s 14th Finals compared to Paul’s first. I absolutely expect him to get the call. And I absolutely expect Chris Paul to get no calls.

Ouch!

You would think the league would take notice. Having a ref who seems to have it out for a star player is bad for the league and it’s reputation as unbiased. I’m sure they will say it’s just a coincidence Foster always calls against Paul.

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

[Nodack]

[ShelC]

Full Video of Monty, CP, DA, Book

[Superbone]

Wow, Shel! That's almost too much content! I've got to get on a plane!

But it's really hitting now. We're in the NBA Finals you guys!!!

[JeremyG]

Did NOT like reading this in the Ringer article:

Who is the biggest X factor in the Finals?

Dollinger: Scott Foster. Jrue Holiday is a hell of a defender, but something tells me Chris Paul is a lot more worried about his longtime archnemesis, Scott Foster, in this series. As CP3 noted earlier this postseason, he’s lost 11 straight playoff games that Foster has officiated. And that really doesn’t even do the rivalry—and maybe the bitterness toward one another—justice. The referee assignments haven’t been announced yet, but Foster’s career is arguably as decorated as Paul’s. This will be Foster’s 14th Finals compared to Paul’s first. I absolutely expect him to get the call. And I absolutely expect Chris Paul to get no calls.

Ouch!

You would think the league would take notice. Having a ref who seems to have it out for a star player is bad for the league and it’s reputation as unbiased. I’m sure they will say it’s just a coincidence Foster always calls against Paul.

It reminds me of Charles Barkley vs. Mike Mathis and Joey Crawford vs. Tim Duncan.

[Split T]

All the smart basketball people in the media are picking the suns to win this series…gotta say, it kinda scares me a bit.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I still really like PJ Tucker, at least for one more day. He was one of my favorite Suns when he came to the team because he wasn't a bum like some of the other guys at that time.

I've been worried about Brook Lopez the past couple of days. So much of the Suns success can be attributed to Ayton outplaying his matchup, and I think Lopez can give the Suns a lot of trouble. He rebounds and defends the paint better than anyone the Suns have faced so far, and he's a real threat shooting the ball.

I also have a semi-irrational fear of Bryn Forbes. His shooting form is so good that I think every shot he puts up is going in. He has the ability to flip a game with his shooting, so the Suns can't afford to give him good looks and Cam Payne really needs to outplay the Bucks second unit.

[pickle]

Lopez is an awful rebounder. But he is big and long and a tremendous deterrent at the rim. His foot speed is really bad tho and if the Suns guards can take him, CP3 will get his mid ranger, Payne will get to the rim with room to spare, and Booker can probably do both. The key is to get him moving side to side rather than north south so he can’t just use his length.

[pickle]

I don’t know if this belongs here.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Scott Foster and Zach Zarba can fuck off.

[Superbone]

Scott Foster and Zach Zarba can fuck off.

CRAP! Only saw the right side at first. With our luck, they'll put them on the same crew. Actually, that would be better than spreading them out.

[Split T]

What’s so bad about Zarba? Honestly I don’t buy into almost all of the ref stuff. They have tendencies, sure, but I think most are trying to be as fair as possible.

Foster though…he clearly has an issue with Paul. He may even believe that he’s able to call those games fair, but the evidence seems to point otherwise, even if he’s not aware he’s being biased.