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

[Indy]

And wasn't it just a week ago when we were saying DA had his worst game in a while (Thunder)?

[Superbone]

And wasn't it just a week ago when we were saying DA had his worst game in a while (Thunder)?

The dude is not consistent, that's for sure.

[Indy]

And wasn't it just a week ago when we were saying DA had his worst game in a while (Thunder)?

The dude is not consistent, that's for sure.

He is consistently inconsistent in his effort.

[O_Gardino]

I think this one was telling. Don't think it's a fluke. The Lakers hit us in our weak spot - BIGS. Our small 4s were mostly ineffective. Our one big guy looked like he didn't know where he was supposed to be all night. We need at least one of Crowder / Craig / Saric to make impact plays. I think we can be better than this game, but the flaws are real flaws.

Props to Payne. He decided to set the tone of the game, and he sure did.

[Split T]

I think we’d beat this Lakers team if we played them in the postseason. I saw enough to think they won because of hot-shooting and a lackadaisical performance from a few of our guys. Not to mention a poor shooting performance from Book.

Problem is we won’t see this team in the postseason. They didn’t have LeBron, Schroeder, or Kuzma. I’m not sure we can make the adjustments to beat that team. I think we’d have to hope for cold shooting from LA’s role guys and we’d need hot shooting from ours.

[Mori Chu]

I think we’d beat this Lakers team if we played them in the postseason. I saw enough to think they won because of hot-shooting and a lackadaisical performance from a few of our guys. Not to mention a poor shooting performance from Book.

Problem is we won’t see this team in the postseason. They didn’t have LeBron, Schroeder, or Kuzma. I’m not sure we can make the adjustments to beat that team. I think we’d have to hope for cold shooting from LA’s role guys and we’d need hot shooting from ours.

Yeah, I'm honestly pretty concerned. I now don't think we would beat the Lakers in a series if they were at full strength. Maybe if our shooters got really hot and theirs went cold, we'd have a good chance, but I really worry about their size and strength. They seemed to know exactly how to exploit the imperfections in our otherwise strong roster.

I really wish we could get out of a 2-7 matchup against them. Can they climb up to #6? Can we get to #1? Would they maybe lose a flukey play-in game against the Grizz or Warriors? These are the things I'm hoping for right now. Anything but the Lakers in the first round.

[Furlanfufi]

I think we wouldn't have so many problems with their bigs if we played a 7sol style. But we are 26th in pace this year, and I don't think we can adjust on the fly.

[bajanguy008]

I'm still choosing to go with the less said the better

[O_Gardino]

I think we wouldn't have so many problems with their bigs if we played a 7sol style. But we are 26th in pace this year, and I don't think we can adjust on the fly.

I do agree that the best strategy against the Lakes is to run run run. When you are smaller, you have to push the pace more.

[Flagrant Fowl]

There isn't a single piece of evidence to point to that says the Suns can or would "run" more in a playoff series.

They're more likely to slow it down further.

[O_Gardino]

We know.

[Nodack]

They run and score off of turnovers real well. I am hoping they can turn that up a little in the playoffs.

[INFORMER]

I guess put Carter on AD

And yet AD still attempted about a 19' fadeaway over Carter. For all that he has accomplished, he still can be so soft sometimes.

[INFORMER]

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.

There were plenty here deeming Damian Jones unplayable. So I don't think we can hold cutting him against James Jones.

[INFORMER]

I watched most of the 1st half but could tell we just didn't have it and couldn't stop AD.

If we do play the Lakers we are not going to win a grind out game against these guys. We cannot continually foul them and put them to the line.

AD was 13-27. That isn't going to kill us. Those are a ton of shots, and it isn't even converting at a 50% clip. As JWB alluded, we can't put AD on the line 17 times. That is ridiculous.

I doubt that they can keep up with us for four quarters so let them score. Yeah that's right let them score and run it back at them 7 seconds or less style.

I don't think we have the personnel for that. We can do it in spurts, but not as a strategy for an entire game. Paul isn't that type of point guard, guys like Saric wouldn't be able to keep up, and Ayton has the physical ability (athleticism, running ability), but not the drive or possibly the conditioning either.