Game Day (Playoffs Round 1, Game 3): Thunder (2-0) @ Suns (0-2), Sat 4/25/26

[specialsauce]

Watching the kid from Portland made me realize we need to move on from Booker if we want to win a ring.

He is essentially NEVER the best player on the court. The other teams #1 is almost always more impactful

[Charlie Smithy!]

First half the year Ott would constantly make subs until he found a lineup that would click and go on a run.

He stopped doing that when he became a Bott

Amen.

Was our season's end expedited by...Bottulism!?

[O_Gardino]

Don't worry guys. We have them right where we want them.

[The Bobster]

Bradley Beal bad is too far..but I am dissapointed…he clearly doesn’t want to be the guy…I like that he’s willing to play within the flow of the offense…but there’s times we need him to step up and he either doesn’t want to or can’t anymore.

He got that Olympic experience and thinks it’s better to be a team player all the time. We need him to be an alpha.

In retrospect I think Booker should have just absolutely refused to be converted into a "Point Book." He should have insisted on having a real PG play next to him at all times, and he should have stayed more selfish and looked for his own shot more. That might not be what this specific roster needs most, but I think if he stuck to his guns as being a pure SG, we would have built the roster differently around him rather than assuming we could rely on him as a PG/SG combo. The continued attempt to do that has really harmed our roster construction IMO. We should not be acquiring other scoring swingmen/guards like Jalen Green or Brad Beal to pair with Devin Booker.

You just can't trade for a Chris Paul anytime you feel like it. And when Paul left they went from a team that steam rolled teams in crunch time to one where no lead is safe. And while Gillespie is great as a backup, he's not the answer at PG unless he takes another leap forward.

And yes, Beal (who had serious injury questions in Washington) and Green were not ideal fits.

[Charlie Smithy!]

Don't worry guys. We have them right where we want them.

I have to admit two things...about your signature.

When you first changed it from that all-time classic Aztec quote, I went through a protracted grieving process.

And second? When I read the new quote on your signature...I thought it was a quote from George Jetson...to his wife, Jane.

[The Bobster]

I think you use game 7 to give Fleming and Maluach some playoff experience. This series is over, time to tell them "this is to say you're a big part of our plans next year" and see how they respond.

I actually think Oso did a credible job today, Holmgren certainly didn't dominate him. He's got a of of things to work on, starting with getting stronger and his free throw shooting.

[Wally_West]

I think it’s okay to be disappointed how Ott has been coaching but at the same time, we are completely overmatched against this OKC team. They better than us is every way possible. They are also several years into their team building now and the reigning champs. We are in year one with this new regime. Maluach and Fleming becoming undeniably rotation pieces probably makes us solid 4th or 5th seed with health. Brian Gregory has a lot of work ahead of him.


Hopefully the Draymond Green trade we are clearly going to do won’t fuck up everything.

[LazarusLong]

Ott should experiment with the lineups/rotation. What's the risk?

Ott is reminding a bit of John MacLeod, who became very rigid in player rotations later in his tenure with the Suns.

[ShelC]

Could be he's just a great assistant with Xs and Os but no feel for matchups and lineups in-game?

[Wally_West]

I think Ott has shown too much to dismiss him as just a good assistant. It is just his first year after all. Year 2 is the big test.

[LazarusLong]

I think Ott has shown too much to dismiss him as just a good assistant. It is just his first year after all. Year 2 is the big test.

Let's hope the lessons OKC is imparting in this series are being absorbed by Ott and his staff.
Let's hope there will be a good learning curve as a result.

[iLLmatic]

Im just hoping it’s the front office asking him to play these stupid ass small ball lineups and isn’t actually him. His coaching post all star break has left a lot to be desired.

[Wally_West]

To be fair, his small ball lineup has to do with us being so injured much of the season. I think a lot hesitancy towards being experimental has to do with the playoffs being so close and needing to stick to a lineup for consistency purposes. Like I said, next year will be a big test.

[ShelC]

I'm sorry, but OKC gets away with this because no one punches back. Give them a hard foul, send them to the floor, undercut them on the way to the basket and they'll think twice next time they try shit like this. Every team wants to be above that but you need to send a message to the other team that you're not taking it. Get a flagrant, get a tech but make it worth it. We need to instill a mentality that goes beyond hustle and grit. I wanna see our guys get pissed and hit back for a change.

[Wally_West]

I'm sorry, but OKC gets away with this because no one punches back. Give them a hard foul, send them to the floor, undercut them on the way to the basket and they'll think twice next time they try shit like this. Every team wants to be above that but you need to send a message to the other team that you're not taking it. Get a flagrant, get a tech but make it worth it. We need to instill a mentality that goes beyond hustle and grit. I wanna see our guys get pissed and hit back for a change.

This why we are trading Grayson and Royce for Draymond in the offseason. Also because of Michigan State.

[BKinSJC]

Don't worry guys. We have them right where we want them.

I have to admit two things...about your signature.

When you first changed it from that all-time classic Aztec quote, I went through a protracted grieving process.

And second? When I read the new quote on your signature...I thought it was a quote from George Jetson...to his wife, Jane.

It's a pop culture reference, that's referencing another pop culture reference. So you're right.

[O_Gardino]

Don't worry guys. We have them right where we want them.

I have to admit two things...about your signature.

When you first changed it from that all-time classic Aztec quote, I went through a protracted grieving process.

And second? When I read the new quote on your signature...I thought it was a quote from George Jetson...to his wife, Jane.

That quote from Aztec was a true nugget of wisdom.

And the new quote is from the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer. The main character is Charlie, and the line is for sure a Jetsons reference. But you could say it too! Then it would be like I'm quoting you, other Charlie, AND George.

[Superbone]

At least I know saucy is happy. Ott played Fleming.

[BlaCkAdDa]

Disappointing game, I feel we were definitely right in during the first half .. but they just too good. Allen rusty and I think Book has niggles and is not 100% .. Jalen gave his all but we're too small and missed shots we needed to fall to stay competitive.

Oh and fuck the refs.

[BlaCkAdDa]

and fuck Caruso too