Phx-Suns.Net

Shit game all around - us, the Lakers, the refs. The Lakers' broadcasters said the game felt like an NBA Cup hangover and they might've been right. I didn't think the Lakers played well, we just played a bit worse. Couldn't keep the Lakers off the offensive glass, couldn't really find any offensive flow and in the end, just couldn't close it out. Brooks was too hyped up after that 3 and can't get that tech. Book's gotta be smarter defending that 3 against LeBron. But another moral victory I guess considering we played thru to the end and made a nice comeback even with all the fouls and replays going on.

I think we've gotten exposed the last few games for being small and unathletic and if we're starting CG and Allen with Book, we're lacking shotmaking and creation off the bench. Allen is still off, CG isn't getting free like he was earlier in the season, and Book's 3pt shot is gone at the moment. These lineups can work if guys are making their shots but when we aren't dropping 3s, it's hard to keep up physically. I think we can balance things out a bit better with Green back.

Goodwin gave us a boost as usual and seemed to be one of the few on the team that had any juice. He was also able to give it back to the Lakers in terms of size and physical defense. Dunn had a huge block on Smart, hit the boards and was another guy whose athleticism seemed to help. Just wish we could squeeze more offense out of him.

This one was far more heartbreaking than the blow-out the other day because it seemed to expose some of our very real flaws and also felt like evidence that the league is fixed. Dillon Brooks is a liability, Booker is trash, and all of those bad calls just happened to add up giving the Lakers a win at the betting line. I know I'm over-reacting, but damn I did not like this game at all.

Let's look at some numbers to give ourselves a false sense of control. Williams, Ayton, and Hays shot the lights out, combining to go 23/25. Damn. Ayton had one of his best statistical games, and was still -12 while Williams was +14. Oso and Richards were not as good.

Shabazz wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 12:29 am

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 14, 2025 8:03 pm

Oso sucks.

Rough Oso game. That stretch in the 3Q killed us.

Rough Oso career. He fucking sucks. I don't want him to play another minute of him on the court this season if it's not garbage time. Rather give those minutes to ManMan and deal with his inexperience or go small since Oso plays like a soft ass bitch anyway.

I just wish we would give Maluach some of these Oso minutes even if he would make more mistakes. We need to develop him. Oso is better today but has a much lower ceiling, and we have to start investing in our #10 pick, one of the core pieces we got back by trading Durant.

Last night's game is a great window into how this year's Lakers are 17-7. They -are- a good team with some nice top-line talent. But it's heavily aided by the fact that all three of Luka, Lebron, and Reaves foul-bait constantly and benefit from the refs' blatantly favorable whistle. Lebron angrily goes at a ref, including repeatedly grabbing him by the arm while yelling at him? No tech or foul, even after later review. Luka and Lebron stumble and slip and fall as the slightest gust of wind hits them? Tweet, foul. I don't think the league is rigged or the refs are betting on the Lakers on FanDuel or anything, but it sure feels like that could be true when you are part of games like this.

The Golden State Warriors consistently earn the most revenue for the NBA, leading in sponsorships, premium seating, and overall income, significantly surpassing the league average, followed closely by the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, who also generate massive revenue due to their large markets and brand value, making them top earners despite the Warriors' dominance in recent years. These top teams contribute heavily to league-wide revenue, even paying into revenue-sharing pools for smaller markets.

- According to Google AI

Correlation, maybe.

Sure felt like the NBA couldn't have the Suns up 3-0 on the vaunted Lakers. What a tacky tack foul call to change the outcome at the end.

I'm still very bitter having been at the game amongst all these loud mouthed Lakers fans. Very poorly officiated game which sure seemed to favor the Lakers. Amazing comeback to end the fourth only to be quashed by the refs. Easy no call at the end there.

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 11:51 am

I'm still very bitter having been at the game amongst all these loud mouthed Lakers fans. Very poorly officiated game which sure seemed to favor the Lakers. Amazing comeback to end the fourth only to be quashed by the refs. Easy no call at the end there.

Even when the Suns have been title contenders, we have had way too many Laker fans coming to our home games. It's irritating. I don't think we can do anything about it, given how close we are to LA and how many folks live in Phoenix who came from California. But I wish the Laker fans felt a little more shy about how loudly they cheer for the enemy team from right there in our arena.

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 12:20 pm

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 11:51 am

I'm still very bitter having been at the game amongst all these loud mouthed Lakers fans. Very poorly officiated game which sure seemed to favor the Lakers. Amazing comeback to end the fourth only to be quashed by the refs. Easy no call at the end there.

Even when the Suns have been title contenders, we have had way too many Laker fans coming to our home games. It's irritating. I don't think we can do anything about it, given how close we are to LA and how many folks live in Phoenix who came from California. But I wish the Laker fans felt a little more shy about how loudly they cheer for the enemy team from right there in our arena.

I do like what the Clippers had done with their "Wall". I'd like to see something like that not only for us, but all teams.

Barstool sports runs down the LeBron James experience in the final minutes:

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/355 ... -james-on

wpmiller42 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 1:13 pm

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 12:20 pm

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 11:51 am

I'm still very bitter having been at the game amongst all these loud mouthed Lakers fans. Very poorly officiated game which sure seemed to favor the Lakers. Amazing comeback to end the fourth only to be quashed by the refs. Easy no call at the end there.

Even when the Suns have been title contenders, we have had way too many Laker fans coming to our home games. It's irritating. I don't think we can do anything about it, given how close we are to LA and how many folks live in Phoenix who came from California. But I wish the Laker fans felt a little more shy about how loudly they cheer for the enemy team from right there in our arena.

I do like what the Clippers had done with their "Wall". I'd like to see something like that not only for us, but all teams.

Agreed. The Lakers fans were WAY too comfortable in our house. Jumping around like they owned the place. SO close to shutting them down but the refs and LeBron dictate things even in our home arena.

Everyone can rest easy. The NBA had reviewed the last two minutes and confirmed the refs got pretty much everything right:

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport ... 0022501228

Gladiator wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 6:00 pm

Everyone can rest easy. The NBA had reviewed the last two minutes and confirmed the refs got pretty much everything right:

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport ... 0022501228

Current NBA product is ass.

Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I just rewatched the end on our TV broadcast. Refs missed a blatant punch to the chest by James to Brooks on his three point shot. And the last foul call on Booker was extremely weak. Of course, if Brooks had ignored the hit and avoided the technical and Booker hadn't gotten close enough to touch James, Suns probably would have won.

Just sucks all around. Now we wait until Thursday.

Gladiator wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 15, 2025 6:00 pm

Everyone can rest easy. The NBA had reviewed the last two minutes and confirmed the refs got pretty much everything right:

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport ... 0022501228

This is an absolute joke. NBA covering their ass and favoring the Lakers and Lebron. He should be suspended at least 1 game for making contact with the official.