Western Conference Round 2, Game 1: Suns (0-0) @ Nuggets (0-0), Sat 4/29/23

[Furlanfufi]

For Saucy.

Incrediby disingenuous to start the clip there when Ayton is the one who caused the missed shot in the first place: https://www.nba.com/stats/events/?CFID= ... ng%20Layup

Cmon Jeremy, he stared at the play till he remembered he IS PLAYING! He could tried to grab at least the 2nd rebound, but it was Durant who was there jumping.

[specialsauce]

For Saucy.

Incrediby disingenuous to start the clip there when Ayton is the one who caused the missed shot in the first place: https://www.nba.com/stats/events/?CFID= ... ng%20Layup

Lmao

[Furlanfufi]

[Furlanfufi]

[JeremyG]

Fact: Nikola Jokic scored a total of one (1) field goal when being guarded by Deandre Ayton (his three-pointer in the third quarter). Two if you want to count when DA fronted him.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Completely disingenuous.

[TOO]

He's never gonna see it.

[Democritus]

This is Ayton's last playoff run as a Sun.

Indeed.

[Shabazz]

I thought Ayton was good for the first 6 minutes. But like every other game this season, 4 quarters of consistent production and energy was too much to ask.

[djy2j]

Alot to clean up. Rebounds especially. Obviously 3 pt attempts. I think this is easier to fix thN against the Clips but seems to take longer to adjust. Monty went with the same rotation I think he will realize he needs to change it up. If he still thinks Shamet is the first off the bench then yeah we're fucked

[virtual9mm]

Jokic didn't kill the Suns. Their wings did. The damage was done when Jokic was out. That being said...where was Ayton when the Nugz went on a run? He was in.

[ShelC]

DA standing out of bounds watching a rebounding battle used to be pretty common in his 1st and 2nd yr but he'd gotten better. That play is pretty indicative of his regression this year in terms of effort. I think earlier in the game KD even motioned to him to get down in the paint and rebound when he was caught on perimeter watching.

I'd be surprised if Monty went away from Shamet because that's his safety blanket but he's gotta bend and get more offense out there. We need guys to be threats to score and make the Nuggets work on defense. Ross can light it up and attack, so can TJ. Shamet is there to swing the ball and cut away. He provides nothing.

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

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[Split T]

Fact: Nikola Jokic scored a total of one (1) field goal when being guarded by Deandre Ayton (his three-pointer in the third quarter). Two if you want to count when DA fronted him.

Ayton did defend his shots well…he just needed to make a much bigger impact on the glass. Can’t be outrebounded 19-7 by the other teams big.

He just needs to show more activity for me. He does fine things when he’s engaged, but it’s stuff like him standing on the baseline watching Jokic get rebound after rebound. Or the times he doesn’t get back on defense. He really takes his time here a lot and I know he can do it. Jokic sprinted back once and Ayton followed suit. Our transition defense was garbage, it’d be a lot better if we had our big man back to handle the rim so our guards/wings could cover shooters.

There’s just nothing I can speak to that he does at a high level. I don’t know if it was the contract issues or if it’s the fact that he got payed, but I don’t think he’s the same player. He came into this season less motivated to play at a high level. Again, he does good things, but he’s just not the same guy that played in 2021 or even 2022.

We even were feeding him the ball today for awhile, so he doesn’t have the excuse that he wasn’t involved. I don’t have any problems with his offense(I mean I do, but I’ve accepted his limitations), but I want more defensively. More rebounds, more blocks, more energy.

[Kryptonic]

This is Ayton's last playoff run as a Sun.

Indeed.

Quoting yourself? Lol

You’re 100% right though…. He’s gone.

[Kryptonic]

Whopping 7 rebounds from Ayton…. SMH.

[Wally_West]

[TOO]

Ayton being blasted all over social media today, just brings me joy. I want him gone so bad. Waste of money.

[Split T]

I want to move on as well, though if we win a championship I’ll happily deal with him back next year(as everyone would haha). I hope James Jones knows he needs to go and that he’s the best option we have to add depth.

[TOO]

I want to move on as well, though if we win a championship I’ll happily deal with him back next year(as everyone would haha). I hope James Jones knows he needs to go and that he’s the best option we have to add depth.

It just sucks because we're gonna get pennies on the dollar. Which team is gonna be like oh, we can keep him engaged? Can't be a team with hoops junkies as it's core, it's not working here.