Western Conference Round 2, Game 6: Suns (2-3) @ Nuggets (3-2), Thu 5/11/23

[Mori Chu]

You can talk shit about Ayton all you want, but, it is not going to be easy to stop Jokic without him. If you think Landale and Biyombo can even remotely come close to containing Jokic tonight, I think you're in for some disappointment. I predict a ton of fouls and and-ones for the Joker.

It's too bad because Murray being out is a golden opportunity to steal a win and force a Game 7. But we have such a thin roster at this point. Will this force Monty to play Torrey Craig a little bit? Or are we in for 30 minutes of Shamet and Landale?

[Kryptonic]

Losing a guy is never a positive, especially with the depth issues we have. The last time we let Jokic go off, we won... Maybe letting him take as many shots is what we want. Since he's the one factor we can't control; why not focus on the others? Gonna be a tough game and almost prefer to get it over with than to go and lose in Denver in game 7 where they've been incredible.

[Shabazz]

You can talk shit about Ayton all you want, but, it is not going to be easy to stop Jokic without him. If you think Landale and Biyombo can even remotely come close to containing Jokic tonight, I think you're in for some disappointment. I predict a ton of fouls and and-ones for the Joker.

It's too bad because Murray being out is a golden opportunity to steal a win and force a Game 7. But we have such a thin roster at this point. Will this force Monty to play Torrey Craig a little bit? Or are we in for 30 minutes of Shamet and Landale?

Saying "good" that Ayton is out is a bad take. Of course we're better with him, even in a more limited role. I'm just annoyed that he's not even going to give it a go.

[Shabazz]

Just watch him in this clip. Classic DA saying one thing and then not even remotely backing it up.

[TOO]

Never trust a man in a leather shirt.

[Mori Chu]

The real way to win this series is right in front of us.

[Kryptonic]

You can talk shit about Ayton all you want, but, it is not going to be easy to stop Jokic without him. If you think Landale and Biyombo can even remotely come close to containing Jokic tonight, I think you're in for some disappointment. I predict a ton of fouls and and-ones for the Joker.

It's too bad because Murray being out is a golden opportunity to steal a win and force a Game 7. But we have such a thin roster at this point. Will this force Monty to play Torrey Craig a little bit? Or are we in for 30 minutes of Shamet and Landale?

Saying "good" that Ayton is out is a bad take. Of course we're better with him, even in a more limited role. I'm just annoyed that he's not even going to give it a go.

If it was a torn ligament or tendon on a joint that has a chance to causing long term damage, it's understandable to sit out.... but a bruised rib? You can be taped up and play through the some discomfort with out risking anything that's going to cause further damage. Could he be hit there in the exact spot and possibly break it? Sure... but again... a broken rib isn't something that's going to ruin or end your career in the NBA. Now... Not playing through it.. Yea that could do far more damage to your career than playing through it.

[Wally_West]

Would y’all be surprised if he’s not even on the bench tonight?


I’m just saying…

[Kryptonic]

Ooof, if he's not on the bench tonight... That'll say it's more than a rib injury lol

[Wally_West]

[Kryptonic]

Just watch him in this clip. Classic DA saying one thing and then not even remotely backing it up.

Sure did act like it wasn't bugging him there...

[Wally_West]

Ooof, if he's not on the bench tonight... That'll say it's more than a rib injury lol

That basically what my speculation was, I’m just overreacting lol but idk

[Kryptonic]

Ooof, if he's not on the bench tonight... That'll say it's more than a rib injury lol

That basically what my speculation was, I’m just overreacting lol but idk

If you're right you need to change your name to "The Swami" lol

[Split T]

The real way to win this series is right in front of us.

The problem is we don’t have the bodies to do it. I guess you’d go Book/Shamet/Ross/Warren/KD? That defense would be rough, but you’d make Jokic guard someone who can hurt him from the outside. You’d really probably want to play Ish, so he could body Jokic, but then Jokic would guard him on defense and mostly ignore him. We’d live or die with Ish corner 3s

[ShelC]

Gambo said Shamet might start tonight, I'm assuming in place of Cam Payne.

I also might start Biz is place of DA and keep Jock coming off the bench.

[Wally_West]

The real way to win this series is right in front of us.

The problem is we don’t have the bodies to do it. I guess you’d go Book/Shamet/Ross/Warren/KD? That defense would be rough, but you’d make Jokic guard someone who can hurt him from the outside. You’d really probably want to play Ish, so he could body Jokic, but then Jokic would guard him on defense and mostly ignore him. We’d live or die with Ish corner 3s

play Craig over Ish

[JeremyG]

If we win this game it should be confirmation that we need to move on from Ayton and CP3

And if we lose we blame Ayton, right?

[Shabazz]

Ooof, if he's not on the bench tonight... That'll say it's more than a rib injury lol

That basically what my speculation was, I’m just overreacting lol but idk

My prediction is that he’ll publicly request a trade after the season is done. Hopefully James Jones gets ahead of it and makes him keep it quiet so they can get max value.

[Democritus]

[JeremyG]

Shiiii

What a fucking joke. It's the playoffs, dude.

Contusion rings pretty loudly across the league. Not helping his reputation or trade value—even though he probably thinks it is. Let’s go!

I’ve had bruised ribs before; it’s no joke. It can be painful just to talk or even breathe, depending on the severity. And I have a very high pain tolerance (I’ve even had hernia surgery with only local anesthesia and nothing, not even Tylenol, for pain afterward). And I can’t imagine playing a sport with it. But it’s not just the pain, playing through it can lead to further injury—it basically comes down to whether or not the doctors cleared him to play, or he’s deciding to sit out, or (according to conspiracy theorists) the team wants him to sit out.