Western Conference Round 1, Game 2: Clippers (1-0) @ Suns (0-1), Tues 4/18/23

[Split T]

He deflected a pass at the end and was holding that finger. Hopefully just jammed it

[Superbone]

Lol I knew from his postgame comments Monty would be too stubborn to change back to Okogie.

That hasn’t been the issue. Craig has been awesome in both games now.

[Superbone]

Now that’s more like it! Paul was Paul again. Booker and Durant were fantastic. And other than fouls, Ayton had a great game. Craig was amazing. Really glad to see he’s been such a great playoff performer. Now, let’s get the first one in LA…and then the second one too.

[Superbone]

Scott Foster isn't calling shit.

Finally got that monkey off our back.

[Superbone]

This team doesn’t know itself and struggles executing. Shit time to be learning to come together.

As long as they figure it out by the end of the Finals, I won’t complain.

[Superbone]

Kawhi is the best player through 5 quarters and it's really not close.

He looks like MJ right now. Both ends, just unreal. Good enough to win a title if George comes back.

He’s been fantastic but he can’t beat us alone.

[Superbone]

This team is lost right now.

Still a work in progress but coming together.

[Superbone]

What is Monty doing? Lol just clearing his whole bench I see.

Now’s the time to experiment, right?

[Split T]

Offensively we figured stuff out. Defense was shaky in the 1st half but much better in half 2. We’ll see if LAC has a response. We kinda saw the best possible Westbrook game tonight after seeing the worst possible shooting game in game 1. He’ll be somewhere in between the rest of the games.

I was encouraged. Monty essentially stuck with 8 guys(TJ and Lee played like 2 minutes each when Book/KD rested in half 1). Still too much Shamet. I hope Payne replaces him for game 3. Or just give those minutes to Okogie.

Biz played well in his 15 minutes. Craig showed he’s our best catch and shoot guy. Book was phenomenal and 36 year old CP3 showed up. KD turned it over too much but he got us back in the game in the 2nd Q when he started cooking.

We got what we needed from Ayton tonight. Make them pay for dropping and leaving him uncovered from 15 feet and control the boards.

[Superbone]

Everybody is lost.
We will be lucky if we don't get swept in the first round.

Phew!

[Flagrant Fowl]

Here's a fun game I just made up. Let's see how many guys combined counting stats exceeds their 2022-23 salary. Minimum of 16 minutes played to be eligible.

Here's a fun game I just made up. Let's see how many guys combined counting stats exceeds their 2022-23 salary. Minimum of 16 minutes played to be eligible.

Game 1, for example.

Durant: 26pt, 11ast, 9reb, 1stl, 2blk for a total of 49, which is more than his $43M salary. Pass
Booker: 37, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 25, $31M. Fail
Paul: 30, $28M. Pass
Craig: 28, $5M. Pass
Shamet: 7, $9M. Fail

Game 2

Durant: 39, $43M. Fail
Booker: 49, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 27, $30M. Fail
Paul: 30, $28M. Pass
Craig: 24, $5M. Pass

No other Suns player hit 16 minutes, but both Okogie and Biz were at 15 so just for fun..

Okogie: 12, $2M. Pass
Biyombo: 16, $2M. Pass

[Flagrant Fowl]

Kawhi is the best player through 5 quarters and it's really not close.

He looks like MJ right now. Both ends, just unreal. Good enough to win a title if George comes back.

He’s been fantastic but he can’t beat us alone.

KD won the second quarter and Booker the second half, so as it stands now: Kawhi 5 - Suns 3.

[Superbone]

Booker is completely in his own head.

TO THE TUNE OF 38 POINTS AND 9 ASSISTS!!!

[Flagrant Fowl]

Booker is completely in his own head.

TO THE TUNE OF 38 POINTS AND 9 ASSISTS!!!

I wasn't doubting him, but I was certainly worried. Some pretty boneheaded stuff from him in the first half.

[Superbone]

GREAT end to the half; Suns tie it up. Let's go guys!!

That is where it all turned. Let’s take this momentum into LA.

[Split T]

That 3 foot shot that he overshot by a full foot was certainly strange

[Split T]

We were 8 for 27 in game 1…so that seems like a big deal

[Wally_West]

Lmao perk is so bad. Yeah, Lue shouldn’t make any adjustments that could potentially win you a close game and take a commanding 2-0 lead going home, because it gives other team the ability to adjust to your adjustments later! So save it for later just in case.

[Flagrant Fowl]

How about ol' stubborn Monty sticking to the plan? It would've been pretty tough to win this game without Craig's contribution as a starter.

[Superbone]

Chill out guys, Russ is not going to score 17 points in the second half. We win this, have a little faith here in this team.

Just too many of the same mistakes. We might win but I don’t have a lot of faith right now.

It's not him scoring 17 it's the way he's doing it. Layups when you're playing off should not happen

He disappeared in the 2nd half.