Game Day: Jazz (45-17) @ Suns (44-18), Fri 4/30/21

[Wally_West]

Love this team

[jonh]

Jalen Smith was chasing shots like he was Devin Booker in a blowout. What a satisfying game.

[LazarusLong]

Stix with 7 ... game ball!

[Wally_West]

Yeeeesssszzzirrrrr mUTHA F@$#€!|\

[Mori Chu]

Best record in the league. YES SIRRRR MF'ERS!!!!

[carey]

What!?!?!

[Cap]

[JeremyG]

With the Lakers loss, the Suns just clinched a top 4 seed and homecourt advantage in the first round!

[Superbone]

Does Book even play in the 4th?

No. CP3 either.

[Superbone]

JALEN SMITH!!!

Gotta be his career high, right?

[Superbone]

WOW! #1 in the entire NBA! Unbelievable! With 9 games to go. None of us could imagine this before the season started.

[Nodack]

WOW! #1 in the entire NBA! Unbelievable! With 9 games to go. None of us could imagine this before the season started.

I certainly didn’t. I thought squeak into the playoffs and get a little experience. Baby steps. I never even dreamed being #1. We better freaking enjoy it.

[England Sun]

Took a photo on my phone of the standing for my posterity!!
Been a looooooooong time coming.
Love it.

[Democritus]

First in the NBA!!! This fuc.ing miraculous. But who is the MVP?

[ShelC]

[Split T]

I’m starting to believe we could actually win the title this year. I’ve considered us a contender for awhile, but I’m starting to get a different feeling about this team...It’s gonna be a fun ride!

[jonh]

At this point, I’d actually be a little disappointed do not make the Western Conference finals – what a crazy change in expectations from last year.

[bajanguy008]

Mooooorninggg

So how's that Concern about Mikal bar looking ?
The numbers will never blow you away well not as things are currently set up. As usual I haven't even looked at the box score yet, just check game flow and tendencies.

Last game we ran a rare set play off the inbounds that Mikal slipped the pick and went to the basket for an And1. I was fussy, then he did a dribble step back on Paul George obviously surprising him and I smiled again. Again can't remember how much he scored but I saw it as growth

Then last night Mikal comes out with two step back 3s in the first quarter. When have we seen that ? To me it's clear to see the progressions and it seems like most nights that still just ends up 16pts or whatever but we don't run plays for him so I think we have to factor in usage rate.

I get the concern about the single digit games sometimes and there have been some cold shooting nights here and there but Mikal has made lots of timely baskets during key runs and end of game. My biggest observation like with most young pros is confidence, a Mikal single digit game last season most usually was an afraid to shoot and that was concerning for sure. The hesitating and hitch were all tied in but his whole demeanor has noticeably changed. Every game now he's animated with the high fives going back to the bench after we make a run and telling everyone "Come on!! Let's go!! and against the Knicks he even added in a they Can't F'kin guard me which had me like Mikal ???

So yea I be looking at different little nuances and I just see a kid continuing to grow and doesn't look to be shying away from the moment as the stakes increase. Mikal still obviously has to get stronger so I don't see him consistently taking ppl off the bounce especially physical defenders but still think we can run a couple more things for him like the curl cut coming across the paint that let's him use his pull up that he's very efficient at.

Interestingly enough, our first play of the game was for him instead of the pin down for Book and I will say it worked out well . As always when I get going on a post, forgive me for the length of it

[bajanguy008]

Had to split up my post for obvious reasons when you see the length of the one above.

Had to big up my boy Mikal but I will be honest and say that my other Avatar Bro does have me a little concerned. Again the stats are there for everyone to see and aren't ideal but just like I said with Mikal. Last year you saw the shooting slumps and the concern was the kid looks like he lost his confidence and that's my thing with Cam.

He's a fairly stoic kid so not like he every gets that emotional so he's kinda hard to read but right now he looks like he's shooting because the team Trusts and Encourages him to more than because he Expects to Score. Yea so if I'm feeling good about Mikal cause I like his body language n confidence, I need Cam to shake this rut he's in

I personally think he gets fouled on some of his drives although that will come. I've also heard him a couple times Wasn't that a foul ? and he just shakes his head and again me psychoanalyzing..... I'm letting it fly can't get a shot to drop, taking it to the rim when they chase me off the line and can't get a call. So yea he definitely is struggling, I still believe in his skillset, think his defense and rebounding is underrated especially as boxing out and tips to teammates are not recording in the box score.

Awful truth is an avg player with the world of confidence would be more effective than a good player low on confidence. So no Kool-Aid take from me this time, I hope he can find his rhythm

[Split T]

Mikal was awesome last night! He and Booker came out on fire and really just buried the Jazz from the start...That Bridges step back 3 was beautiful!

I know we caught the Jazz short handed, but I’m still not worried about them at all as a playoff opponent. I doubt we face them, but I don’t think we’d have any problem with them. I just don’t know how they defend us. They’d have to just out shoot is for 4 games...and they’ve managed exactly 0 good shooting nights against us in 3 tries this year. I don’t see it happening. LA teams and Denver, even without Murray, are tougher matchups for us.