Game Day: Suns (26-18) @ Pacers (25-20), Fri 1/26/24

[TOO]

Rebounds and defense are the biggest reasons this team will get stopped in the playoffs. Really need to address these issues.

[Nodack]

I thought it was a good game. If Booker doesn’t slip in the end there is a good chance we win and the mood would be different around here. That elbow to the face was hard to watch. Beal has had the worst luck this year. Reminds me of when Malone elbowed Joe Kleine.

[Nodack]

I wonder how much Booker not being voted to the All Star game by fans had to do with him going off.

I remember watching the Bulls in the playoffs many moons ago and the announcers said if there was a weakness in Jordan’s game it’s his 3pt shooting. The next game he came out bombing away from 3. I’m sure someone else remembers that that knows the date.

[Split T]

The key in this game is everyone but Book failed to step up. We had about a 10 point lead the whole game and then blew it in the 4th. Book came back with about 7 minutes to go and went 5/11 from the field in the 4th…the rest of the suns went 1/8. With Booker being doubled that’s inexcusable. Have to make shots against a scrambling defense and we couldn’t.

I thought the Big 3 played well. KD had 20 points on efficient 9/15 shooting; he could have had more but went out of his way to feed Book and focus on defense and facilitating instead (6 assists), which I think was a savvy decision. Beal had 12 points, not the greatest stat line, but the guy had his face smashed in and came back and played in the same game; what a warrior.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585264

I’m only speaking of the 4th Q when our offense couldn’t keep up. Indy switched up their defense so Book couldn’t just put them away and no one else stepped up. I do think Beal was probably impacted by his nose injury, but he still went 0-4 in that 4th Q.

[ShelC]

I wonder how much Booker not being voted to the All Star game by fans had to do with him going off.

I thought he might be trying the All-Star push too, but yesterday was also the day Kobe's helicopter crashed. That might've had something to do with him being locked in. He might've actually been trying for 80 or 81. Maybe Luka too but I know Book idolized Kobe. Or, he could've seen all the other guys scoring 50-60-70 this past week and wanted in on the action. Just sucks his 62 came in a loss and on the same night Luka had 73.

[Split T]

Booker was never getting voted in as a starter. His fan vote was way too low. He was 5th among players for guards. There’s no way the coaches leave him off.

28/7/5 on 50/39/88 splits for a .619 TS% is insane. And don’t even have the excuse that we are struggling. We’re 6th in the west. Should absolutely be ahead of Fox and Curry.

[Vladimir_Taltos]

While the turnovers, etc. hurt...imho, Nuric being limited to 20 minutes was the biggest issue. We were outboarded 48-38...my bet is if he was in a full 40, that's 43/43 more or less...and on that mix in boards, I think we win that game...

VT

[Nodack]

Booker becoming a pass first point guard to start the season and the Suns record probably had some to do with it. KD always gets voted in because he is a well known badass and winner. Be MVP of the Championship Booker and you will most likely get voted in by the fans.