Game Day Playoff Edition: Lakers (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Sun 5/23/21

[ShelC]

DA can't not bring the ball to his knees and get it stripped. You'd think he'd learn by now.

[Split T]

Well we are punishing them when Lebron sits...that’s good

[ShelC]

The Booker dunk turned the energy around, nice follow by DA off the Mikal miss.

[virtual9mm]

These boys have some guts. And holy shit don't get Booker angry.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Ayton, please stop holding the ball around your knees. Thanks.

[ShelC]

Paul is back and checking back in. Looked like it could've been a stinger?

[Flagrant Fowl]

[Split T]

Lakers getting a lot of ticky tack calls...not really a surprise

[Flagrant Fowl]

Fucking 8-on-5 right now.

[virtual9mm]

WTF was that

[Flagrant Fowl]

Paul isn't right. He hesitated and passed on that open 3.

[Split T]

Book looks good!

[virtual9mm]

Paul isn't right. He hesitated and passed on that open 3.

You see him trying a few short jumpers? Was systematically off to his left. I don't think he will be 100% for a while.

[Split T]

17 to 0 on free throw attempts

[Flagrant Fowl]

Lakers with 17 FTA, Suns with 0. You know, nothing to see here, right NBA?

[virtual9mm]

In spite of everything, the Suns are up by 8. And most importantly, we now know what playoff Booker and Ayton look like. I am liking what I am seeing regardless of what happens this series.

[Mori Chu]

Pretty happy with that first half overall, minus any potential ongoing injury to Paul (who still doesn't look 100% out there). Ayton having a great game with 14 points on 7-8 shooting along with 6 boards. Booker has 17 points and had that great dunk to get the team fired up. Paul doing the best he can with his injury and has 6 assists. I'm really pleased with Bridges's defense on Lebron and general hustle. Cam's hit a couple of big 3s.

We may need more from Payne in the second half if Paul is not healthy.

Anthony Davis shooting only 3-9 and has only 1 rebound...

[virtual9mm]

Lakers with 17 FTA, Suns with 0. You know, nothing to see here, right NBA?

Damn, that bad, eh? And they were pushing the Suns around, too.

[Flagrant Fowl]

So pretty much everything went well minus Paul's injury and the FTA disparity.

The Lakers/Warriors game was only a few days ago and I clearly remember that one flipping at the start of the third quarter when the Lakers went up a level defensively. They forced Curry into turnovers and got a lot of easy buckets.

Ayton is still the key in this game. He needs to maintain focus in the third and the Suns need to get same damn foul calls with him in the paint.

[Wally_West]