Western Conference Round 1, Game Day: Clippers (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Sun 4/16/23

[Gladiator]

Argh. Losing to Russell Westbrook of all people. Got to hand it to him, though, for a great defensive play at the end of the game.

Durant played 45 minutes and Booker played 43. Paul played 39. We get only one day of rest between this game and the next one. We'll need to come back with a better effort in Game 2 to get things back on track.

Our bench scoring was horrendous; nobody gave us more than 4 points off the bench. I thought Okogie would bring us a bit more but maybe not starting threw him off. Craig was great, though.

Agree with most of that but the rationale for Craig starting was to guard Leonard, who got 38 points on 13/24 shooting so didn’t work from that perspective

[Wally_West]

If Torrey starting then Okogie, Ross, TJ should be the bench. KD at center. Having shooting and people that can create their own shot in Ross and TJ. Ross will be hunted but if he gets it going you can survive those minutes. TJ defense was pretty good before he got sick.

KD played 45 minutes. He has to get a rest at some point.

Okay?? I’m mostly saying Okogie, Ross and TJ should be playing over Ish and Shamet and that those players would better next KD at center. Mixing Jock and Biz is fine but maybe not next to Ish-Okogie. Needs to be players that can shoot and create their own shot, Ross and TJ.

[ShelC]

We need Ross' scoring because he can match what Gordon, Powell and Mann can bring but you gotta live with the misses and defense. Monty doesn't trust him it seems.

Jock was great, our most effective center and the kind of hustle big you need against the Clips but too many times it was just KD and Book out there, especially in the 1st half. I'm fine letting Westbrook shoot it, we shouldn't even be near him on the perimeter but have to box him out.

DA was shit. Absolute shit. I'm honestly curious if he smoked a blunt before the game because that's how he played.

[Wally_West]

The next 48hrs is gonna be insufferable ugh

[Flagrant Fowl]

Argh. Losing to Russell Westbrook of all people. Got to hand it to him, though, for a great defensive play at the end of the game.

Durant played 45 minutes and Booker played 43. Paul played 39. We get only one day of rest between this game and the next one. We'll need to come back with a better effort in Game 2 to get things back on track.

Our bench scoring was horrendous; nobody gave us more than 4 points off the bench. I thought Okogie would bring us a bit more but maybe not starting threw him off. Craig was great, though.

Agree with most of that but the rationale for Craig starting was to guard Leonard, who got 38 points on 13/24 shooting so didn’t work from that perspective

Nothing was going to work on Kawhi tonight.

[Flagrant Fowl]

If Torrey starting then Okogie, Ross, TJ should be the bench. KD at center. Having shooting and people that can create their own shot in Ross and TJ. Ross will be hunted but if he gets it going you can survive those minutes. TJ defense was pretty good before he got sick.

KD played 45 minutes. He has to get a rest at some point.

Okay?? I’m mostly saying Okogie, Ross and TJ should be playing over Ish and Shamet and that those players would better next KD at center. Mixing Jock and Biz is fine but maybe not next to Ish-Okogie. Needs to be players that can shoot and create their own shot, Ross and TJ.

I hear ya. They really needed Cam Payne to put pressure on the rim, which is kind of ridiculous.

[AmareIsGod]

Cam Payne is made of glass or something. Always injured.

[Flagrant Fowl]

DA was shit. Absolute shit. I'm honestly curious if he smoked a blunt before the game because that's how he played.

There's a very clear book on him now going back to at least the Mavs series, defend him with someone smaller and more physical.

Rebounding wise, it's pretty easy. Centers put their ass into him and he just tries to out jump them and tip the ball around. It all goes back to physicality. He doesn't want much to do with it.

[Wally_West]

Great game from Craig but I feel like he would’ve been great regardless if starting or coming off the bench. He is in the role he’s supposed to be in. We were 8-0 with Okogie starting, switching the lineup last second, just seemed insecure on Monty’s part, regardless of the thought behind.

Okogie is a great offensive rebounder and brings intensity, something the “big 4” seem to miss sometimes. Okogie was playing good as a 5th starter, pushing him into a bench role, a role he hasn’t been playing in months, just wasn’t a sound decision to me.

[The Bobster]

Their not addressing their lack of depth after the trade is biting them in the ass. They should have picked up another servicible point guard somewhere, and no more one-dimensional swing men please. Guys like Shamet, Ross, Okogie and Wainright just don't contribute enough to justify giving them playoff minutes.

[Flagrant Fowl]

As I said when the starting lineup was announced, who finishes the game is more important. Shamet finishing over Okogie and Craig was not ideal. The Suns aren't winning this series if he's playing 24 minutes a game.

[AmareIsGod]

Shamet is terrible. He needs to GTFO.

[Wally_West]

As I said when the starting lineup was announced, who finishes the game is more important. Shamet finishing over Okogie and Craig was not ideal. The Suns aren't winning this series if he's playing 24 minutes a game.

Fucking gross man. I don’t understand his love affair with Shamet. It’s two years of this shit.

[Furlanfufi]

What an atrocious defensive effort on the 4th quarter. We know they love to shoot 3s and gave open look after open look.

The rebounding, argh.

We wasted a great Booker effort, and a great Torrey game.

[Wally_West]

3-19?!??
Ugh. We need to get our shit together. Fuck.

[Wally_West]

Damn.

[Wally_West]

[Flagrant Fowl]

The way the guy in the white hat is shaking his head leads me to believe the old man with a beer on the sofa was out of line to start.

[Superbone]

Get DA's ass out of the game smfh.

Bout to post just that. Just zero motor with this guy no matter the circumstances

We couldn't get an offensive rebound to save our lives and that's what killed us. Now, we have to win game two and at least one of the next two on the road.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Not playing a competitive game for about 2 weeks could've had something to do with the slow start. Definitely some defensive mental lapses and being unnecessarily patient on the offensive side.

The last time I got angry with Chris Paul he put together a nice run of games. He had better do it again or we're fucked.