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

[Wally_West]

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.

I feel like 9/10 times it’s usually the fans fault when these type interactions happen.

[Wally_West]

There’s lot of reasons why this team lost tonight but playing with a limp dick for most of the 1st half was basically the game. You just can’t be doing that in playoff games.

[The Bobster]

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.

Not playing competitively up until the end of the year can bite you in the ass sometimes. Or did they forget last year?

[Uncle_Gene]

The bench production was nowhere to be found.

Suns can't afford to have another cold start Game 2.

[TOO]

The depth stinks, they can't score, been that way all year. If they big 4 aren't perfect, it's gonna be tough going. Ayton and Paul were trash, bench was trash, gotta better than that. Suns have needed a flamethrower off the bench for YEARS, never went and got it.

Booker and KD are tremendous players, but the rest of the role dudes gotta play their part. Especially the bigs.

[AmareIsGod]

Remember how over the past 10 seasons it's felt like we pursued Gordon? WTF ever happened with that? Is that going to be recurring every season until he retires? Painful watching his aging ass light us up beyond the arc.

[specialsauce]

This was ALL Monty.

Change The starting lineup on a whim????

KD gets 1 shot the final 6 minutes while CP3 insists on running the show??

Monty needs to stop sucking CP3s dick and start being his own man or get the fuck out.
He played ELEVEN GUYS. THREE CENTERS.

LANDRY SHAMET played 24 minutes. TJ WARREN ZERO!!!!! Okogie played SIX!!!!!!


Wtf you asshole shit coach.

[Wally_West]

[Wally_West]

[Split T]

Wasn’t on here during the game but was watching. One quick thing I’ll say is why exactly was CP3/Ayton pnr our bread and butter down the stretch? Those 2 seemed to be taking all the big shots and those are the wrong 2 guys.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Totally agree with the questionable choice of putting the ball in Paul/Ayton's hands down the stretch.

We've seen that attack be less effective than previous years for a whole season. It's also on KD to go and get the ball. He willingly gave it up twice down the stretch.

I don't know why they traded for KD if they're just going to play him like he's Mikal Bridges.

[TOO]

This was ALL Monty.

Change The starting lineup on a whim????

KD gets 1 shot the final 6 minutes while CP3 insists on running the show??

Monty needs to stop sucking CP3s dick and start being his own man or get the fuck out.
He played ELEVEN GUYS. THREE CENTERS.

LANDRY SHAMET played 24 minutes. TJ WARREN ZERO!!!!! Okogie played SIX!!!!!!


Wtf you asshole shit coach.

Can't argue with any of this. I didn't understand the lineup change, I certainly didn't get playing so many guys, with Okogie not being one of them. Just baffling decisions by Monty.

[SunsSince92]

This one is on Monty.

Changing the starting lineup at the last minute and playing Okogie 7 mins was bizarre. Shamet doesn't get 24 minutes if Payne plays, but playing him at all given his contribution in a Suns uniform is baffling. The guy just doesn't belong on a contending team. If Monty can't see that then perhaps he isn't the elite coach that people seem to think he is.

Ayton was Ayton. Say what you want about KD and Booker but our playoff success hinges on DA's performance. I'm still hoping he will turn into 2021 Ayton but it's looking increasingly like his current play is the most we'll get out of him.

On the plus side, if we had to split the first two games I'd much rather lose the first and win the second in the hope we can carry the momentum into game 3 in LA.

[JeremyG]

This one’s on Monty more than anyone. #FireMonty

I haven’t read any of this thread yet but I bet everyone’s blaming Ayton Ayton Ayton. Lol.

EDIT: Scrolling through I’m glad people are starting to wake up to Monty’s coaching.

[JeremyG]

[JeremyG]

It destroys what little continuity we have.

Seems a bit dramatic.

Nope.

[Shabazz]

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.

Craig has also really been thriving off the bench lately.

Ultimately, it’s not why we lost though. Or at least it’s not a top 10 reason. Paul’s middy bricks in the 4th were rough. DA was sooo soft on offense. Our offensive scheme was straight out of 2002 - iso heavy and not early enough 3 point attempts. Booker and Durant played too many minutes and, possibly related, were too passive in the 4th. Monty’s rotations were weak and the bench gave us zippo.

[Shabazz]

Damn.

I saw someone post that the Suns guy was the “counting money” guy from the 2021 playoffs. That dude can fuck right off.

[Flagrant Fowl]

It destroys what little continuity we have.

Seems a bit dramatic.

Nope.

It was dramatic.

Craig had a good game and I hope he starts again if he plays like that. The real issue was playing Landry Shamet 24 minutes.

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

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