Western Conference Round 1, Game 4: Suns (2-1) @ Clippers (1-2), Saturday 4/22/23

[Split T]

Thank you Book

[Flagrant Fowl]

Every Suns fan held their breath on that Booker drive.

[Wally_West]

I think we have to accept this truth. Paul is every other game player. Lol

[Flagrant Fowl]

I think we have to accept this truth. Paul is every other game player. Lol

Same is probably true for Ayton.

[Mori Chu]

YES SIR MOTHER FUCKERS!!!

[Split T]

I think we have to accept this truth. Paul is every other game player. Lol

We could really use Payne for those other games.

[Kryptonic]

I think we have to accept this truth. Paul is every other game player. Lol

Same is probably true for Ayton.

Yup…. But with him it’s far less acceptable. Cp3 is towards the end of his career, aytons in the first 1/3 of his (I can see him playing 15 years) and a long way off from dealing with the effects of aging.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Game 1

Durant: 26pt, 11ast, 9reb, 1stl, 2blk for a total of 49, which is more than his $44M salary. Pass
Booker: 37, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 25, $31M. Fail
Paul: 30, $28M. Pass
Craig: 28, $5M. Pass
Shamet: 7, $9M. Fail

Game 2

Durant: 39, $44M. Fail
Booker: 49, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 27, $31M. Fail
Paul: 30, $28M. Pass
Craig: 24, $5M. Pass

No other Suns player hit 16 minutes, but both Okogie and Biz were at 15 so just for fun..

Okogie: 12, $2M. Pass
Biyombo: 16, $2M. Pass

Game 3

Durant: 41, $44M. Fail
Booker: 59, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 24, $31M. Fail
Paul: 28, $28M. Push
Craig: 21, $5M. Pass
Okogie: 16, $2M. Pass

Game 4

Durant: 48, $44M. Pass
Booker: 49, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 33, $31M. Pass (WOOHOO!!!)
Paul: 38, $28M. Pass
Craig: 14, $5M. Pass
Okogie: 12, 2M. Pass

[carey]

Huge sigh of relief. It would have been disastrous to lose that game. Strange that you think it's a bad shooting night for Booker & he goes for 30 on 20 shots.

[ShelC]

Really good win and important for us to go up 3-1. As dangerous as the Clips have been, we've been able to outexecute them for better offense. They're living and dying with the 3, with some Westbrook drives mixed in. There's never any consistent offense tho and if these have been their best shots against us, we're looking pretty good.

I was very worried about CP in the 1st half but he did his thing again in the 4th. Just crazy how he can go from total zero to looking like prime CP in just a few minutes.

I thought KD looked tired in the 4th so the minutes might be catching up on him. Book looks like he can play 48 minutes of every game. He's just getting whatever he wants out there and his defense is still fantastic.

Great minutes from Okogie again. He should've been playing from the start of the series and is maybe the one guy who's bothering Westbrook a little bit. Great energy on the boards, contesting shots, and just flying around the ball. He's also playing within himself and not forcing offense which can be tough for some roleplayers.

We're still not all the way there yet and the offense is rough when it's just KD or Book with the bench guys. Monty's gotta figure out some offense in those situations.

[Superbone]

First to 100, bitches!

[Furlanfufi]

My concern is that we struggled to beat the Clippers twice without their best players.
Our offense at least should be better.

[Kryptonic]

Game 1

Durant: 26pt, 11ast, 9reb, 1stl, 2blk for a total of 49, which is more than his $44M salary. Pass
Booker: 37, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 25, $31M. Fail
Paul: 30, $28M. Pass
Craig: 28, $5M. Pass
Shamet: 7, $9M. Fail

Game 2

Durant: 39, $44M. Fail
Booker: 49, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 27, $31M. Fail
Paul: 30, $28M. Pass
Craig: 24, $5M. Pass

No other Suns player hit 16 minutes, but both Okogie and Biz were at 15 so just for fun..

Okogie: 12, $2M. Pass
Biyombo: 16, $2M. Pass

Game 3

Durant: 41, $44M. Fail
Booker: 59, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 24, $31M. Fail
Paul: 28, $28M. Push
Craig: 21, $5M. Pass
Okogie: 16, $2M. Pass

Game 4

Durant: 48, $44M. Pass
Booker: 49, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 33, $31M. Pass (WOOHOO!!!)
Paul: 38, $28M. Pass
Craig: 14, $5M. Pass
Okogie: 12, 2M. Pass

WOOHOO for Ayton! Winner winner, chicken dinner!

[Superbone]

Bless the Clippers little hearts. They gave it their all. Hard to compete with 3 Hall of Famers especially when they’re missing their two best players.

How about that Paul HORSE shot?! LOL. I was wondering how Paul would do after the short turnaround from game 3 and he way passed expectation.

And Book and Durant did their thing. 3-1. Yes!

OK, going back to read through the thread…

[Superbone]

Ayton just being active man, makes such a difference. I can live with the gaffes so long as he's playing hard.

Yep, can’t complain today. Well done, Ayton.

[MightyMoog]

Now we get a couple of days off. If we can get Payne back for the next game that would be great. I think we just went up against one of the better defenses in the league. We’ll have work to do on the defensive end against the Nuggets offense, but the offense should start to flow more.

[JeremyG]

WTF is wrong with Ayton's hands?

He has had 3 fingers heavily taped for a long time. He should probably just untape them if it's hurting more than helping.

[JeremyG]

Now we get a couple of days off. If we can get Payne back for the next game that would be great. I think we just went up against one of the better defenses in the league. We’ll have work to do on the defensive end against the Nuggets offense, but the offense should start to flow more.

It sounded like Payne will be ready to come back for Game 5.

[Kryptonic]

WTF is wrong with Ayton's hands?

He has had 3 fingers heavily taped for a long time. He should probably just untape them if it's hurting more than helping.

Better yet, use double sided sticky tape to help the ball stay in his hands

[Split T]

I just don’t understand how Westbrook turned back the clock to 2013. Like the entire league thought he was dead. No one wanted him when he was cut. He was a buyout guy and he’s the best player on a playoff team right now. He might’ve been the best player on the court today. It’s insane