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

[Flagrant Fowl]

Wtf man. Westbrook been dog shit all year at shooting, now he’s Jamal Murray. Fuckin bs man lol

Hey, let the man feel good while he's heading into his offseason. He does put in the effort.

I'd take him off the bench over every other player we've got there, just saying.

The funny thing is this series will make everyone forget how bad he was trying to play within a team concept where he isn’t the focal point.

Hence the microwave role I'd have for him. Just go out and play balls out for 20 minutes a night while the big guns rest. Sign me up.

You're not the first to have this idea and it hasn't worked. The thing that's made him a Hall of Fame player is his ego. You're not getting this version of Westbrook playing him off of the bench for 20mpg.

[JeremyG]

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

I did:

We have two roster spots open so we can’t be done.

Buy-out market.

Any interesting names to you? Maybe Will Barton?

Do we know for sure that KD didn’t want to team up with Westbrook again?

[JeremyG]

Hey, let the man feel good while he's heading into his offseason. He does put in the effort.

I'd take him off the bench over every other player we've got there, just saying.

The funny thing is this series will make everyone forget how bad he was trying to play within a team concept where he isn’t the focal point.

Hence the microwave role I'd have for him. Just go out and play balls out for 20 minutes a night while the big guns rest. Sign me up.

You're not the first to have this idea and it hasn't worked. The thing that's made him a Hall of Fame player is his ego. You're not getting this version of Westbrook playing him off of the bench for 20mpg.

You can't tell me he wouldn't be better than Shamet.

[JeremyG]

Haha Paul and the Ayton with just an awful start to the 3rd. Gonna do something else now, tired of watching this team fight itself.

Dude. Seriously? You're going to quit watching a playoff game? Hope you didn't miss all the fun.

I can only handle so much with the game and a suped up toddler lol. I chose the kid over the game.

Don’t need that toddler picking up a slew of new curse words from dad watching the game lol

Ha. Luckily my sons grew up in the Steve Nash era. That was special.

There had to have been a lot of curse words during the Nash-era playoffs.

[Mori Chu]

Didn't get time to post much during/right after the game. Quick thoughts: Book and KD are nasty good. KD seems like he can just sort of show up and walk his way into 30 points every game. It's crazy how easy he makes it look. Booker is also just absolutely on fire this playoffs. If they keep playing like this, who knows what our ceiling is.

Credit where it's due, Ayton had a nice game. Ended up with 15 points and 13 rebounds and generally was making a positive contribution. I'm very content if he delivers games like this. I don't expect him to be a go-to guy on offense, but consistency, great defense, good finishing on simple offensive plays are what I want to see. Paul also had a really nice game. That circus shot to beat the shot clock kind of summed it up. He hit a couple of timely 3s, too. Basically our whole starting 5 delivered, plus Okogie and Biz and Lee to lesser degrees were solid in their minutes.

Another post in this thread pointed out that the Clips, even without PG13 and Kawhi, still have one of the best defenses in the NBA. We may find that we get better looks and easier baskets against the Nugs in the next round. I'm looking forward to that.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'd take him off the bench over every other player we've got there, just saying.

The funny thing is this series will make everyone forget how bad he was trying to play within a team concept where he isn’t the focal point.

Hence the microwave role I'd have for him. Just go out and play balls out for 20 minutes a night while the big guns rest. Sign me up.

You're not the first to have this idea and it hasn't worked. The thing that's made him a Hall of Fame player is his ego. You're not getting this version of Westbrook playing him off of the bench for 20mpg.

You can't tell me he wouldn't be better than Shamet.

Westbrook and 99% of the league would be better than Shamet right now.

[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

I did:

We have two roster spots open so we can’t be done.

Buy-out market.

Any interesting names to you? Maybe Will Barton?

Do we know for sure that KD didn’t want to team up with Westbrook again?

Well I meant no teams wanted him

[djy2j]

The Shamet obsession continues. Literally not even an NBA caliber player.

He literally is.

So I'm totally happy the Suns won. But realistically, Shamet, he's been terrible for however many seasons he's been with the Suns. He wouldn't play on any other NBA team with his production

[Superbone]

I think I’m gonna check out for 20 minutes and see how we’re doing later

You too? Sad. You guys give up easily. I'm disappointed in you two.

I didn’t end up checking out haha

Glad to hear it!

[Superbone]

The Shamet obsession continues. Literally not even an NBA caliber player.

He literally is.

So I'm totally happy the Suns won. But realistically, Shamet, he's been terrible for however many seasons he's been with the Suns. He wouldn't play on any other NBA team with his production

I know. It's been bad. Just messing with you on your use of "literally." He's playing in NBA games so he is literally an NBA player. He would probably at least make somebody's bench so that till constitutes an NBA caliber player even if you don't even play.

[SunsSince92]

I like what Lee is giving us right now.

He gave us a triple single in 14 minutes: 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

As with Okogie, his contribution isn't always reflected in the stat line. He was hustling and making some smart plays.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I like what Lee is giving us right now.

He gave us a triple single in 14 minutes: 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

As with Okogie, his contribution isn't always reflected in the stat line. He was hustling and making some smart plays.

Yeah, but what about running mileage?
Or at least is friends with Mikal?

[Mori Chu]

I calculated how many centimeters he ran and it's HUGE. Also @golee12984752389 says he is cool. Checkmate, Monty.