Western Conference Round 2, Game 2: Suns (0-1) @ Nuggets (1-0), Mon 5/01/23

[Superbone]

Big game for us. Not a must-win, but we need to show a better effort and make it clear that we aren't going to be dominated by these guys. I posted about this in the other thread, but the two biggest adjustments I want to see are: start Craig, and play Landale as our backup center. Other than that, I really hope they shoot more 3s than they did in Game 1.

Plus Payne first off the bench and no Shamet, dammit.

[Superbone]

I don't know that there's a big difference between Craig and Okogie. Both need as much time on Murray as possible. Maybe Craig gives another rebounder in the starting lineup to help with Jokic.

We need to get everyone involved offensively throughout the game, namely CP. We've starting running KD and Book at point early in the games while CP stands and watches in the corner. Then the opposite happens later in the game - CP runs PnR with DA while KD and Book watch.

I agree that Jock needs more time. He can score the garbage buckets inside and be a threat from the outside. I also might try him at PF next to DA if the matchups workout so we can get another big body in the lane to rebound. We just don't have a lot of 6-9 230lb guys to matchup with AG/MPJ/Green.

Also think we need Payne and at least one of TJ and Ross out there for offense. The Nuggets don't have any shotblockers so a guy like Payne should be able to get whatever he wants at the rim. Book was getting to the basket easily, maybe by design; we just can't match 2s with their 3s. Hopefully Book has his legs back a bit tonight. Thought he was dragging in Game 1 and that might've been why he wasn't pulling from 3 like we're used to seeing.

Agreed on Craig/Okogie. Pretty much interchangeable but Okogie is the better defender.

[Superbone]

We don’t need Jock and we don’t need Biz unless DA gets in foul trouble. When Jokic is on DA should be on. When he’s off we should go small with KD or Craig at the 5

Have you been watching Ayton? Apparently not.

[Superbone]

Was thinking about it this morning and Ayton is just stuck between two types of bigs. He sees himself in the same world as the Embiid and Jokic types on offense and we want him to be a Allen/Capela/Looney type. The dirt worker. He can play in both worlds a little bit but he’s not great at either. I think most of us would just prefer he give up the Embiid dreams and just focus on being the best version of Allen/Capela/Looney. Looney just pulled down 20+ boards 3 times against the Kings. That’s what we want.

We have the scoring, we don’t need him to score. We need him to control the boards, get our much better offensive players more shots, stop Denver from getting more shots and make it hard for them to score at the rim.

Just imagine if DA decided he wasn’t going to care at all about offensive touches, he was just going to set screens, roll to the rim, crash the offensive glass with ferocity, run back in transition, and play his hardest on D. He’d be exactly what this team needs and the frustrating thing is he’s perfectly capable of doing that. He just doesn’t want to. No post ups and no calling for the ball unless he’s got Bruce Brown or Jamal Murray on him.

I don’t completely blame him as I get that he wants to utilize his skills, but that’s why he needs to be moved this summer. Give me the Capela/Allen/Looney that would be content playing the role we need and I’ll take the salary savings and use them elsewhere for more depth.

I wish we could go to Ayton and say, give us this for this playoff run and we’ll move you in the summer to a place that will let you play the way you want.

I agree with a lot of that but he could also add his touch around the basket. Concentrate on defense and rebounding for sure though.

[Superbone]

The Deandre Ayton game?

[Superbone]

Now that I'm retired, I'm going to try something new tonight and stay up with the action and post during commercial breaks. Watch out!

[Superbone]

[djy2j]

DA said this will be a different team tonight so we got that going for us If ""talking about it" was a seasonal award he and Dillon Brooks would contend for it every season. Actually show me something DA.

[Mori Chu]

And yet Shamet doesn't have the same rope. Clank a few 3's and throw a bad pass? No worries, you'll get a few more minutes and then return to the game during clutch time! Must be the curls in his hair that Monty longs for.

I mean, hey, you rail Monty's daughter and you get some playoff minutes.

[Kryptonic]

DA said this will be a different team tonight so we got that going for us If ""talking about it" was a seasonal award he and Dillon Brooks would contend for it every season. Actually show me something DA.

We all have seen what DA's capable of... So tired of all of his talk, it's time to put up or shut up. We need to win this game or I could see Denver taking the "Suns in 4" if we lose this.

[AmareIsGod]

And yet Shamet doesn't have the same rope. Clank a few 3's and throw a bad pass? No worries, you'll get a few more minutes and then return to the game during clutch time! Must be the curls in his hair that Monty longs for.

I mean, hey, you rail Monty's daughter and you get some playoff minutes.

Is this something that actually happened? It's no wonder he gets to play when he's so bad.

[Superbone]

DA said this will be a different team tonight so we got that going for us If ""talking about it" was a seasonal award he and Dillon Brooks would contend for it every season. Actually show me something DA.

PLEASE!!! We're begging you. SHOW us!

[Superbone]

And yet Shamet doesn't have the same rope. Clank a few 3's and throw a bad pass? No worries, you'll get a few more minutes and then return to the game during clutch time! Must be the curls in his hair that Monty longs for.

I mean, hey, you rail Monty's daughter and you get some playoff minutes.

Is this something that actually happened? It's no wonder he gets to play when he's so bad.

No.

[Mori Chu]

I was joking. Monty once spoke highly of Shamet's character and said he was the type of man he'd want to date his daughter someday, or something like that. So it's turned into a running gag about how any FA we sign has to be daughter-banging material, etc.

[specialsauce]

And yet Shamet doesn't have the same rope. Clank a few 3's and throw a bad pass? No worries, you'll get a few more minutes and then return to the game during clutch time! Must be the curls in his hair that Monty longs for.

I mean, hey, you rail Monty's daughter and you get some playoff minutes.

Is this something that actually happened? It's no wonder he gets to play when he's so bad.

No.

Rumor is he shot his shot real fast but missed

[Gladiator]

Not quite a must win but the closest thing to it. This series could get ugly quickly if we don’t put up a better showing here but we have our noses in front if we win. High stakes, as it should be in the playoffs.
I feel like we missed a lot of shots we normally make in the second quarter which even with everything else we didn’t do, would have made it closer in game 1. So make the easy ones and rebound like maniacs and see where that takes us. Go Suns!!

[Superbone]

And yet Shamet doesn't have the same rope. Clank a few 3's and throw a bad pass? No worries, you'll get a few more minutes and then return to the game during clutch time! Must be the curls in his hair that Monty longs for.

I mean, hey, you rail Monty's daughter and you get some playoff minutes.

Is this something that actually happened? It's no wonder he gets to play when he's so bad.

No.

Rumor is he shot his shot real fast but missed

It was a frozen rope.

[JeremyG]

We don’t need Jock and we don’t need Biz unless DA gets in foul trouble. When Jokic is on DA should be on. When he’s off we should go small with KD or Craig at the 5

Have you been watching Ayton? Apparently not.

Jokic hit one field goal over Ayton the entire game.

[JeremyG]

One of the funniest tweets I’ve seen

My biggest fear is Shamet hits 4 three-pointers tonight and Monty plays him every game the rest of the postseason.

[Superbone]

One of the funniest tweets I’ve seen

My biggest fear is Shamet hits 4 three-pointers tonight and Monty plays him every game the rest of the postseason.

If he does and we win, I'm fine with that.