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

[Wally_West]

If CP really out for the series then he’ll probably just retire at the end of the season.

[Gladiator]

We are 5point favourites with the bookies for game three which I don’t really get

[Wally_West]

Waiting for these type of performances, man. Gonna need them if we’re gonna tie.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Suns can't go into next season with CP as the starting PG making $40M. It's just negligent. He's totally washed and can't be counted on to last through 2 months of playoff games. We went from the best PG rotation in the NBA 1.5 years ago to a bottom 5 one. Cam Payne fucking sucks. He can go too.

$30M, but it might as well be $40M if they hold onto him for another year.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Waiting for these type of performances, man. Gonna need them if we’re gonna tie.

Also related to your previous post..

It's been there at times, but not nearly enough or even remotely amount that I expected. I wouldn't put too much stock in this game though. Losing Paul in that moment was a killer and totally changed the game.

[JeremyG]

Why we trade for KD if he just wants to stand around and shit. Can we do more to pass to him? Sure but his ass needs to be fuckin assertive. When we do pass to him, his ass just passes back out. Where are these legendary KD play off games?? Wtf.

He did shoot 27 times...problem is, he only made 10.

[JeremyG]

Need Ayton back out there

[JeremyG]

Well we might live at the line, I like that

Not exactly.

[JeremyG]

Well, at least we only have to wait three excruciating days until Game 3.

Four days to be exact.

[JeremyG]

Need to waive and stretch him unfortunately. Sad ending to the CP3 era…

Not if a player demands a trade or perhaps even a S&T...could still include him in a trade to upgrade.

[SunsSince92]

Tough loss.

I can't wait to see Monty come up with the masterstroke of inserting Shamet into the starting lineup to replace CP3 on Friday......

On the bright side, maybe this will force his hand into utilising Warren or Ross in some capacity.

[Superbone]

Well, at least we only have to wait three excruciating days until Game 3.

Four days to be exact.

Three days we don’t play. But you knew that.

[Wally_West]

Hopefully we get see one of these type of performances. Preferably in these playoffs.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Ayton played well, like everyone has said. KD saying they'll need to build off of his energy in the middle of a playoff series is painfully comical.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I love the confidence, but I objectively don't see it. However, this is the biggest reason why I don't think they'll get swept. Booker doesn't want that on his resume.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Game 1

Durant: 48, $44M. Pass
Booker: 42, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 22, $31M. Fail
Paul: 17, $28M. Fail
Okogie: 6, $2M. Pass
Craig: 8, $5M. Pass

Game 2

Durant: 38 , $44M. Fail
Booker: 46, $34M. Pass
Ayton: 29, $31M. Fail
Paul: 19, $28M. Fail
Okogie: 3, $2M. Pass
Lee: 8, $2M. Pass
Payne: 5, $6M. Fail

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

Spoiler: show/hide

[ShelC]

Really tough loss, kind of a fluke game with the way the refs were calling (or not calling) fouls and the terrible shooting by both teams, but especially our guys.

The entire team raised its effort level and DA looked like 2021 DA again. If even one of our roleplayers hits a 3 here or there, we win. Unfortunately, it was KCP who broke out in the 4th and gave them the 3s they needed. I don't expect KD to go 2-33 from 3 again. Lee had good looks that didn't fall but I really liked his energy and hustle. Okogie and Craig can just as easily go 6-7 from that corner 3 spot but both were ice cold again. Payne didn't do much but he's been out of the loop so long I didn't have high expectations. I'd still much rather roll with him and Lee getting minutes over Shamet but I think Shamet will be back getting minutes with CP out.

I'm expecting CP to be out for at least a few games. The writing's on the wall with him. We fell apart at the end without him organizing things and keeping the ball moving. Turned into Book and KD taking turns and both guys were tired when the game was on the line.

I don't have any problems with KD, he's putting up his numbers and sharing shots with Book. In that 49 point Nets game, the only other threat was Harden who went 1-10. He's logging a lot of minutes right now and is 36. I think a lot of our guys will look better in Phoenix.

Overall I liked a lot of the new wrinkles on offense and defense. We kept Murray and the roleplayers out of the game for the most part, defended Jokic well even though he had a big game. Bottom line is that our roleplayers need to hit shots.

[The Bobster]

Here we are two games into the seond round and Monty has no fucking clue what he's doing with his bench.

This team has some serious issues when it comes to roster construction, and Monty's inability to define roles certainly hasn't helped.

[Split T]

The KD trade threw off the roster construction. And I haven’t loved what Monty has done with the bench, but I very single one of them have been bad. Whether we play 3 bad guys all the bench minutes or 6 guys those minutes, they have all sucked so not sure it is impacting anything.

I’d try out Warren and Ross, but I get why they aren’t playing. He did at least bench Shamet. There’s just not really a good option. I’d consider putting Craig back in the starting lineup to see if that jumpstarts his offense that has gone mia since the Clippers series.

The bench just sucks though and with CP3 out now, it’s gonna get worse.

I think I’d use the injury to start Okogie and Craig though. Start out with point Book and keep Payne on the bench. Now you can keep Book/KD on MPJ/KCP