NBA Playoffs WCSF, Game 7: Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns (3-3), Sunday 15/05/22

[Sunsfan4life]

If I'm being honest I didn't expect to beat Golden State. Going into tonight I was prepared to get out to a lead and have Dallas comeback. I didn't see this coming...at....all

[Flagrant Fowl]

I pretty much feel numb right now.

I was numb after Game 6. I've already prepared myself for this.

I mean, I was too (to a certain extent). But there's no way you can tell me that any part of you expected *this*

Prepared for and expected are different. Game 4 is actually when I started to get worried. They had just been punked in Game 3 and were antipathetic to effort in Game 4.

If you think about it, it went back to the Pelican’s series.

Sort of. The only game that felt like it was Game 2 and I thought that Booker's injury shell shocked them a bit.

But I guess it could be argued their inability to galvanize themselves as the underdog in that situation was a bad sign.

[Superbone]

I feel like the Joker, just laughing at the pain.

I might finally watch The Batman tonight.

[Superbone]

Paul is done, he shouldn't even be out there, he's offering nothing. They should go with Point Book and Shamet and or Cam J.

You were right TOO. I admit it. Something happened to this team along the way as the regular season wound down. Major re-evaluations in the off-season.

There was no reason to finish the season the way we did, just lazy, no reason to go 6 with a 36 win team in round 1, they just lost their mojo. It's all gone, they looked like the prime Spurs til Cam J got hurt, then it all kinda went to shit

You’re right that that Knicks game where Cam went off was the end of the run. It all went downhill from there.

[Nodack]

I’m going to have Luka nightmares tonight in my sleep.

[Superbone]

Down 42 at the end of the 3rd, 92-50. I feel a comeback coming on.

Good call. I think we only lost by 33.

[Superbone]

All you guys that said CP3s minutes weren’t a problem are eating a ton of shit.

Rather CP3 is worn out. Or he fucking sucks when we need him the most. Not only is he ineffective playing. His leadership was trash. His entire team has forgotten their offensive system. Pure panic. And he’s not setting them up or settling them down.

Get this team fresh blood. CP3 gotta go or not be relied on so much. He can’t last a postseason and I don’t give two shits about regular season success.

Just pathetic showing. A failed season. Waste of time. Anyone that is okay with regular season success and makes an appreciation thread is part of this organizational problem of being bad for so long that participation trophies are okay. Meanwhile GS, LA, and other organizations just rack up championships every few years.

Dude, not the time. Don’t take it out on the fans.

[Superbone]

The way this is going, I am just hoping nobody gets an injury out there as we close out this absolute disaster.

Is this the worst defeat in Suns franchise history?

Yes.

[Superbone]

This is an epic, historical choke job

All true.

[Superbone]

Jason Kids outcoached Monte Williams.

Plain and simple !

There’s no doubt.

[JeremyG]

He’s gone

Yep.

Monty should be happy he wanted to stay in and compete.

And there was no reason to pull DA first, when he was one of the only ones still competing in the minutes before he benched him.

The only reasonable explanation is that Sarver, Jones, and Monty (and possibly Paul, who shouldn't be running the org at 38 years old next season), had already decided to sign-and-trade him.

[Superbone]

We also need to talk about coaching. Kidd had his team prepared the right way and Monty didn’t as much as it pains me to say.

The clip TNT ran of him coaching the defense from the sideline in the first half said it all.

I was too pissed to watch it. What did he say?

[Superbone]

I wonder what INFORMER is thinking right about now.

I’m just hoping he’s still alive if I’m being honest.

[Flagrant Fowl]

He’s gone

Yep.

Monty should be happy he wanted to stay in and compete.

And there was no reason to pull DA first, when he was one of the only ones still competing in the minutes before he benched him.

The only reasonable explanation is that Sarver, Jones, and Monty (and possibly Paul, who shouldn't be running the org at 38 years old next season), had already decided to sign-and-trade him.

He jumped for some rebounds early in the game, but that's a pretty low bar if we're defining "compete".

He was one of many problems in this series, but his inability to assert himself against a clear mismatch in his favor is squarely on his shoulders.

I've had no hesitation in praising him when he's played to the standard his contract demands merit, but you continuously deflect his deficiencies when he doesn't meet that standard. I know you love the guy, but trying to put the blame for his performance on anyone else is only going to make you look like a fool.

[Flagrant Fowl]

We also need to talk about coaching. Kidd had his team prepared the right way and Monty didn’t as much as it pains me to say.

The clip TNT ran of him coaching the defense from the sideline in the first half said it all.

I was too pissed to watch it. What did he say?

Screaming instructions like a mad man. I was inspired to get down and do some defensive slides just sitting in my office.

[JeremyG]

He’s gone

Yep.

Monty should be happy he wanted to stay in and compete.

And there was no reason to pull DA first, when he was one of the only ones still competing in the minutes before he benched him.

The only reasonable explanation is that Sarver, Jones, and Monty (and possibly Paul, who shouldn't be running the org at 38 years old next season), had already decided to sign-and-trade him.

He jumped for some rebounds early in the game, but that's a pretty low bar if we're defining "compete".

He was one of many problems in this series, but his inability to assert himself against a clear mismatch in his favor is squarely on his shoulders.

I've had no hesitation in praising him when he's played to the standard his contract demands merit, but you continuously deflect his deficiencies when he doesn't meet that standard. I know you love the guy, but trying to put the blame for his performance on anyone else is only going to make you look like a fool.

I was talking about the minutes immediately preceding his benching.

Where did I put the blame for his performance on anyone else? He didn't have a good game. Booker had a worse game. Paul had a worse game.

[Uncle_Gene]

Bullock and Finney-Smith picked up CP3 full court slowing the Suns down.

Monte Williams made no adjustments.

[Superbone]

Monty is basically Doc Rivers now. Man cannot close or make adjustments. Crap. I really like the guy.

It was too hard to think he had to make major changes in given how successful the team was. They needed to make major adjustments to their offensive sets with CP3 being toast. And running the same set that just took Book out as well. Point Book would have been better than this.

I am really reminded about that Summer where Book complained about double teams. He still hasn’t figured out how to handle them.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Monty is basically Doc Rivers now. Man cannot close or make adjustments. Crap. I really like the guy.

It was too hard to think he had to make major changes in given how successful the team was. They needed to make major adjustments to their offensive sets with CP3 being toast. And running the same set that just took Book out as well. Point Book would have been better than this.

I am really reminded about that Summer where Book complained about double teams. He still hasn’t figured out how to handle them.

I somewhat agree. It's also easy to forget his teammates failing to recognize the double and get open. Looked like a lot of Suns standing around watching Booker get trapped many times.

[Uncle_Gene]

The reacquisition of Torrey Craig didn't work this time around. They should've kept Jalen Smith.