Game Day Playoff Edition — Round 2, Game 1 — Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns, Monday 6/7/2021

[Split T]

Time: 7:00 pm AZ (7:00 pm PT/10:00 pm ET)
Place: Phoenix Suns Arena, Phoenix, AZ
TV: TNT

Suns have not played Denver in the playoffs since we swept them in round 1 back in 1989. All time we are 2-1 against Denver in our 3 matchups.

Denver has the soon to be announced MVP in Nikola Jokic, but are hurting badly in the backcourt with Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and PJ Dozier out. Facundo Campazzo, Austin Rivers, and Monte Morris filled in wonderfully against Portland, can they do it again? Murray is out for the year, but there is a chance Barton and Dozier play at some point.

Will the rest help CP3 get back to his self? Will Ayton rise to the challenge? Jokic did say Ayton defended him better than anyone this year.

GO SUNS!!!

Dis • cuss

[BAMF]

[Superbone]

Our secret weapon is Torrey Craig. This will be the first time he’s faced his former team in a Suns’ uniform.

LET’S DO THIS!!!

[Superbone]

Will the rest help CP3 get back to his self?

I feel pretty confident about CP3 getting back to at least 90% with these extra days off. I just finished watching the Lakers’ broadcast of our game 6 win. Paul’s shot wasn’t that far off even from three point range. He had a couple rim out. Speaking of which, Book’s last three rimmed out otherwise he would have had 50.

[INFORMER]

I think we'll see Mikal Bridges have a pretty significant bounce back series.

[Split T]

I think we'll see Mikal Bridges have a pretty significant bounce back series.

Gonna have Austin Rivers on him and no rim protection for Denver

[pickle]

I liked that CP3 wasn’t favoring his shoulder in that locker room video.

[Mori Chu]

I think we'll see Mikal Bridges have a pretty significant bounce back series.

What do you think we'll get from Ayton? He was spectacular against LA, but I worry he'll get into horrific foul trouble against Jokic.

[INFORMER]

Who knows Mori. Some of it will be based on how we use him on offense. But most of it will be on Ayton: how engaged is he going to be? How aggressive is he going to be? How hard is going to run the floor? How smart is he going to be on the defensive end?

These are variables that are consistently unpredictable with him.

[Mori Chu]

[Superbone]

[Flagrant Fowl]

I really have no ill feelings toward the Nuggets. The most I could come up with is Aaron Gordon's pettiness about the slam dunk contest, MPJ's Facebook-type social commentary, and Campazzo's international pest routine. Those are all very minor. They also don't bitch and moan to the officials on every deadball like most teams, and I kind of like Michael Malone even if I think he's just a slightly above average coach in the league.

Murray is the guy I dislike the most but it's only because he absolutely torches the Suns and likes to talk a bit. Even then, it's mostly a respectful dislike.

[Mori Chu]

Jokic is being all nice and polite and complimentary toward the Suns, but we won't like him so much when he's hanging 36, 10, and 9 on us every night. I think this series will have a much different tone than the last one had, but I hope the guys keep up their intensity.

[Nodack]

Jokić is a pro. It would be dumb for him to talk shit about the Suns before they play in the playoffs and fire them up. He’s using the compliment them into complacency technique. I am just going to have to make up some fake news about him insulting Ayton and the Suns and put it in their locker room somehow.

[Split T]

Jokić is a pro. It would be dumb for him to talk shit about the Suns before they play in the playoffs and fire them up. He’s using the compliment them into complacency technique. I am just going to have to make up some fake news about him insulting Ayton and the Suns and put it in their locker room somehow.

He’s also just not a taking shit kinda guy. He doesn’t get into beefs, I don’t think he’s playing mind games, he’s just being himself.

[Nodack]

Jokić is a pro. It would be dumb for him to talk shit about the Suns before they play in the playoffs and fire them up. He’s using the compliment them into complacency technique. I am just going to have to make up some fake news about him insulting Ayton and the Suns and put it in their locker room somehow.

He’s also just not a taking shit kinda guy. He doesn’t get into beefs, I don’t think he’s playing mind games, he’s just being himself.

In that case he just said Ayton defends him better than any other player in the NBA. That’s a pretty impressive endorsement.

[bajanguy008]

[Mori Chu]

He’s also just not a taking shit kinda guy. He doesn’t get into beefs, I don’t think he’s playing mind games, he’s just being himself.

Maybe he needs more fiber.

[Split T]

He’s also just not a taking shit kinda guy. He doesn’t get into beefs, I don’t think he’s playing mind games, he’s just being himself.

Maybe he needs more fiber.

Lol, talking…my bad

[Drewsprocket]

OMG. Meme of the mf’n year.