Reading about Robert Williams’ injury and surgery, I really hope they don’t bring him back early, for his sake. He had surgery on March 30th and was given a 4-6 week timeline.
The Celtics should do Simmons a favor and beat the crap out of the Nets today. If the Nets are down 0-3 and clearly not gonna make it, it would make little sense to risk Simmons in game 4, and he can have the off season to get ready for next season.
Think of it as needed R&R for the aging core OGs. (Edit: as invo.k.shen says).
If we can get through the first round unscathed in four games, it could pay big dividends going forward. Contrast our last playoff run in 2019, where we gratuitously played with our food in Round 1 v the Clips. We’ll obviously never know if that had anything to do with the subsequent KD/Klay injuries (and the team certainly looked none the worse for wear while sweeping the Blazers in the WCF) but every extra game adds some level of stress and fatigue.
Love the idea of our guys getting 3-4 extra days of rest — plus time to scrimmage and maybe add some wrinkles to the offense — while the Wolves and Grizz beat up on each other.
Still gotta win our Game 4 and hope the Wolves win theirs to make it so…
Extra rest is almost never a bad thing. The in season injuries, assuming they are indeed now fully healed, might have actually helped the Warriors as Green and Curry got a month of rest during the regular season, and Thompson only played 1/2 of the season. With those 3 guys in particular, it isn't like they needed the extra time on the court to figure out how to play together and it also gave the bench guys, especially Poole, the opportunity to play with the other starters. The two guys that didn't get much rest are Wiggins and Looney and that might be a factor for them now as they both had tough defensive assignments during the regular season. I love that Looney played every game, but being an undersized center in the NBA is a tough job.
Dray said that cj and Ingram are the best 2 players in the series with booker injured. Idk if that's dray not knowing what he's talking about or just hating on cp3 lol
Not watching the suns game, but was looking at potential dubs schedule. I feel like the sweep is important, I hope we can get it. Grizz are one day ahead of us, with game 5 at home on Tuesday. They very well may win there. If we go to 5, we may end up with a day or two less rest and a plane flight as compared to Grizz. Our guys are so old I think they could use the extra days to ice bath and compression sleeve and whatever else they need to do.
Nuggs have made some huge comebacks too. You never toss away a playoff game, but there's lots of extra reasons this time around to close it out quick on sunday and not mess around
I sort of remember the NBA finals being fixed in time but the other rounds squishing or expanding to fill the time, otherwise you’d get some pretty big breaks with not much basketball. I tried to look around but could not find anything definitive either way.
I'd play Murphy over Alvarado down the stretch. Nothing against Alvarado who I really like but I don't like the Alvarado/McCollum backcourt against CP3 down the stretch, it's just too small to bother him and too easy for CP3 to hunt those matchups. I get it that they want a PG on offense though but I'd just give it to CJ/Ingram.
That said, CP3 was doing work on Jones too, he was just really good in this one and Alvarado hit some nice shots.
Nance wasn't playing as a perimeter defender, he was playing as the 5 (he replaced Valanciunas who was getting hunted even more badly).
The point is that while Herb Jones (insert great perimeter defender) is a great perimeter defender, getting that guy off the ball-handler is pretty simple (especially because containing some offenses without switching is pretty close to impossible). So a big (like a Dray/Gobert/AD/Giannis) who can impact close to every play out there is generally more valuable than perimeter stoppers.
He’s definitely extremely good, but possibly my least favorite future HOFer in the league right now. Harden is a close second. Weird that they played together … did they teach each other their horrific game destroying antics?
Reading about Robert Williams’ injury and surgery, I really hope they don’t bring him back early, for his sake. He had surgery on March 30th and was given a 4-6 week timeline.
They already decided he doesn’t need as much meniscus in his knee… so recovery time for him is shorter. Long term health impact notwithstanding
He’s coming back today.
The obvious answer is they think it’s okay to bring him back now. And no, “rushing” Ben Simmons back early is not okay because they are down 0-2.
The Celtics should do Simmons a favor and beat the crap out of the Nets today. If the Nets are down 0-3 and clearly not gonna make it, it would make little sense to risk Simmons in game 4, and he can have the off season to get ready for next season.
Ugh another day to wait. These two day gaps between games suck.
Think of it as needed R&R for the aging core OGs. (Edit: as invo.k.shen says).
If we can get through the first round unscathed in four games, it could pay big dividends going forward. Contrast our last playoff run in 2019, where we gratuitously played with our food in Round 1 v the Clips. We’ll obviously never know if that had anything to do with the subsequent KD/Klay injuries (and the team certainly looked none the worse for wear while sweeping the Blazers in the WCF) but every extra game adds some level of stress and fatigue.
Love the idea of our guys getting 3-4 extra days of rest — plus time to scrimmage and maybe add some wrinkles to the offense — while the Wolves and Grizz beat up on each other.
Still gotta win our Game 4 and hope the Wolves win theirs to make it so…
I meant for us fans. No argument it’s good for the team. Plus longer to adjust to the high altitude.
Extra rest is almost never a bad thing. The in season injuries, assuming they are indeed now fully healed, might have actually helped the Warriors as Green and Curry got a month of rest during the regular season, and Thompson only played 1/2 of the season. With those 3 guys in particular, it isn't like they needed the extra time on the court to figure out how to play together and it also gave the bench guys, especially Poole, the opportunity to play with the other starters. The two guys that didn't get much rest are Wiggins and Looney and that might be a factor for them now as they both had tough defensive assignments during the regular season. I love that Looney played every game, but being an undersized center in the NBA is a tough job.
I mean it's good for them. But what about me????
This is a real American right here!
But Delayed gratification ….
...wait for it...
... is almost never worth the extra wait.
After we sweep the Nuggets the wait until the second round is going to be miserable.
True
I feel you. To console myself I tell myself that this gives all our old players more rest.
My question isn't whether or not Paul is great, but whether or not he'll wear down as the playoffs progress.
Dray said that cj and Ingram are the best 2 players in the series with booker injured. Idk if that's dray not knowing what he's talking about or just hating on cp3 lol
He said because CP is old.
CP could be 50 years old but as long as he has two minimally functioning hamstrings he'll be better than CJ McCollum.
Exactly. And CJ is on the wrong side of 30, too.
you mean Booker? CP3 doesn't look injured in this game.
Also yeah Dray is completely wrong on this lol
Yeah book sorry
Just a nonsense statement but he said Booker should be MVP so maybe he doesn't think much of the other Suns lol
Not watching the suns game, but was looking at potential dubs schedule. I feel like the sweep is important, I hope we can get it. Grizz are one day ahead of us, with game 5 at home on Tuesday. They very well may win there. If we go to 5, we may end up with a day or two less rest and a plane flight as compared to Grizz. Our guys are so old I think they could use the extra days to ice bath and compression sleeve and whatever else they need to do.
Nuggs have made some huge comebacks too. You never toss away a playoff game, but there's lots of extra reasons this time around to close it out quick on sunday and not mess around
They’ll have acclimated and want the time off at home.
No fooling around. Done.
I believe the schedules are fixed and we wouldn’t start earlier if we both finished. Not 100% sure though.
I sort of remember the NBA finals being fixed in time but the other rounds squishing or expanding to fill the time, otherwise you’d get some pretty big breaks with not much basketball. I tried to look around but could not find anything definitive either way.
I'd play Murphy over Alvarado down the stretch. Nothing against Alvarado who I really like but I don't like the Alvarado/McCollum backcourt against CP3 down the stretch, it's just too small to bother him and too easy for CP3 to hunt those matchups. I get it that they want a PG on offense though but I'd just give it to CJ/Ingram.
That said, CP3 was doing work on Jones too, he was just really good in this one and Alvarado hit some nice shots.
He was mostly targeting Nance down the stretch (when the Pels switched).
Partly why perimeter defenders aren't as valuable as bigs.
The more negative defenders you have though, the easier it is to get a favorable matchup
True.
If Nance is your gold standard as far as perimeter defenders go...
Also Nance is a stretch big a la Loony. So maybe I'm just not understanding what you're saying.
Nance wasn't playing as a perimeter defender, he was playing as the 5 (he replaced Valanciunas who was getting hunted even more badly).
The point is that while Herb Jones (insert great perimeter defender) is a great perimeter defender, getting that guy off the ball-handler is pretty simple (especially because containing some offenses without switching is pretty close to impossible). So a big (like a Dray/Gobert/AD/Giannis) who can impact close to every play out there is generally more valuable than perimeter stoppers.
Nance is terrible. Please stop shooting
He was looking really good before he inexplicably started shooting. They should be getting shots for Ingram and McCollum.
(Yeah, easier said than done, but still)
Phoenix is like “ok time to win” and the Pels look like they’re a G league team.
The Suns were the 2nd best clutch team of all time (behind the 73-9 Warriors). A lot of that is noise, but at least some of that is:
(a) CP3 being amazing
(b) Monty Williams being an amazing coach
It’s showing here for sure
Despite the antics, CP3 is a very special basketball player.
He’s definitely extremely good, but possibly my least favorite future HOFer in the league right now. Harden is a close second. Weird that they played together … did they teach each other their horrific game destroying antics?
But I still cannot like him
Best player on the Suns imo
Feels like he’s been better the last two years than he was for a while before. Wonder if that’s the Harden effect.
I go back and forth between him and Booker. Don't really know the correct answer.
I think CP plays the much more important role for the team.
Booker is an elite scorer but mediocre defender and passer and rebounder so…
It's CP. :P
Hard to argue.
Ridiculous in this game
Travel
Do the Suns really need Booker to beat the Pels in a playoffs series?
Absolutely not. They also don't need Booker to beat a Luka-less Mavs (although Luka is hopefully coming back soon).
Crowder flopping
Uh-oh. CP3 taking over.
Rookie Alvarado from the bench made the last three baskets for 7 points
This Pels squad is really likeable
jzalvarado... Jose Alvarado...hmmmm.
🥸