Minnesota Sports Forum

It's a rainy day here in Minnesota and my household celebrated Father's Day yesterday, so I'm looking forward to watching Game 1 this afternoon. I thought we should have a thread dedicated to this series, because it should be a good one. I'll be cheering for the Suns because...well, LA. But like so many other series this crazy season, who is available and healthy will have much to do with who wins this series. Kawhi is not traveling to Phoenix for the first two games, but Chris Paul will also miss at least game one with Covid issues. It will be interesting to see who returns first.

There will be lots of praise for the marvelous scorer Devin Booker in this thread, but it may not surprise you that I'm all about Bridges, Ayton, Crowder and Paul. Don't get me wrong...I dislike a lot about Paul and his whining. But combined with the other three guys, they form a defensive quartet that is tough to score on...best defense in the league IMO. The Suns are lucky to have depth at PG, but it will be interesting to see what they do. Cameron Payne will get a lot of minutes, but does Jevon Carter play some back up minutes or does Booker become the de facto PG?

With Paul and Kawhi out, Booker and George becomes the superstar matchup...but we won't see them one-on-one at both ends. I assume Bridges will draw the assignment of defending George, but George has to guard Booker, doesn't he? This will be a dual between the Clippers' 3-point barrage (9 players shoot 39% or better from beyond the arc) vs. the Suns' mid-range game (only 3 players over 39% on threes).

Should be a fun series.

Yes, this should be a fun series. So thanks for starting a thread. I'm hoping to watch today's game if my wife lets me. :) With Kawhi out, the Clippers are fortunate that Chris Paul somehow stumbled his way into a Covid protocol. I'm guessing that Chris will be back before Kawhi. Either way, it should be a competitive series. Paul George is playing like a superstar and the Clippers have shown they have an excellent and pretty deep supporting cast around their core stars in Jackson, Beverley, Mann, Batum, Morris, Kennard, Rondo and Zubac.

How about some predictions. Who's going to win today's game and who will win the series?

Suns need to keep pounding it into Ayton until Zubac comes in.

And when Ayton gets the ball down low, he needs to attack and dunk rather than shoot that little turn-around jumper he just took two possessions ago.

lipoli390 wrote:And when Ayton gets the ball down low, he needs to attack and dunk rather than shoot that little turn-around jumper he just took two possessions ago.

Unless he can't hit that shot I'm fine with that shot he was what like 10 feet from the rim?

If the Clippers don't play some better D than they have early on they better pray the Suns kee missing open shots.

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:And when Ayton gets the ball down low, he needs to attack and dunk rather than shoot that little turn-around jumper he just took two possessions ago.

Unless he can't hit that shot I'm fine with that shot he was what like 10 feet from the rim?

If the Clippers don't play some better D than they have early on they better pray the Suns kee missing open shots.

Ayton had only one defender, a smaller guy, between him and the basket. He made a mistake settling for a turn-around jump shot.

I think the Clipper defense will tighten up. If not, then you're right that they'll be in trouble.

Look at what Saric and Cam Johnson are doing in this game and throughout this season into the playoffs. Then think about what Culver has done and his prospects going forward. Hard not to be just a little annoyed as a Wolves fan. Rosas has made some nice moves since then, signing Reid and drafting both Ant and McDaniels. But it will take a lot to make up for the way Rosas botched the 2019 draft.

lipoli390 wrote:Look at what Saric and Cam Johnson are doing in this game and throughout this season into the playoffs. Then think about what Culver has done and his prospects going forward. Hard not to be just a little annoyed as a Wolves fan.

Honestly Saric has not been good in this game.

Cousins has been a mixed bag but he has been a pretty big unexpected positive so far for the Clippers in this quarter.