Comments on: Clippers vs Suns Game 1 Player Grades

By: zhiv

zhiv — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 22:33:00 +0000

Playing with some fire saying that CP is washed–he’s not the player that he was, and he has had his playoff struggles over the years as we know all too well, but he could still throw a dagger and more at the Clippers. He’s hungry to win and get past the Clips, and will be approaching tonight like it’s a must win game. The good news is that Westbrook’s athleticism is still mostly intact, and that helps to put CP on his heels. Gordon and Norm have to show up, and TMann especially has to keep punching at him, and Bones too. There are lots of reasons and ways for the Clippers to make things miserable for Phoenix, including Booker and Durant. Even Sacramento beating GSW helps the cause, showing how fortitude works. Attacking Booker and seeing if he gets whiny is important, but defensive focus overall will be crucial. Russ taking his offense/shooting back a notch could lead him to play a much better overall game, one that might be hard for Phoenix to handle. The big issue with KD is if he’s forced to guard Kawhi and expend extra energy, and it messes with his ability to read things and find flow with his new team. And maybe it all starts with Zu, who seems ready. Time to suit up and show up.

By: Goons 1

Goons 1 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 19:41:05 +0000

That shit was weak! By no means am I a Dray fan but it was a half ass “stomp” that was sold by Sabonis. An x-ray after the game? Fuck outta here with that weak shit! I see much harder “stomps” in wrestling. It’ll be bullshit if he gets suspended, especially when he wasn’t the instigator. + like he said, it ain’t the 1st time they’ve grabbed him & can’t forget about the sell job Sabonis pulled a few possessions prior that forced Kerr to waste a challenge

By: Goons 1

Goons 1 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 19:33:43 +0000

Can’t forget about Plumlee either, both of them did their job. He doesn’t have the length to affect shots at the rim like Zu but he didn’t allow any layups/dunks. I’ll take the fouls.

By: Goons 1

Goons 1 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 19:25:39 +0000

The problem is, people only like to look at the shooting & over look EVERYTHING else.

By: JCplusULTRA

JCplusULTRA — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:52:05 +0000

His shots were open and he missed. The way he usually hurts the offense is by clogging the paint and giving free double teams, but that didn’t happen this game. There was one 3 that he shot with Gordon next to him wide open. That was arguably a bad shot, but he was open too.

By: christopherd

christopherd — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:56:46 +0000

“Russ wasn’t really hurting the offense other than missing shots.”

Make that make sense? He missed 16 shots and most were bad shots which hurts the offense.

By: christopherd

christopherd — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:55:16 +0000

I ended up giving him a B too, but as to the timeouts you say were timed very good, the plays out of the timeouts still are a problem for us and I think that is on him. Maybe it’s my memory, but every out of timeout play I get nervous about because we often turn it over, and we did again this game at the worst times. Also, his use of timeouts actually bothers me down the stretch cause he never leaves room to use the coach’s challenge in the final 2 minutes and again I think he used too many timeouts this game as we had none left if Phoenix had made a 3.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:23:10 +0000

“In my view, the grind of this particular regular season has this Clipper team entering the playoffs with a more mature and focused mindset about how hard one has to play to win.”
This^

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:13:22 +0000

Yeah. One thing I realized after watching the first two games: Davion Mitchell has a real impact. Draymond always has. Looney is a great defender, GP2, Wiggins. But: they play the wrong positions in this matchup/probably can’t handle Sabonis whereas Mitchell plays the perfect position to have maximum impact.

And then you add the Mike Brown factor which is big and the mismatch that Fox and Monk might pose and I agree: Warriors over Lakers but I doubt the Warriors make it that far. Kings are not a good matchup for them.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:07:34 +0000

I think Fox could end up getting the Kings to win this series in 6 or 7 games. I would favor them over the Lakers or Grizz in Round 2. I would also favor the Warriors over the Lakers or Grizz in Round 2.