After falling 123-119 to the Bucks, the Suns find themselves on the brink of losing the 2021 NBA Finals. They have their sights squarely set on a must-win Game 6 on Tuesday. Mark Medina of USA Today opines that the club may be relying too much on the production of 24-year-old All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker.
“We know what Book can do with the ball, but the one thing we talked about was getting to the paint, finding guys on the back side,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said of the ball sticking with Booker. “We feel like that’s a formula.”
Medina contends that the Suns suffered due to their dependence on Booker to bail out possessions with isolation scoring.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Suns center Deandre Ayton – who has thrived during a breakout postseason, his first playoff appearance – welcomes the challenge of a must-win Game 6, writes Mark Medina of USA Today. “I like it. It’s fun; the tables are turned now,” Ayton said. “Now we’re the desperate team. We had our chances of being up and trying to finish the job, now we’re in the same position that they were in. They’re up, and now we got to go get it. That’s why it’s a little bit more fun.” The top pick in the 2018 draft, Ayton is eligible for a contract extension during the 2021 offseason. His recent play should earn him a maximum-salary offer or something close to it.
- The Lakers, who own the No. 22 pick in the upcoming 2021 draft, hosted 6’5″ Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu and 6’4″ Tennessee guard Jaden Springer during their latest pre-draft workouts Saturday, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Both guards are good shooters who could help space the floor for L.A.
- The Lakers need to land a win-now type of player in the 2021 draft with their No. 22 selection, opines Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. Goon notes that the Lakers front office, under the stewardship of Rob Pelinka, last retained a first-round pick through the draft in 2018, when the club selected center Moritz Wagner out of Michigan — however, Wagner did not last long in L.A., having been sent to Washington in the Anthony Davis blockbuster. The team appears determined to add shooting this offseason — Los Angeles has examined versatile guard prospects and stretch forwards thus far.
Rumor
Knicks are interested in SNT schroeder so they can still keep $51.5 million cap room
that’s old, very old they said that 6 weeks ago.
they will not sign schroeder, take that to the bank.
Rumor
Bulls expected to make offer for schroeder
Trade idea
Bulls get Schroeder and 22
Lakers get White and Young
I would send White only for Schroeder, including Young is overpay.
I think that the Bulls should pursue Ball or Dinwindee and if they fail to land any of these 2 then they can turn their attention to Schroeder.
Colby showed no development unfortunately and didn’t meet the expectations for a top 10 pick.
They would have to include Young for salary-matching purposes.
Why would the Lakers send the pick if the Bulls want Dennis?
Cam Johnson
negative 19
He plays 22 minutes and has 2 FG attempts
Both the Lakers and Warriors are desperately trying to keep their windows from slamming shut.
Both the Lakers and Warriors kicked the Rockets in the teeth on route to championships. If AD and LeBron are healthy, the Lakers are the best team in the league. Their window is open as long as that happens. Pretending otherwise is delusional.
Nah… Slamming shut is what happened to the Rockets who are now year 1 into a 10 year rebuild.
Kevin Porter Jr and the 2nd overall pick along with Christian Wood and JaeSean literally ensure they are much further along than that. Definitely not a Rockets fan, but they are just better off than people act.
You are desperate in trying to make the Rockets relevant.
@Vince Rockets are not horribly off than you believe. A few moves and 2-3 years, they will be knocking on the playoffs door. I honestly believe Mobley is the guy they need in this draft. If they get Pacers pick with a Gordon trade at 13, there will be more guards there if they don’t get Cade, Green, etc. KPJ, Wood, Tate Jr, Wall, Mobley, and #13 guard, doesn’t look so bad. Trade down their 20s draft picks for a second round and/or next years pick. Eliminating a potential 4 rookies on the roster this year. Wall isn’t going anywhere because of his contract. He’d be the 6/7th man and try to keep him healthy for the season. His experience would help these younger guys including KPJ.
Thanks, Captain Obvious.
Lakers. Yes. They need a lot of help. Health, bench/rotational players.
Warriors are in a much better position with Klay Thompson returning and 2 top 10 picks to infuse talent around Curry, Wiggins, Thompson, Green, Wiseman, and the rest.
If I’m the warriors I’d trade #14 to the to the Thunder for #18, #34, and #36. Thunder aren’t keeping all their picks. Trading up 4 spots to get a prospect of their choosing instead of waiting at 16 seems like a good use of picks.
Klay ain’t gonna be Klay though he just missed two years with two different career altering injuries. He will probably still have the shot, but being a top defender was a huge part of his game that will be extremely hard to get back.
Lakers get Ayo at 22. That’s a nice haul. Don’t see him getting by Knicks unless they trade up. Which I’m thinking they will.
Are we ignoring finals games?
MIL is going big and overwnelming Ayton, IDK what he is so happy about. Yes they are the desperate ones.
I thought the NBA is going away from bigs but they are winning with size like the Lakers did. So much for wings. Khris has played good wing-type defense.
Booker seemed to be successful with his isolations but where were the others.
Edit, I see there are other articles about the finals.
Lots of articles about the Suns and none of them are mentioning how Chris Paul is completely M.I.A.