Torrey Craig, Frank Kaminsky and Abdel Nader could all pick up minutes during the remainder of the Finals in the aftermath of Dario Saric‘s knee injury, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Saric suffered a torn ACL during the opening quarter of Game 1. Kaminsky played four minutes in Game 1 while Craig received 16 minutes of floor time. “Frank gives us quality size and playmaking ability,” coach Monty Williams said. “He’s smart.”
We have more on the Western Conference champions:
- Mikal Bridges has developed into one of the league’s top 3-and-D wings, Jovan Buha of The Athletic writes. Bridges makes the team’s pick-and-roll offense lethal due to his cutting, screening and spot-up shooting. His ability to guard multiple positions is another underrated aspect of the team’s success, Buha adds. Bridges is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.
- Jae Crowder is another one of those top-level role players and ESPN’s Zach Lowe takes an in-depth look at the forward, who is appearing in his second straight Finals. Crowder has played an average of 31.7 MPG in the postseason despite modest offensive numbers. He scored just one point in Game 1 but was on the floor for 33 minutes. “You don’t even know what position Jae is,” Williams said. “But you know this: It becomes really hard to take him off the floor.”
- Williams isn’t sure what Deandre Ayton‘s ceiling is but the coach wants his young center to focus on the present, Mark Medina of USA Today tweets. “It’s important to embrace where he is and embrace the work that he has to do today,” Williams said.
Suns are going to lock Bridges up. He is gonna be in Phx a long while.
Lucky bastards.
Sixers got another first (besides Zaire) for trading Bridges which along with another first, two seconds and Landry Shamet, delivered Tobias Harris.
Mikal was a Philly kid too. Well fans probably don’t need the reminder. There’s a price for collecting stars… prospects gotta go and some turn out.
I’d rather have Bridges.
Bucks want to win. They need to concentrate on Ayton. I would post Brook more. Have Giannis attack the rim more, if he can. Put more pressure on Ayton. Then pickup Chris full ct more. Holiday needs to take Chris out. Forget everyone else. They do those two things better, consistently. They can win. Hit the boards too.
I think Gino tanks on purpose to try and get rid of Bud then run it back next season…my opinion. I doubt Jrue is on board with that unfortunately…
He wont have a very fun Holiday season if they lose…get it?
You really think Giannis would lose a shot at a championship to get rid of the coach that put in the schemes to make him a 2 time MVP and make the Bucks contenders?
If Giannis didn’t like Bud he’d just go to ownership and say “I don’t like Bud” and Bud would be gone just like that.
Well maybe he just could lose 1 game as a prank and scare hin to coach better
Told ya
DA impressed me a lot. I rather have a big like him on my team than that DPOY!! Jazz wasted their money big time and won’t be surprised if Mitchell leaves!
Nader is more a benchwarmer than anything else. He might get traded to Lakers to replace another benchwarmer Dudley.
A lot of people said I was crazy for having Bridges so high in that draft, and I still think he has more left to show
Maybe they got the crazy part right. Draft.net mocked him at #10; he went at #10; he was drafted predictably.
I had him higher. I thought Cleveland should have taken him, and thought the lowest he should go was the Knicks. I’m pretty sure I had him top 5, but I have to find my list from that year. I know there are a couple of guys that year near the top I didnt do great with. Did a lot better with the mid-late lottery through the 2nd round. I just thought Mikail Bridges was 1 of the best ready made guys, and I compared him to Kawhi Leonard. Didnt say he would be Kawhi, but he had that potential, and that his floor would pretty much be what we’ve seen from him so far
…also, to clarify, I meant Kawhi before he became the top top level superstar he has been the last 5 years+. More Kawhi his first 4 years
That makes more sense.
I had ShaiGA at #2. Could not get a feel for Doncic from videos available.
I thought Doncic would be a star offensively, but he is way better than I thought he would be, and I was defending him here regularly lol…I also liked SGA that year, but i think he ended up falling just b/c I remember him and his father angling for a bunch of teams not to pick him for whatever reason. But I was super high on Jaren Jackson Jr and Mikal Bridges for sure
Suns in 4 ciao Bud
I love Phoenix’s style of team oriented basketball. Yes you have 2 superstars and one emerging superstar in DA, however, the Sun’s style has a resemblance to Villanova selfless style of basketball , which ironically is where Bridges went to school. Fun team to watch.