The Suns will look to regroup in Game 6 after losing three straight contests to the Bucks, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com writes. Phoenix now trails 3-2 in the series entering Tuesday’s pivotal game.
“We got to win one game to put them back on the plane,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “That’s it. And you have to have that determination that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to put them back on the plane.”
Game 6 of the Finals will take place in Milwaukee, meaning a Suns win would allow the team to play Game 7 at home. The club won its first two contests in its own arena before dropping Saturday’s game 123-119.
“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” Chris Paul said. “We didn’t expect it to be. It’s hard. Coach said it all year long: Everything we want is on the other side of hard, and it don’t get no harder than this.
“So, we got to regroup, learn from this game. But it’s over. We got to get ready for Game 6.”
There’s more out of the Western Conference:
- The Suns have been hampered by defensive issues and ball protection, according to The Arizona Republic. Phoenix struggled in non-Deandre Ayton minutes during Game 5, playing Torrey Craig, Jae Crowder and Cameron Johnson when Ayton sat on the bench. The team mostly played Dario Saric in those minutes during the regular season, but Saric suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of Game 1.
- Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated examines the current situation between Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers. To this point, Lillard has publicly denied the notion that he plans to request a trade, but he’s also explained the importance of building a contender around him this summer. The Blazers were eliminated by the short-handed Nuggets during the first round of the playoffs this spring. “Right now, I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” Lillard said on Friday. “My intention, my heart has always been set on being in a Trail Blazers uniform for my entire career. But I think over time, you want to win it all. I want to win it all in a Trail Blazers uniform. We all have to be making strides toward that.”
- Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman explores why it wouldn’t make sense for the Thunder to trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander appeared in 35 games for the team this year, averaging 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per outing.
OKC is going to build a dynasty even bigger than Golden State’s around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Maybe but then trading Moses Brown was a huge mistake. He showed he can become a top center in the league. Hopefully Walker will help these youngsters the same way CP3 did.
Lol
Moses Brown is not EVER going to be a top center in the league.
The sarcasm in that statement seemed fairly obvious.
Of course it makes sense to NOT trade SGA from the standpoint of the Thunder or a local fan. It makes sense for SGA or a tv viewer!
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Suns have to play Kaminsky more than zero’.
They should scheme what he does.
If OKC had real ones. They would move SGA for Cade. They can overpay to get him. Sixth pick is still a good future player. Plus a future#1. They can either take Barnes or trade down for Kai. And get another pick. This kid Kai has plenty upside to be a good solid big.
It would take SGA plus the #6 pick, either pick #16 or #18 this year, plus a future #1 pick for Detroit to just consider trading down with OKC. They’d still probably want another pick.
Come on that’s too much. SGA is real thing. OKC needs a player after bungling Harden, Westbrook, KD. Plus they have plenty of picks to overpay. I would if I was them. What’s the point of all those picks. If not for a player like Cade. SGA n Hayes is a serious backcourt. That kid Kai has big future too lol.
Do you realize if you took a player #1 and he ended up performing like SGA most GMs would consider that a win? Ppl are soooooo in love with prosoects that they disregard actual performance by non rookies. It’s not like SGA is an aged vet.
No way should OKC trade SGA unless you’re talking about a generational player available like LBJ, Shaq, etc
Totally agree. They all want the next Bron or Luka now. SGA is like 22 right. And still getting better.
Thunder didn’t accumiliate all their draft picks just trade SGA and them for a player they hope will be SGA.
Thunder should certainly trade SGA……but it should be for picks and a young and up and coming player.
I’d trade SGA for Hailburton, #9, and other picks from SAC. SAC picks will most likely be lottery next few years. But doubt SAC could resist pairing SGA with Fox.
If SGA was on Sacramento they won’t be a lottery team. OKC was in contention for the play-in games before his injury and Fox, Bagley, Barnes, Holmes, and other pieces with SGA is easily a playoff team
OKC ain’t trading nobody. They have quite enough picks and a shrewd front office with an eye for talent.
You have to have your first bullring block so you keep SVG. But they could trade to four so Toronto could get 2 players and OKC could get a better building block.
This is so hilarious, I see all these tweets by disillusioned OKC fanatics about trades for Shai Gilgeous Alexander and don’t realize that OKC is in no position to make ridiculous demands, they will be even luckier if they are able to get anything of considerable amount for him. First let me supply yall with the real news as to the situation between Shai Gilgeous Alexander and OKC,I happen to have family in Canada and this is not a rumor, this is facts, he told friends here that he was very disappointed and down when he got traded from the Clippers to OKC and the situation has gotten a lot worse as he does not want to be in a rebuilding situation and please go Google this information,this is fact, he just recently rejected OKC’s offer to extend him and is looking forward to sign elsewhere as soon as he becomes a RFA after this upcoming season. He’s the disgruntled star that Wojnarowski was alluding to but would not mention by name because of sworn secrecy, he will not make it official news until he gets the okay from players to do so that’s why he has their trust. Although here in Toronto and I’m not a Raptors fan Ujiri and company has already started to circle the bandwagon. I feel sorry for the OKC fanbase but management should try and see what they can get right now before it becomes official news and when that happens then they would lose all their leverage.
Everyone knows he’s not resigning lol. Thanks for the gossip. Detroit just happens to be very close to home for him. Why wouldn’t he go to a rebuilding team. That with him could be a playoff team in a yr or two. Pistons have good young talent. Him and Hayes is a serious combo.
Talking about Ujiri after that post? And why would DET shift from Weaver who is doing fine?
I liked hearing that SGA wants out… he doesn’t always make his feelings known. Too bad he has to wait until after his 5th year… a player has to do a bad boy act to force out earlier.
Shai shoulda been an all star over Big Ben!! Kemba should be traded with the #6 pick, Mike Mus., and Isaiah Roby for the #3 pick and Colin Sexton. Maybe okc gives a future pick or two.
why in the world would the Cavs do that? Sexton is younger, healthier and more productive than Kemba and despite their lunacy I think they’d rather give Sexton is big money rather than pay Kemba three 2/$72 mil left on his contract. And then you actually want to swap your #6 pick with the Cavs #3?
Is dinner and a movie come with this? Will lube be provided? Cmon stan.
He has to wait until hrs a UFA and settle for less money then. OKC can match any RFA offer sheet. He signs elsewhere and he loses money too.
It’s crazy when these young guys come into the nba and expect to be on contenders automatically.
He was on a contender. OKC is not even trying. He is a good fit on CLE, howev er I don’t get the trade… presume S&T? Everyone would have to approve and SGA is not getting a contender.
The Thunder aren’t trading SGA. Presti has said all offseason that he is going to talk extension with him & that they are building the team around him. These rumors started when 2 guys on a podcast said the Knicks should trade for SGA. It blew up from there and the rumors started swirling. SGA isn’t going anywhere. Other teams can keep dreaming
Presti has to say that.
Sometimes reality bites real hard. Where did I mention that he was going to the knickerbockers? anyway we will see come time when the deadline approaches for him to sign his extention.