2021 NBA WCF Hangover: Ayton’s Astonishing Dunk Gives Suns 2-0 Series Lead

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Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. We are now in the Conference Finals!

The Suns pulled off quite the play to take 2-0 lead against the Clippers.

Well, this is really what decided the game. You see the score. You see the time.

The Clippers did get the ball back with 0.7 ticks left but they couldn’t get a good shot off as they were going from one end of the court to the other. But what a play by Jae Crowder to Deandre Ayton. Of course, if you’re a hardcore NBA dude like I am, you would remember that the Suns also did this in a regular season game a few years back:

People would, of course, say this is offensive goaltending. But it’s a live ball if it’s an inbounds play because there’s no way that can be a shot attempt. So you can throw it near the rim and it can be over the cylinder; it would be okay to tip it in or dunk it.

So the Suns were familiar with that play. What a heartbreaking loss for the Clippers, though. They had Paul George and Luke Kennard leading them as they came from 7 down to take the lead.

Funny thing was that another repeat play of some sorts happened. Patrick Beverley poked the ball out of Devin Booker‘s hand and, while initially called out on Beverley, the refs concluded that it was last touched by Booker. It was the same deal on Christmas of 2019 when Beverley did the same thing to LeBron James.

Anyway, the Clippers got the ball back and the Suns had to foul. The Clips were up, 103-102. Paul George, who shot 87 percent from the line in the regular season, missed both.

The Suns got the ball back with 8 seconds. They were able to get an open Mikal Bridges three, which he missed. The ball was touched last by the Clippers as it went out of bounds and it set the stage for that Deandre Ayton dunk. My goodness.

Booker struggled from the field even though he still scored 20 points. Ayton continues to shine in the postseason; he had 24 points and 14 boards and also had his signature moment of his young career thus far. We can’t forget Cameron Payne, who had a playoff-best 29 points and 9 assists. Let’s just say he’s doing more than a good job replacing Chris Paul.

George had 26 points in a losing effort. It’s easy to put the blame on George (he has been an easy target, after all) for missing those foul shots but the Clips wouldn’t be in the game without him. He gave the lead to the Clippers twice late in the game and all they had to do was guard the inbounds play. Unfortunately, that’s the way the ball bounces, sometimes. Or in the Clippers’ case, the ball passes? Dunks?

It’s never good to be down, 2-0, in a series but the Clippers have come back from that deficit TWICE this postseason and they’re the only team in history to do so. Can they do it again?

But of course, the Phoenix Suns are two wins away from their first NBA Finals in 28 years. And they haven’t lost in nearly four weeks.

The Clippers have to do this yet again.

Bullet Passes

The Draft Lottery happened on Tuesday night. And even though this is supposedly a deep draft (who am I supposed to believe here?), everyone has pretty much mentioned that Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State as the #1 pick. So it’s the Cunningham lottery.

And the Detroit Pistons won.

My favorite part of the lottery, though? WNBA great Swin Cash, who works in the New Orleans Pelicans front office, was NOT amused that the Pelicans didn’t move up the lottery.

Anyway, this is the order of lottery picks in this coming draft, which will be held on July 29.

1- Detroit Pistons
2- Houston Rockets
3- Cleveland Cavaliers
4- Toronto Raptors
5- Orlando Magic
6- Oklahoma City Thunder
7- Golden State Warriors (from Minnesota through the Andrew Wiggins trade)
8- Orlando Magic (from Chicago through the Nikola Vucevic trade)
9- Sacramento Kings
10- New Orleans Pelicans
11- Charlotte Hornets
12- San Antonio Spurs
13- Indiana Pacers
14- Golden State Warriors

The Warriors having two picks in the lottery to go along with the ol’ championship core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green? Color me intrigued.

NBA Playoff Scoreboard

June 22, 2021

NBA Playoff Series Count

EAST

#3 Bucks will face #5 Hawks.

#5 Hawks defeat #1 Sixers, 4-3.
#3 Bucks defeat #2 Nets, 4-3.

#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.

WEST

#2 Suns lead #4 Clippers, 2-0.

#4 Clippers defeat #1 Jazz, 4-2.
#2 Suns defeat #3 Nuggets, 4-0.

#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.

Watch This Play

As if there was any doubt. Let’s roll this again for Deandre Ayton.

The ECF starts tonight! IT’S GOING DOWN.

Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.

You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.

You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.

R.I.P. Nala.

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