On May 12, Beijing time, from the favorite to stop in the second round, the Suns with the "Big Four" lost 2-4 to the Nuggets and were beaten in the exit battle for two consecutive years, how to treat this "failed" championship team. Tencent News netizens voted that nearly 40% of the netizens with the most votes believed that Paul's playoff total injury was destined to be crownless for life; More than 20% of netizens believe that after Durant left Curry, he did not touch the floor of the division finals as a tragedy; Similarly, more than 20% of netizens think that Yang Yi's bold statement that the sun plays to death Jokic was slapped in the face, and some netizens are glad that Ayton who is absent does not have to back the pot today.
Far from expectations: the Big Four Suns missed out on the second round
While the Suns have experienced a rise in the past two seasons, they reached the Finals in 2021 and became regular season champions in 2022, but they failed to touch the championship. This year's Suns' goal is to win the championship, and in order to improve the weakness of the chain in key moments of the playoffs, they acquired Durant in a big trade in the middle of the season, and having the "Grim Reaper" is hailed as the biggest shortcoming that can solve their existence.
However, the Big Four combination of "Durant + Booker + Paul + Ayton" looks beautiful in theory, especially the 8 games in the regular season combination, like the number one favorite in the West. Just entering the playoffs, the Suns eliminated the remnant Clippers 4-1 in the first round is not worthy of praise, and the 2-4 loss to the Nuggets in the second round is a surprise, especially the two wins are only 5 and 7 points respectively, in fact, the Suns did not show any hope of advancing in the entire series, and it is not surprising that they are out now.
Paul's curse continues: Total playoff injuries are considered to be crown-free for life
In response to the Sun's extremely sad defeat, Tencent News netizens voted, and nearly 40% of netizens pushed Paul to the front, believing that the 37-year-old Paul was always injured in the playoffs and was destined to be crownless for life. Indeed, known as the "god of point guards", Paul has never been able to lead his team to a championship in the playoffs, and has repeatedly been injured at key moments in the playoffs.
This year, Paul suffered a groin strain in the G2 game in the Western Conference semifinals, and then missed the next four consecutive games, which greatly weakened the Suns' backcourt strength. Without Paul's threading tissue, the Suns became the unlimited singles team of Durant and Booker, which naturally could not win the more collective Nuggets. The 37-year-old Paul once again missed the opportunity to win the championship, and was also considered by netizens that he was destined to be crownless for life, and whether Paul will be abandoned by the Suns this summer is still unknown, after all, his contract is a partial guarantee, leaving him to occupy more than $30 million salary space.
No Kudurant Curse: Left Curry and never touched the division finals floor
As for Durant, he has not been able to become the "savior" of the Suns, he has tossed from the Nets to the Suns this season, especially two injuries that have caused different injuries to both teams. Even if Durant won all 8 games in the regular season, the number of games that led to the lineup was still too small. Durant's two-gun combination with Booker in the playoffs has scored 86 and 72 points in a single game, but he has also been limited to more games.
Since Durant left the Warriors and Curry in 2018, he has yet to touch the floor of the division finals and has only won two series, let alone a championship. Durant received more than 20% of the votes, and he has also become synonymous with tragedy in the minds of many fans.
The inside line was completely exploded: Yang Yi predicted that the Suns would be punched in the face when Jokic played dead
Of course, the famous commentator Yang Yi is also quite "stealing the camera", he is extremely optimistic about the sun, and even boasts that "the sun will play Jokic to death". As a result, Jokic slammed triple-doubles in succession, and had a single 53-point performance, and finally led the Nuggets to crush the Suns to advance, becoming the first team to advance to the division finals this year, naturally hitting the prediction of the Suns and Yang Yi in the face.
Ayton became an absolute soft egg: the absence of G6 by injury still could not hide the explosion of the series
Ayton is also one of the "protagonists" that netizens have not forgotten, and he was crushed by Jokic throughout the series, becoming one of the important factors in the Suns' exit. As for the absence of Ayton due to injury in G6, the Suns completely lost their interior barrier, and they collapsed early by 30 points in the first half. The only consolation is that Ayton did not play, and more than 10% of netizens believe that he does not need to blame the Suns for the loss this game.
The Suns are bound to make adjustments to the lineup this summer, but Durant, Booker, Paul and Ayton are all more than $3,000 in annual salaries, totaling more than $140 million in salaries, and it is destined that it is difficult for the Suns to make major operational adjustments, unless the trade sends Ayton and Paul, but the operation is extremely difficult, and it is also the moment to test the ability of the Suns management.
(Text/Drunken Lying Float)