Players Chasing Each Other Down The Tunnel, Luka/Booker Talking Shit - Suns/Mavs Game 5 Is EXACTLY What The NBA Playoffs Should Be
This is what I wanted to see. The playoffs are supposed to be built on hate. Been that way well before I was born and as long as I can remember. Whether it was Celtics/Lakers, Isiah/Bulls, Knicks/Reggie, Knicks/Heat, Spurs/Suns in the 2000s, etc. This is what I always loved about the playoffs. Best of seven where people start getting annoyed with each other. If I say the words 'Jeff Van Gundy' I guarantee this is the first thing you think about:
Now we have two young stars in Book and Luka going at each other. We have arguably the best team in the league this year in the Suns vs a Mavs franchise that we know all about. We're seeing the Warriors and Grizz go at it and now we're getting it with the Suns and Mavs. Good. That's what the playoffs are supposed to be about.
Now these specific moments? It's hilarious you have Marquese Chriss (a one-time Suns bust top-10 pick after being drafted by the Kings and traded) and Bismack Biyombo. It sounds like a madlib that these are the two chasing each other down the tunnel as Boban is there looking to settle it himself. Sometimes it takes a couple draft busts and bench warmers to get after it.
But the real story here to me is Book vs Luka. You have Booker doing the 'Luka special' which isn't necessarily wrong. Luka is a flopper. I think even the biggest Luka fan can admit that. Laying there on the ground, milking the injury and saying it directly to a camera is great shit talking. It's a whole act. I can applaud pulling a move like that off, especially when it's a star going after another star.
Needless to say, it's clear Luka caught wind of this + the tunnel chase. He SHOULD be pissed. He should be talking shit about how the Suns only talk shit while up. This is what the playoffs should be. None of this buddy-buddy bullshit. Give me animosity. Give me near fights. Give me shit talking. Give me hard fouls and players stepping up in the moment. It's why I fell in love with the NBA in the early 90s and how I want every playoff series to be.
Oh and game 6? Yeah, sign me up. Luka has a ton of asshole to him and he will come out and try to murder the Suns in game 6.