In Episode 33 of the Valley of the Suns Podcast, it’s time to examine the Phoenix Suns’ reasons for optimism in Game 5, the LeBron James factor and HBO Max’s “Mare of Easttown.”
Welcome, Valley Boyz and Girlz, to another episode of the Valley of the Suns Podcast!
In Episode 33, host Gerald Bourguet happily regroups from last week’s doom and gloom episode thanks to the Phoenix Suns’ Game 4 win, which may have changed the entire outlook of this first-round playoff series.
Anthony Davis’ groin strain obviously has a lot to do with how drastically different this matchup feels now, and while no one should be rooting for injuries, his absence in Game 5 would undoubtedly favor Phoenix. It’s not just AD’s potential absence that would benefit the Suns, however; there are several reasons for optimism heading into this pivotal game whether the Brow plays or not.
From Deandre Ayton’s dominance to Devin Booker being due for a bounce-back performance to Chris Paul looking more like his usual self, the Suns are in perfect position to put their home-court advantage to good use, especially as PHX Arena expands from 11,000-plus fans to 16,000 for Game 5.
However, with Davis potentially sidelined or not at full strength, that means this contest is setting up to be a vintage LeBron James performance, and his potential to singlehandedly shift the advantage back in the Los Angeles Lakers’ favor cannot be ignored. He’s been relatively quiet from a scoring standpoint, but the Suns need to be prepared for his best on Tuesday.
Finally, for our “G-Rated” segment, HBO Max’s crime series Mare of Easttown is in the spotlight. What starts off as a classic “whodunnit” murder mystery gives way to a deeper character study about dealing with past trauma and overcoming personal demons — even within the limitations of where you come from in a small-town environment. The question is, after Sunday’s finale, does it stick the landing?
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Here’s the breakdown for Episode 33:
- Positives heading into Game 5 (2:45)
- Beware the LeBron James Game (23:40)
- G-Rated: Mare of Easttown (31:20)
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