Phoenix Suns' Monty Williams says free throw disparity in Game 4 loss to New Orleans Pelicans something 'you have to look at'

play

After the New Orleans Pelicans took Game 4 by a score of 118-103 on Sunday to even the first-round series at 2-2, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams had some cutting remarks about the officials.

In the first half, the Suns were outshot by the Pelicans by a 17-2 margin. The Suns were 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217

Williams said that you can slice it any way you want. It is not necessary for coaches to come up to the microphone and feel like they are going to get their heads cut off for speaking the truth.

The game plan was to test the Suns inside, and the two Valanciunas combined to shoot 21 free throws. The first player in team history to score 30 or more in three consecutive playoff games was Ingram. Valanciunas rebounded from a poor showing in Game 3 to put up 26 points and 15 rebound.

The Suns took more shots in the paint.

Chris Paul did not go to the foul line after going 14 times in the first three games. He was held to just four points in the fourth quarter, tying his career low for points in a playoffs.

Williams said that they attack the basket and that they deserved to win. It is hard to swallow that there is a free throw disparity.

Paul gave his perspective.

I asked one of the refs if we were playing in the old NBA or the new NBA.

Willie Green said that his team wanted to get into the paint and to the free throw line.

We were being aggressive. They had 64 points in the paint. We knew we had to do better in that area.

The strategy of the Pelicans was changed against Paul. Green instructed his team to trap Paul in the fourth quarter instead of relying on a switch strategy to deny him drives that had largely failed. In the fourth, Paul had four of his 11 assists, but he forced the ball out of his hands.

The guard said he was tired of hearing about him breaking records. Our intensity. It is a make-or-miss league. He isn't going to make every shot. He is going to make a lot of tough ones. He missed some shots tonight. Our defense deserves credit. It is a make-or-miss league.

Paul appeared to be intimidated by the full-court pressure defense of Jose Alvarado, who has already developed a reputation as a defensive pest. Paul was forced into an 8-second violation by Alvarado.

Paul lost his cool several times because of his frustration. Paul was hit with a technical foul after committing a foul onHerb Jones, who played great defense and had three blocks and two steals. As the Smoothie King Center crowd chanted the famous "Ole, Ole, Ole" melody, Alvarado wentaded Holiday into a technical foul.

Paul said that he is a good kid who plays hard. I need to be better next game.

The Suns were without Booker for a second game in a row as he works his way back from a injury. There is no official timetable for Booker's return.

The offense of the Suns has fallen off without Booker. The Suns went 4-of-26 on 3-pointers on Friday, but went just 7-of-27 on Sunday. Booker's replacement in the starting lineup, Cam Johnson, is just 6-of-19 in the two games.

Williams said that they can't worry about Booker.

Andrew Lopez contributed to the report.