It wasn’t that long ago when the Phoenix Suns playoff run looked like it was going to be derailed. This was because they were down 2-1 against the defending champion Los Angles Lakers. Veteran guard Chris Paul was also nursing a shoulder injury.
Phoenix Suns Are Two Wins Away from Their First Conference Finals Appearance since 2010.
Since that time, though, the Suns have won five consecutive playoff games. And during that stretch, they eliminated the Lakers and they now have a 2-0 lead in the conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets. Here’s a look at the factors that have contributed to the Suns’ recent success.
3. Phoenix Suns Have a Balanced Scoring Attack
The Suns are not what one would refer to as an offensive juggernaut. In fact, their 108.6 points per contest in the postseason is just the 11th-best mark out of the 16 playoff teams. On the flip side of the narrative, the Suns have six scoring players who are averaging double figures. In other words, they have a multitude of players that know how to put the ball in the basket.
2. Phoenix Suns Are Getting The Job Done From a Defensive Standpoint
The Suns haven’t been known as a stout defensive team over the past three seasons. This is supported by the fact they ranked 30th, 29th, and 17th in defensive efficiency coming into the 2020-21 season. This season, the Suns finished with the ninth-best efficiency in the NBA. That is a noticeable improvement, to say the least.
That trend has translated into the playoffs as well. For example, the Suns have the best scoring defense, giving up just 98.5 points per contest. The Suns also lead the playoff field in opponent field-goal percentage, allowing a conversion rate of 41.9 percent. Furthermore, the Suns are limiting their opponents to 31.1 percent shooting from 3-point range. This includes a 32.6 percent effort against the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
1. Resurgence of Chris Paul
As it was mentioned earlier, Paul sustained an injury in the opening round of the playoffs. And the injury limited his production in the first round against the Lakers. During that series, Paul averaged 9.2 points per contest on 38.1 percent shooting from the floor and a frigid 22.2 percent from beyond the arc.
In the first two games of the conference semifinals against the Nuggets, Paul is faring much better. He is averaging 19 points, 13 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per contest. And from an efficiency standpoint, Paul is shooting 58.6 percent from the field and he has connected on four of his five attempts from the 3-point line. It is also worth mentioning that Paul had 17 points and 15 assists in Game 2 without a single turnover. This is the third time he has accomplished this rare feat. Based on that production, it’s safe to say that the shoulder injury is no longer an issue.
Make no mistake, there’s still plenty of basketball left to be played in this series, but if the team’s playoff-tested veteran can remain healthy and this group can continue to thrive on the defensive end of the court, the Suns could be on their way to their first conference finals since 2010.
Main Image: Embed from Getty Images
