NFL
By: Stephen Garner
In convincing fashion, the Phoenix Suns put a final stamp on the second round in Sunday night’s 125-118 win.
They’d complete a series sweep of the Denver Nuggets and, spanning through two series now, would tack on their seventh consecutive win in these playoffs (3 at home, 4 on the road). This is also a tie for their longest win streak of the season.
Finishing their second-round series averaging 121.5 a night and allowing just 105.8 defensively, they were downright dominant and continued to receive the necessary collective efforts that are at the foundation of their successes this season.
Even more, they saw a resurfacing of their two best players synergy, in tandem with connectivity that got them to ascend the ranks starting in February.
At the aptest time, the CP3-Devin Booker tandem has re-established their chemistry (50.8 PPG from those two per game), Ayton’s continued his growth and ascension, Williams is keeping the pulse of his team and pressing all the right buttons, and the role players are filling in. Which has them primed for a chance to represent the West in the NBA Finals.
With a potential eight full days off as the Jazz-Clippers series continues, let’s dive into individual grades from this series with Denver.
Grades
Monty Williams
The chess that'll take place btwn CP & Monty with Malone this series is gonna be fun based off their relationships with each other. All 3 were on that Hornets team in 2011, plus Willie Green & Tim Connelly too, so it's come full circle @BrendonKleen14 @protectedpick @scooperhoops
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) June 4, 2021
Not unlike his first, Monty Williams has proved his ability as a tactician from the sideline this postseason, resulting in his second (and second consecutive) series win.
To say he had his team both well-prepared and fully bought into his system and game plan would be an understatement.
The Suns completely outplayed the Nuggets from the start of the series to the finish, and lived in the driver’s seat, and had minimum adjustments to make because of it.
Schematically, they stuck to what has made them one of the best defenses in the NBA. This team is one of the best and most disciplined I’ve seen in closing out to the 3-point line. In alignment with that, these playoffs, the Lakers and Nuggets combined to shoot just 28% from the corners (2nd best), 33.3% (3rd) on above the break, and 32.2% (1st) from deep overall.
Even more, both teams shot just 34.7% from the mid-range and only 61.3% at the rim.
Williams’ deployment of his defensive strategy has been the point of emphasis since day one, and that concerted attention to detail has them in a great position right now.
Offensively, his team is humming at a different frequency than any other team in the playoffs since the closing games of the opening series. They’re 125.5 PPG over the last two weeks.
Predicated in pick-and-roll, they have a handful of ways they get themselves into the action. Because the Nuggets deployed “drop coverage,” where the player defending the initial screen setter sags off into the paint, creating space behind the screen in the mid-range, for a majority of this series, this was inevitably a matchup that the Suns would surely manipulate.
Most notably, this amazing wrinkle here was used at a crucial juncture in the 4th quarter. Broken down by David Kevin who does EXCELLENT work over at https://thefourpointplay.substack.com/.
☀️ Suns vs Nuggets Game 4 – My Play Of The Game.
🇪🇸 The Suns went back to a familiar ATO play & it was an all too familiar result for Michael Porter Jnr.
🔊 Sound on. pic.twitter.com/bglv4D9Nj5
— David (@theIVpointplay) June 14, 2021
In all, Williams was impeccable in this series. His connection certainly with Devin Booker, but especially the long-lasting one with Chris Paul, is the driving force behind what the Suns now have.
Deeply rooted in connection that transcends well past the court, these two have unified to mastermind what is now the playoff’s best offense, and the best team in the NBA playoffs at the moment as well.
Grade: A+
Chris Paul outplayed the league MVP in this series. In terms of the Nuggets and their chances given the predicament they were in, this was extremely adverse to their aspirations.
Chris Paul became the oldest player with 25 PPG and 10 APG in a playoff series, all-time. pic.twitter.com/85PC3VSNnm
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 14, 2021
He would average 25.5 PPG on 62.7/100/75 shooting (yes, you read that correctly), 10.3 APG, and 5 rebounds in 35.7 MPG.
Since the crucial game 4 on the road vs the Lakers last series, which commenced this seven-game win-streak, he’s looked more like himself. In that, he’s averaging 19.6 PPG on 53.7/41.2/100 shooting, 9.7 APG, and 4.1 RPG. He’s also at 68 assists and 8 turnovers in said stretch.
He’s looking like himself and it’s had a profound effect on the rest of this roster and is crucial for them to reach their newfound potential. He’s had his full Point God effect and has been unbelievable.
Oldest player with 35+ points on 70% shooting in a playoff game since 1965:
36y, 38d — Chris Paul
36y, 10d — Kareem Adbul-Jabbar
35y, 284d — LeBron JamesPoint God > Father Time. pic.twitter.com/WlkbePHo01
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 14, 2021
His manipulation of the pick and roll, then assertiveness in scoring as well in the 4th quarter, were downright legendary.
Grade: A+
On the series, he averaged 25.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 7.8 RPG (!!!).
Devin Booker in closeout games this playoffs:
81 PTS
22 REB
55.3 FG%
55.6 3P%
95.0 FT%Absolute monster. pic.twitter.com/xcZncTMg7I
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 14, 2021
Two extremely underrated aspects of Booker’s ascension have been his presence on the boards, as he’s been increasing the tempo on grab-and-go play to close defensive possessions. Booker’s also been downright solid on defense. Statistics may not necessarily show it, but there were stretches where the Nuggets tried to go directly at Booker numerous times this series with their guards as well as Aaron Gordon, to no avail.
Booker had stretches on offense where he took over from the mid-range, shooting 58% from 4-14 feet these playoffs, which then spilled over into his 3-point game.
He had a handful of absolute dimes that he set guys up within pick and roll. From pocket passes to timely dishes to the wing (even with his left hand), Booker showed his propensity for playmaking at varying moments, creating great flow within their offense (one of the biggest keys to their system). He is much more dynamic than just scoring.
He’s been more than ready for the moment and has been stellar in his playoffs debut that has been eerily reminiscent of the late-great Kobe Bryant.
Grade: A+
Tasked with, yet again, the toughest matchup of any Sun, this time in the dynamic MVP Nikola Jokic, he’s been more than up to the task.
Though Jokic was able to dominate, to the tune of 25 PPG and 13.3 RPG, he was able to hold him to relatively inefficient shooting in comparison to his typical output. 47.7/27.8 is very much atypical.
Ayton, unlike most other teams in the playoffs, gives the Suns the ability to play Jokic straight-up. That ability to take away the off-script dynamic of the Nuggets offense due to not sending multiple bodies at him is invaluable.
Even more, being able to produce on his own, 14.3 PPG and 10.5 RPG, was all just a testament to his growth. Playing through foul trouble, dominant stretches from Jokic, playing minutes he wasn’t accustomed to due to mirroring Jokic, he was disciplined through it all.
Grade: A+
Wings
Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Cam Johnson were all great in this series. Their combined efforts, offensively and defensively, were felt in every game in this series. Quite honestly, since the aforementioned game 4 of last round, they have been inter-connected in productivity.
Their individual efforts defensively versus a team that uses off-ball movement to take advantage of undisciplined defense was as good as can be.
They played great in changing ends, filling lanes in transition, spotting up, making extra passes, and playing off of their two lead guards.
If they can continue to replicate this level of play, which is certainly not out of the realm of possibility, this team could see themselves enjoying more successes in the coming weeks.
Grade: A+
Cam Payne and Dario Saric
Lineups with these two, typically featuring one of Paul or Booker in the backcourt with Payne, were extremely effective. Of relevance on possession total these playoffs, lineups featuring these two are +6.2 in point differential. This series wasn’t a big one for either, but their effectiveness was felt and needed as well.
Regardless of the opponent, they’ll be needed to advance.
Grade: B+
Team Grade: A+++
The Suns had developed a habit of playing up and down to their competition over the latter month of the regular season. A team compiled of mostly inexperienced talents in regards to the playoffs, this became something noteworthy and of slight concern.
After a big-time series win in the first round over the defending champions, they could have certainly succumbed to the mental mistake of underestimating their undermanned opponent who was the other Western Conference Finals representative of last season.
That was not the case.
This is a great testament to both leadership and the young players staying in the moment.
They’re now four wins away from a Finals appearance, and stand at eight of the prerequisite 16 wins to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. [pickup_prop id=”8291″]
*All stats and information used comes directly from basketball-reference, cleaningtheglass, or ESPN unless stated otherwise*
