NFL
By: Stephen Garner
12 wins down, 4 more to go
From the worst record in the NBA in 2017-2018 to just missing the Play-In Tournament last season, to now representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns have arrived and then some.
They have now closed out each of their three series on the road, the most difficult way to do so.
In said road closeout games, they saw:
- A status-cementing 47-point outing from Booker
- An otherworldly 37-points from CP3
- An extremely apt 41-point outburst from CP3
This team, all season, has shown a collective resolve and resilience that screams championship potential. On the brightest of stages in each of their series leading up to the championship stage, we’ve witnessed it resurface over and over.
They won ugly games in nearly all four of their wins, and now rest as they scout out who their Finals opponent will be.
Following this rollercoaster of a Conference Finals series, here are my individual grades as they prepare for the NBA Finals.
Grades:
Monty Williams
“The essence of my coaching is to serve. As a believer in Christ that’s what I’m here for.”
– Suns coach Monty Williams on SportsCenter with SVP … This is exactly what it means to wear “The Uniform of Leadership” properly. pic.twitter.com/nNL3PcYCGt
— Jason Romano (@JasonRomano) July 1, 2021
Matched up with a master of adjustments in Ty Lue, Monty had his hands full. After a few early series wins, one against unprecedented odds via an inbound lob for the win, Monty showed his sideline savvy in plenty of stretches.
There were countless ATO (after timeout plays) where he drew up the perfect sets to re-establish order, went off-script with his rotations a couple of times to address the moment, and got his team to tap back into the system that got them there after a tumultuous two-game stretch that left many feeling uneasy.
His attention to detail and leadership from the sidelines are second to none in his tenure with Phoenix, and as he’s been challenged they all have stepped up to the occasion. Monty is now, most certainly, the best remaining Coach in the Playoffs and has done so the right way.
He adjusted to the adjustments of his counterpart in Lue and was able to get a lot out of his roster, earning his first chance at the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Grade: B
Devin Booker
Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports
25.5 PPG (38.2/28.6/90.7), 5.8 RPG, 4.7 APG
In his very first playoffs appearance, the sixth-year guard will also make his NBA Finals debut.
He had his toughest matchup, predictably so, with a trip to the finals on the line with the most staunch bunch of defenders keyed in on him.
His 40-point game one triple-double was unbelievable, especially sans his partner in crime.
The Clippers would “figure” him out, however, and stifle him to the tune of 33.1% from the field spanning from game two (when he broke his nose via a Beverly foul) to game five.
Through the struggle, he stayed the course and remained engaged for his team.
On top of his rough shooting stretch, he also struggled to keep possession of the rock. He averaged 4.2 turnovers in this six-game slugfest but remained composed through it all, which was a great sign of his resolve and growth as a young guard.
His raw counting stats were there, but he did lack the efficiency that he had previously shown was his basis.
Grade: B
Deandre Ayton
Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
17.8 PPG, 13.7 RPG (4.5 ORPG), 1.7 BPG
Ayton had himself yet another solid series.
He’s 116 for 167 in the playoffs. Let that sink in.
Yes, his looks have come from proximity. However, they’ve also been rather roughly contested, and his conversion rate before the Playoffs led for his playmakers to pause or dish it to him reluctantly in spurts where the game was in balance.
However, at this juncture, you can now see them call sets where he’s directly involved in confidence, and by the same measure you can see his confidence grow.
Take the ending of game two as a microcosm for 5he ascension of young Ayton. Monty Williams and the rest of his squad had the utmost confidence to call a play, for the game, for Ayton to execute. Then he went on to do so emphatically.
He was a menace on the glass and was the clear driving force behind the Suns winning the battle on rebounds in five of the six games. Those extra possessions he either garnered or tipped out to teammates compiled overtime to propel the Suns to the Finals.
Ty Lue did an excellent job in matchups to make Ayton’s typical manner of impact a lot more difficult and challenged him in a way that neither the Lakers (with Davis/Drummond/Harrell/Gasol) or the Nuggets (Jokic/Millsap/Green) could with the likes of Zubac/Morris/Mann as their deployed centers. Yes, you read that correctly.
The tactical switch to small ball took away his transition rim-running, early slips in pick and roll, and the subsequent zone defenses that were also deployed had him hesitant. The Clippers were also swarming (an understatement) in their post digs whenever he did touch the ball.
If he didn’t catch a pass cleanly, it resulted in a turnover. The Clippers defense deserves a round of applause for their many extra efforts that made the Suns extremely uncomfortable.
He was able to overcome in-game six with his 16 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He was everywhere, and that was on par with his overall efforts in this series.
Grade: A
Chris Paul
Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images
24 PPG (41.7/37.5/89.5), 8.8 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG
After 11 days away from the team and with his rhythm completely compromised in the process, CP3 struggled in his first 3 games back. The Suns would go 1-2 upon his return, the opposite of what they would’ve expected with the future Hall of Famer back in rotation, heading into game 6.
Though his conditioning didn’t seem bad, and his counting stats were near his playoff averages, the rust with his touch, pace, and feel for the game, what make him the Point God, were just missing.
He found his touch and feel in game six, early, and would be himself through the finish line.
He would drop 31 of his 41 points in the second half and take the entire game over, even through the physicality and extracurricular activities deployed by the Clippers (namely Beverly and Cousins).
His 35+ in consecutive closeout games (37 @ Denver in Game 4) made him the oldest to do so, at 36 years old. The previous leader was Jordan at age 33 in 1996.
The utter dominance and sending of the moment were storybook-like. He just continued to pour it on and ran, once again, a perfect point guard.
He continues to prove that his leadership and level of play make for him being the absolute perfect option for this team. They make for the perfect match for each other in timing and approach.
Grade: B
Wings
Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
The four-some of Crowder/Bridges/Johnson/Craig proves to be able to match up with yet another All-NBA level counterpart.
Each had chances at guarding Paul George, who was unbelievable this series, and each was passable at worst.
Collectively, they struggled shooting this series but Cam Johnson was in a great groove before missing game six for non-Covid rated illness. He averaged 10.8 PPG (52.9% from 3) and led the series in scoring off the bench. His impact was greatly felt. In game two, he didn’t even miss a shot in his 11-point effort, then only missed one (a rushed layup) in game five’s 14-point outing.
They combined for multiple apt extra efforts and high IQ plays while continuing to add synergy to the mix that brings the Suns their identity of playing off of their defense.
Jae Crowder is headed to the Finals for the second-straight season
pic.twitter.com/CnEdkmB4Kz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2021
Crowder also continues to be the quintessential role player for contending teams, especially those of the underdog variety.
Grade: B-
Cam Payne
Robert Gauthier – Los Angeles Times
The fleet-footed sixth man had a few rough showings, but his efforts in place of CP3 were a calibur of production not unlike Paul’s.
The Suns don’t win this series without Payne as he changed the pace of the game and applied continuous pressure on the Clippers defenders, converting at the rim.
Dario Saric
AP Photo
4.5 PPG, 3 RPG
Off the bench, spelling Ayton effectively, Saric was a +6 on the series. His play in simply not worsening matters was a successful job done. In that role, should he continue to suffice, I see no reason they can’t win the championship. Their next opponent is sure to pose a different challenge for him, however, regardless of which team it is.
Overall
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns took an extra game to handle their business and did so both the more dramatic and difficult route in game six. They did, nonetheless, finish the job. There were plenty of things they could’ve done to have closed the series at home, but a big-time credit HAS to be given to the Los Angeles Clippers for the collective efforts the output on the game to game basis. Each entity of this Suns team was challenged beyond measure, but they were all up for the challenge which resulted in them advancing to the NBA Finals. As things became treacherous, tumultuous, and adverse throughout the series, you could tell that the Suns never let go of the rope. They now have a chance at the Larry O’Brien Trophy
Grade: B
Alright, the Suns are now representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals and do so fully intact (a key determinant in each round especially this postseason.
More specific Suns talk soon to come heading in the Finals!
*All stats and information are accurate at the end of the WCFs and come from basketball-reference or cleaningtheglass unless stated otherwise
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