NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Phoenix Suns have found themselves atop the Western Conference standings the past two seasons and have no championship to show for it. If the regular season was the measuring stick, then the Suns would be the toast of the NBA. However, it comes down to what a team does in the playoffs in which success is measured. For the Suns, the focus has not been on their younger players but on their oldest one, Chris Paul.
In his time with the Suns, Paul has more than made his mark as a difference maker. Well, in the regular season that is. in 2021, he led the Suns to the NBA Finals where they jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks and wound up losing the series 4-2. I get it, things happen. But for a team with so much talent and great veteran leadership, that collapse was not supposed to happen, right?
Entering the 2021-22 season, the suns were mentioned as the title favorites right along with the Brooklyn Nets. They would finish the regular season 64-18 but still managed to fall short of the finals. hell, they didn’t even make it to the Western Conference Finals. Another promising regular season only to come up empty when it mattered most.
Now, who will take the blame for that? Will it be Devon Booker, coach Monty Williams, or the front office? Truth be told, it goes to the front office and Williams. The reason is, that they have hitched their success to the coattails of a 36-year-old PG. Paul can still get the job done at his age but at what expense?
This coming season, Paul will earn $28M. For the Suns, it’s not about the money but about the future. Grabbing Paul at the time they did in 2019 was a smart move. He helped put the organization back on the map but the team has faltered when it mattered most. Now the question comes if the Suns are better off with Paul leading them or giving his minutes to a younger player such as Cameron Payne.
Is Chris Paul Still The Key For Phoenix Suns
The Suns, with Chris Paul at the helm are still one of the top defensive teams in the league but a good reason for that is their frontcourt. With Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Jae Crowder backing him up, Paul is able to gamble more. Yes, Paul averaged 2.1 steals per game last season, but he has the green light to take more risks with such great rim protection behind him.
If the Suns fail to win a championship this season, is it time to think about parting ways with the future Hall of Famer? When Paul was out last season, it was Booker and Payne who took on the role of lead guard and the team never missed a beat. Getting rid of the heart of your team is never easy but at the same time, the Suns are letting valuable talent sit on the bench.
In the NBA, the window is only open door a short time, unless you’re the Golden State Warriors. How much longer can Paul contend with players like Ja Morant, Trae Young, and the rest of the young guns in the NBA? He’s still valuable but how much time do the Phoenix Suns have to let this ship continue to float but never get enough wind behind their sails?
