Bubble suns are so last year. Say hello to the playoff sun.
After a 2–1 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, the Phoenix Suns have now won eight consecutive playoff games, the longest streak in their franchise history and the longest for any team since the 2017 Golden State Warriors. Playoff is 15. -0. They won it without Chris Paul, who joined the team via FaceTime in the locker room after the game.
Those eight wins match the Suns' total from last season's bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, where Devin Booker & Co. put the NBA on notice. Now, following their Game 1 victory over the LA Clippers, they are only three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. But despite being sidelined by Kawhi Leonard, Paul George isn't going down without a fight.
Playing in the first conference finals game in Clippers history, George finished with 34 points, looking like the player who played the Indiana Pacers in back-to-back conference finals in 2013 and 2014. His performance was just the thing that caught the eye of our NBA experts in Game 1. Here's what's special to him and what it means for the series to move forward.
Booker has what it takes to be legendary
Remember when Booker's lack of playoff experience came to the fore in talks about whether the Sons might be a contender?
Lesson learned: Never question the cool of a star who cruises to the Games in one of the lesser riders of her collection.
Booker has been fantastic after the whole season. His Game 1 performance, when the Phoenix needed Booker to fill the leadership void created by Paul's absence, was his best performance yet. Booker delivered the first triple-double of his career with 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists - and while no one could claim these were empty stats, a ridiculous rap slapped the bad teams while unfairly slapping Booker. But put in large numbers.
Booker scored or assisted 43 of the Phoenix's last 50. This included every point during the crucial section of the game, a tiebreaking 8–0 run at the start of the fourth quarter. Booker also caught a defensive rebound before those three sans buckets. He scored twice in that stretch, pulled for a 3 and worked his way to a midrange jumper off a ball screen. But his most impressive play of that run was when he dug a loose ball for a long rebound, pushed it into transition and struck Cameron Payne for wide-open 3.
It took six years for Booker to reach the playoff stage with the Suns. He's making sure the wait was worth it.
Don't Think of Paul George as Robin
Through the first four games of the Clippers Western Conference semifinal matchup against the Jazz, Leonard averaged 27.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. It might surprise you to learn that in those same four games, George averaged nearly the same: 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. This uncovered an interesting dynamic of the Clippers: they are not led by the traditional "Batman and Robin" duo. No, they have multiple Batmans.
As such, Leonard was sidelined due to a knee injury that kept him out of the last three games, with the Clippers not facing a replacement for their primary option. Instead, they are actually replacing the secondary production that George usually provides. Against the Jazz, he built on that output from his perimeter shooters by playing the shorter ball and taking advantage of Rudy Gobert's lack of mobility. The Suns don't have that particular weakness, so even though George dropped 34 points, the Clippers didn't get enough to win over those peripheral players.
Going forward, potentially still without Leonard, the Clippers won't have to worry so much about George in the first seat, where he's proven he'll be fine. Instead the question is whether Terance Mann, Reggie Jackson, or any of the others can be a consistent, effective Robin. And this is a big question.
Tyrone Lew looses his twirls
Facing a quick turnaround from defeating the Utah Jazz on Friday night to making his Western Conference Finals debut in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, Clippers coach Tyrone Lew broke his arm before being forced by a knee pain. Planned to open the rotation, which limited Marcus Morris Sr. minutes after halftime.
By the end of the first two series of the Clippers, Lew had almost completely moved away from using traditional centers. But the Suns have Deandre Ayton, making size the more favorable choice for the Clippers in this matchup. Ivica Zubac started the second half in place of Morris, and DeMarcus Cousins ​​played off the bench in both halves, using his size advantage against Phoenix backup Dario Saric. The Clippers shortened for the final 5:44 of the game.
As he has throughout the playoffs, Lew will certainly reduce his rotation as the series develops. Cousins ​​can cause sarcophagus problems, but Clippers should limit their minutes against the 6-foot-11, 250-pound Ayton, who physically fits well with the 6-10, 270-pound Cousin matches. Separating Cousins ​​from backup guard Luke Kennard - who was out of rotation after halftime - would also help the Clippers edge the other unit defensively. And despite his seven assists in 22 minutes, Rajon Rondo can't offer enough to justify a crucial role. The Clippers were outsourced by 14 points with Rondo on the court.
Deandre Ayton is a big difference-maker
If there was any idea that Ayton would be presented as ineffective, as was Gobert by the L.A. Clippers, it took a half as long to dismiss that idea.
A strong internal scorer, Ayton scored seven field goals and 14 points in the first half of Sunday's game, 20 points in 37 minutes on the night and nine rebounds on the way. While he may not be completely comfortable in sets where the Clippers are driving five perimeter players, he is quick enough on his feet that he cannot be exploited.
And whenever Ayton is on the court with Zubaik, who is a solid starting center in his own right, Phoenix has a clear advantage.
Ayton's game in the first round against Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis (before being injured) and in the conference semifinal against league MVP Nikola Jokic was eye-opening. He proved in those matchups that he was capable of being a difference-maker in the playoffs—a tough hurdle for the big men in this day and age. This gives the Sons another reason to feel confident in their chances of advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.
Cameron Payne was ready for his moment
With Paul (COVID-19 protocol) out of the lineup, the Suns turned to Cameron Payne in Game 1 with Booker as their starting point guard. As he has shown for most of the season, Payne didn't hold back when he took his chance. The 26-year-old scored 11 points and nine assists against just one turnover in 29 minutes, giving the Sun the kind of steady presence they were looking for in Paul's absence.
The performance feels even sweeter for the former lottery pick, who struggled in five disappointing seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls, but signed with the Phoenix just before the season resumed in a year bubble. Since then the story of his career has changed. first. Payne shot 44% from the outside of the arc during the regular season and found a place for himself in a team three wins shy of an NBA Finals berth.
Payne's dedication has been evident over the past year, as he played a consistent role as a title contender on his return to the G League from China. His ability to produce in Paul's absence would continue to earn recognition from many around the league who had previously questioned whether he could play at this level.