The status of Chris Paul for the conference finals is uncertain, and his absence may pose a challenge to Phoenix’s impressive streak.
Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams admits to indulging in “a pretty cool moment for the team” at Sky Harbor Airport on Sunday when it arrived home from sweeping the Denver Nuggets 4-0 in the Western Conference semifinals.
He said that the following day rapidly returned to “business as usual.”
Williams further added, “By being consistent with our culture and accomplishing our daily tasks, we can maintain a certain standard. It provides us with stability on a day-to-day basis.”
That’s precisely what Phoenix needs, but already has on the heels of point guard Chris Paul entering COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday, leaving his status uncertain for Game 1 of a conference finals series in which the Suns don’t even yet know their opponent or a start date. Williams understands the Suns could be forced to tip off the West finals without Paul on the floor, but he and the team aren’t fretting.
This is because the “stability” that Williams mentioned earlier is already integrated into the team and is regularly nurtured in a swiftly established culture of accountability.
The Suns have made it to the West finals for the first time since 2010. The complex elements and parts have contributed to Phoenix’s success.
Williams believes that his players are always prepared to step into the game, particularly during crucial moments. He acknowledges that replacing a player like Chris Paul is not a simple task, but emphasizes the importance of a solid player development program. He cites instances this year where players like Payne, Moore, and even Booker have stepped up to fill in the point guard position. In his view, his team is ready to face the challenge.
Everyone is grappling with similar issues. Observing the league, Philly, the Clippers, and Utah have all had their fair share of issues. Therefore, we don’t believe we are the only ones navigating health-related challenges. Preparation for such situations is crucial, both as a staff and as a team. We are confident that our players are prepared for any situation that arises.
Phoenix intends to assess Paul, who is rumored to be vaccinated, on Saturday and provide an update on his condition. The conference finals can commence at the earliest on Sunday, contingent on when the Western Conference semifinals game between the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz concludes.
Therefore, getting Paul through the COVID-19 protocols in time to possibly participate in Sunday’s game would be challenging, considering the significant difference in time absent this season for players who tested positive for the virus.
In March, the NBA relaxed some of the earlier protocols for league personnel who had received the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, previous protocols still apply to any players showing symptoms of coronavirus, including a potential 10-day quarantine, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Quentin Richardson and Dennis Scott give their opinions on Chris Paul’s indefinite absence due to health and safety protocols.
In order for Paul to return quickly, he must test negative twice in a row with at least 24 hours gap before he can undergo a heart screening for clearance to resume physical activity.
Williams suggested that he has considered all potential scenarios, but he has chosen not to overwhelm the team with all the information.
Williams stated, “I aim to avoid overthinking and strive to reduce the amount of information I overload the players with. Currently, all we can do is practice and wait for the unfolding events. There’s a natural tendency to let one’s mind wander. I try to prevent that, especially with our team.”
Part of the reason is because the Suns were constructed to manage this situation. They have alternatives. They possess depth. But above all, they are driven.
If compelled to play without Paul, the Suns have the option to either integrate Payne into the starting lineup as the point guard or simply shift two-time All-Star Booker over.
Payne, who joined the Suns following his most recent tenures in China and the G League, is a reclamation project. He is averaging 10.2 points over 10 playoff games, with a shooting average of 41.8% from the field and 38.9% from the 3-point range. He is also averaging 2.9 assists per game.
Paul had a challenging time in Phoenix’s opening-round series against the Lakers due to a shoulder injury. During Games 2 to 5, Payne stepped up by averaging almost 16 points and 4.5 assists, hitting 49% from the field and 45% from behind the arc. However, his playtime reduced somewhat in the conference semifinals as Paul regained his full strength.
Nevertheless, Payne had demonstrated his abilities on a grand platform against a formidable opponent.
Inside the NBA: Devin Booker expresses feeling ‘really good’ following sweep
Booker’s versatility offers an additional choice at the point guard position. Although he excels in his off-ball role, his offensive creation and sensible decision-making skills in the pick-and-roll are well-known. In the conference semifinals, Booker was particularly impressive, averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He also spent a significant portion of the season playing as a point guard.
“When asked about the significance of playing meaningful basketball at this point in the year, Booker responded, “This is exactly what all of my training and preparation has been for. I don’t spend my summer workouts with the mindset that my season will end after 82 games. I mentally position myself in a place where each shot has immense importance. Every workout, every training session, my mind is focused on the postseason or precisely these types of games that we are playing now.”
Also, it’s worth considering the injury conditions of Phoenix’s potential opponents in the conference finals. The Suns arguably have more depth than the Clippers, who are without Kawhi Leonard due to a knee injury, leaving his future participation in doubt. This is also true for Utah, who is playing without point guard Mike Conley due to a hamstring injury, while Donovan Mitchell is dealing with ankle pain that hinders his mobility and explosiveness.
Imagine Mitchell nursing an ankle injury, Conley just recovering from a hamstring problem, or Joe Ingles having to guard Booker during the conference finals. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges from the Suns would bear the responsibility of managing Utah’s most potent offensive threat, Mitchell.
Think about a comparable situation with the Clippers. If Leonard is sidelined, LA would have to decide among various alternatives for defending Booker. Should the Clippers use their top perimeter defender, Paul George, against Booker, it could potentially drain the energy he needs for offense.
Meanwhile, Phoenix would have the advantage of being able to assign Bridges to either George or Mitchell.
Keep in mind, Bridges did a commendable job defending LeBron James in the first round and managed to limit the impact of Michael Porter Jr. in the semifinals.
Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq engage in a conversation about Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns’ sweeping victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Suns ended the regular season with a defensive rating of 110.4, placing them in sixth rank, and they are currently ranked second in the postseason with a rating of 104.7.
Booker believes that their improvement is primarily due to enhanced communication, versatility, having Deandre Ayton as a strong paint protector, and competitive wings that can adapt to various game actions and defend against diverse player types. He emphasized that the team’s success hinges on mutual trust, collective gameplay, open dialogues, and holding one another accountable. While they can score proficiently in various ways and exploit the opposing team’s defensive weaknesses, he stressed that their defense is their main strength.
That defense creates offense to the tune of 20.4 points per game in transition throughout the postseason, led by Ayton — who played well in difficult matchups over the first two rounds against Anthony Davis and 2020-21 Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokic — as well as strong wing defenders Bridges and Jae Crowder.
“Crowder stated, “Entering the postseason, we simply fine-tuned our approach a bit. We aimed to elevate the things we’ve been doing all year long, and I believe the playoffs brought that intensity out in us. We’ve faced and overcome various challenges.”
“We’ve been facing teams with strong offensive capabilities. In the last two series, you can observe the offensive strength of both teams. This brings us back to the importance of our unity, ensuring we’re all working together and striving for the same goal. We need to maintain this approach in order to achieve our objectives.”
They also need to keep following the lead of the stoic Williams, recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award.
“We vowed never to allow anything to alter our culture,” Williams stated.
The Suns will get ample rest before facing either the Jazz or the Clippers. Which of these teams poses the most challenging matchup?
So, the situation remains the same as Phoenix contemplates the possibility of Paul’s absence at the beginning of the conference finals.
If Paul is unable to participate in the team’s first Western Conference finals appearance since 2010, the Suns would definitely feel the absence of his many invaluable contributions. These include his leadership both on and off the court, his formidable mid-range game, and his ability to perform under pressure.
However, while Phoenix anticipates its next adversary, it continues to trust in the foundation established by Williams and General Manager James Jones.
“Crowder stated, “The five of us on the court are constantly in sync. Our strong leadership and effective coaching place us in a position to succeed. I genuinely feel that we are united as a team, and it is evident. When the game becomes intense, we trust each other completely to make the correct move. I believe we’re playing in the right manner, uninhibited and for each other.”
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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