The status of Chris Paul for the conference finals is uncertain, and his absence could 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 turned into ‘business as usual,'”
Williams further explained, “Establishing consistency with our culture and accomplishing our tasks each day is something we can rely on. It provides us with a sense of stability on a daily 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 due to the “stability” Williams previously mentioned, which is already integrated into the team and fostered daily in a swiftly built culture of accountability.
The Suns have reached the West finals for the first time since 2010. These detailed elements and components have contributed to Phoenix’s success.
Williams believes that the team is always ready to perform, particularly during crucial moments. He acknowledges that replacing Chris Paul is not a simple task, but highlights the significance of their player development program. He notes that throughout this year, players like Cameron Payne, E’Twaun Moore and even Devin Booker have stepped up in critical times at the point guard position. He is confident that the team is prepared for the challenge.
All teams are grappling with it. Observing the league, there are situations in Philadelphia, the Clippers, and Utah has been dealing with it for a while. Therefore, we don’t feel singled out in confronting health-related issues and striving to maintain good health. This is what our staff and team prepare for. We believe that our team is ready to handle whatever comes their way.
Phoenix intends to assess Paul, who is said to be vaccinated, on Saturday and provide an update on his status. The conference finals can commence at the earliest on Sunday, contingent on the conclusion date of the Western Conference semifinals game between the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz.
Therefore, navigating Paul through the COVID-19 protocols in time to potentially participate in Sunday’s game could be challenging, considering the extensive range of time off 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, existing protocols for any players showing symptoms of coronavirus still apply, which may mandate a 10-day quarantine, irrespective of the player’s vaccination status.
Quentin Richardson and Dennis Scott share their thoughts on Chris Paul’s indefinite absence due to health and safety protocols.
For Paul to return quickly, he must test negative twice in a row, with at least 24 hours between tests, and then pass a cardiac screening to be cleared for physical activity.
Williams suggested that he has considered all possible situations, but he chooses not to overwhelm the team with all the information.
Williams said, “I make an effort to avoid overthinking and to reduce the volume of information that I allow to overwhelm the players. Currently, we’re simply in a waiting game, practicing and waiting for the next move. It’s easy to get caught up and let your mind run wild. I strive to prevent that, particularly within our team.”
This is partly due to the fact that the Suns were specifically constructed to manage such situations. They possess a range of options. Their depth is impressive. Above all, their hunger for success is paramount.
Should the Suns be compelled to play without Paul, they could potentially place Payne as the starting point guard, or alternatively, position two-time All-Star Booker in that role.
Payne, who joined the Suns after his latest periods in China and the G League, is a reclamation project. He has been 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. Additionally, he has been averaging 2.9 assists.
During Phoenix’s opening-round series against the Lakers, Paul was grappling with a shoulder injury. As a result, Payne stepped up, averaging nearly 16 points and 4.5 assists from Games 2 to 5. He hit 49% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc. However, Payne’s playing time was somewhat reduced in the conference semifinals because Paul had fully recovered.
Nonetheless, Payne had demonstrated his capabilities on a grand platform against a powerful adversary.
Devin Booker expresses feeling ‘really good’ following sweep, as reported by Inside the NBA.
Booker’s versatility offers an alternative at the point guard position. While he excels in an off-ball role, his offensive creativity and wise pick-and-roll decisions are evident. During the conference semifinals, Booker was a dominant force, averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Throughout the season, he has also spent a significant amount of time playing as a point guard.
“When asked about the significance of playing consequential basketball at this point in the year, Booker responded, “This is what all my training and preparation has been for. I don’t spend my summer training with the thought of my season ending after 82 games. I mentally prepare myself for every shot to matter. Whether I’m training or working out, I’m constantly thinking about the postseason or games of this sort.”
One should also take into account the injury circumstances of potential conference finals opponents for Phoenix. Without Kawhi Leonard, who is currently dealing with a knee injury of uncertain prognosis, the Suns have arguably more depth than the Clippers. Utah is in a similar position, playing without point guard Mike Conley due to a hamstring injury and dealing with Donovan Mitchell’s compromised mobility and explosiveness due to an ankle injury.
Imagine Mitchell nursing his ankle injury, Conley recently recovering from a hamstring injury, and Joe Ingles attempting to guard Booker in the conference finals. Meanwhile, the Suns’ defensive powerhouse, Mikal Bridges, would be tasked with managing Utah’s biggest offensive threat, Mitchell.
Imagine a similar situation with the Clippers. If Leonard isn’t playing, LA would have to decide among several choices for defending Booker. Should the Clippers use their top perimeter defender, Paul George, against Booker, it could potentially drain the energy required for their offense.
Meanwhile, Phoenix would have the advantage of being able to use Bridges against either George or Mitchell.
Bear in mind, Bridges put up a solid defense against LeBron James in the first round and successfully minimized Michael Porter Jr.’s influence in the semifinals.
Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq engage in a discussion about Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns’ sweep victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Suns ended the regular season with a defensive rating of 110.4, putting them in sixth place, whereas they are now ranked second with a postseason defensive rating of 104.7.
Booker believes that their improvement is primarily due to better communication, their versatility, and Deandre Ayton’s protection of the paint. They also have versatile wings that can guard various types of players and switch actions. The team trusts each other, works together, communicates effectively, and holds each other accountable. He acknowledges their ability to score in various ways and exploit teams for different coverages, but emphasizes the importance of their defense.
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, “We entered the postseason and just fine-tuned our approaches a bit. The things we’ve been doing throughout the season, we simply aim to do them at a more advanced level, and I believe the playoffs have amplified that in us. We’ve faced some challenges, but we’ve managed to overcome them.”
“We’ve been up against some strong offensive teams recently. If you examine the past two series, you’ll see both teams have significant offensive capabilities. Our success comes down to our cohesion, our collective understanding, and our shared determination toward the same objective. To reach our desired outcome, we must persist in this unity.”
They also need to keep following the lead of the stoic Williams, recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award.
“Williams said, “The one thing we pledged was that we would never allow anything to alter our culture.”
The Suns will have ample time to prepare for either the Jazz or the Clippers. Which team presents the most challenging matchup?
Thus, as Phoenix contemplates the possible absence of Paul at the start of the conference finals, nothing changes.
If Paul is unable to play in the team’s first Western Conference finals appearance since 2010, the Suns would definitely feel the absence of all his intangibles. His leadership both on and off the court, his formidable mid-range game, and his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations are all elements they would miss.
Phoenix continues to wait for its next adversary, maintaining faith in the foundation established by Williams and General Manager James Jones.
Crowder expressed that the five players on the court maintain a unified front at all times. He praised the exceptional leadership and coaching which he believes are the key factors behind their current success. Crowder feels a strong bond within the team, which he says is evident. He believes that when the game becomes challenging, each member trusts the others to make appropriate decisions. According to him, the team’s strength lies in their free-spirited style of play and their commitment to 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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