The conference finals may see Chris Paul’s participation in doubt, potentially challenging Phoenix’s impressive run without his stabilizing influence.
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, the following day rapidly turned into ‘business as usual’,”
Williams further added, “By maintaining consistency with our culture and diligently accomplishing our work each day, we create something that we can rely on. It offers us a level of stability that extends from one day to the next.”
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 firmly established in the team and is nurtured daily in the quickly developed culture of responsibility.
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 expressed, “In my opinion, guys are always prepared to play, particularly during significant moments. Clearly, it’s not easy to replace someone like Chris Paul, but that’s why having a robust player development program is crucial. This year, we’ve seen players like Payne, Moore, and even Booker, who occasionally plays point for us, step up in crucial moments. So, our team is up for the challenge.”
Every team is grappling with it. Observing the league, Philadelphia, the Clippers, and Utah have been dealing with similar issues for a while now. Thus, we don’t perceive ourselves as the lone team struggling with health-related challenges. As a team and staff, we are prepared for any situation that arises. We believe our players are prepared for any scenario.
Paul, who is reportedly vaccinated, is set to be evaluated by Phoenix on Saturday, with an update on his status to follow. The conference finals have the potential to start as early as Sunday, although this is contingent on the conclusion date of the Western Conference semifinals showdown between the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz.
Hence, ensuring Paul progresses through the COVID-19 protocols in time to potentially participate in Sunday’s game could be challenging, considering the significant differences in time missed this season by players who tested positive for the coronavirus.
In March, the NBA eased some of the previous protocols for league personnel who had received the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, earlier protocols for any players showing coronavirus symptoms still apply, which may entail a 10-day quarantine, regardless 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 make a swift return, he must have two negative tests at least 24 hours apart, followed by a cardiac screening that clears him for physical activity.
Williams conveyed that he has considered all potential scenarios, but he has decided not to overwhelm the team with all the information.
Williams stated, “I make an effort not to overcomplicate things, and I try to reduce the volume of information I give the players, as we’re currently in a position where all we can do is train and wait for the outcomes. There’s an innate propensity to let your mind wander, and I strive to prevent that, especially within our team.”
The Suns are equipped to manage this situation partly due to their design. They have options and depth. Above all, they possess a strong desire to succeed.
If compelled to play without Paul, the Suns have the option to either put Payne in the starting lineup as the point guard or simply shift two-time All-Star Booker over.
Payne, a recovery project who joined the Suns following his recent stints in China and the G League, has an average of 10.2 points per 10 playoff games. He has a shooting average of 41.8% from the field and 38.9% from the 3-point range, along with an average of 2.9 assists.
During Phoenix’s opening-round series against the Lakers, Paul was dealing with a shoulder injury. This led to Payne stepping up and averaging close to 16 points and 4.5 assists from the second to fifth games, with a field goal percentage of 49% and a three-pointer percentage of 45%. However, Payne’s game time slightly dropped in the conference semifinals as Paul recovered and returned to his full capacity.
Nevertheless, Payne had demonstrated his capabilities on a grand platform against a formidable adversary.
Inside the NBA: Devin Booker is ‘really good’ following the sweep.
Booker’s versatility offers an additional choice at point guard. Yes, he excels as an off-ball player, but his capabilities to generate offense and make good calls from the pick-and-roll are evident. He shone in the conference semifinals, with an average of 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Furthermore, he has spent a significant portion of the season playing as point guard.
“When asked about the significance of playing crucial basketball games at this point in the year, Booker responded, “This is the moment I’ve been training and preparing for. I don’t go through summer workouts with the mindset that my season will end after 82 games. I mentally condition myself to believe that every shot counts. I envision the postseason or games like these every time I train or work out.”
Also, it’s important to consider the injury circumstances of Phoenix’s potential opponents in the conference finals. Without Kawhi Leonard, who is dealing with a knee injury bringing his future availability into question, the Suns arguably have a deeper roster than the Clippers. The same can be said about Utah, who are playing without their point guard Mike Conley due to a hamstring injury, while Donovan Mitchell is struggling with ankle pain that hampers his mobility and explosive power.
Visualize Mitchell nursing his ankle, Conley just recovered from a hamstring injury, or Joe Ingles attempting to guard Booker in the conference finals. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges, Suns’ defensive star, would be tasked with managing Utah’s most potent offensive threat, Mitchell.
Imagine a similar situation with the Clippers. If Leonard were to sit out, LA would have to decide among various strategies to guard Booker. By assigning their top perimeter defender, Paul George, to guard Booker, the Clippers may risk draining the energy required for offense.
Meanwhile, Phoenix would have the advantage of being able to assign Bridges to guard either George or Mitchell.
Keep in mind, Bridges did a commendable job defending LeBron James in the first round, and he significantly reduced Michael Porter Jr.’s impact during the semifinals.
Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq engage in a conversation about Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns sweeping the Denver Nuggets in victory.
In the regular season, the Suns ranked sixth in defensive rating with 110.4, while they currently hold the No. 2 spot in the postseason with a rating of 104.7.
Booker stated, “I believe our improvement lies primarily in our communication and versatility. Deandre Ayton’s ability to defend the paint coupled with our competitive wings’ adaptability to guard various types of players plays a key role. We trust each other, play as a team, communicate, and keep each other responsible. We realize that our scoring prowess is comparable to the best, and we can exploit teams with different styles of coverage. However, the foundation of our success is our 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 simply fine-tuned our strategies. Everything that we’ve been working on throughout the year, we aim to execute it at an elevated level. I believe that the playoffs pushed us to do so. We’ve faced and conquered numerous challenges.”
“We’ve been competing against some strong offensive teams recently. If you analyze the last two series, you can see the offensive prowess of these teams. Our success lies in our unity, our shared understanding, and our collective pursuit of the same objective. We need to persist in this way to reach our desired destination.”
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 stated, “We vowed never to let anything alter our culture.”
The Suns will get ample rest before facing either the Jazz or the Clippers. Which of these teams presents the most challenging matchup?
Thus, Phoenix’s contemplation of Paul’s possible absence at the beginning of the conference finals does not alter anything.
If Paul is unable to participate in the team’s first Western Conference finals appearance since 2010, the Suns would surely feel the absence of his unique contributions – his leadership both on and off the court, his formidable mid-range game, and his knack for performing under pressure.
However, as Phoenix anticipates its next opponent, it retains confidence in the foundation constructed by Williams and General Manager James Jones.
“Everyone on the court is always in sync,” said Crowder. “Our strong leadership and excellent coaching puts us in a winning position. I earnestly feel our team is well-coordinated, and this is clearly evident. In tight situations, we fully trust each other to make smart moves. I believe we’re playing correctly, liberally, 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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