2. Cameron Payne’s resurgence
I am going to write an entire section on Cam Payne without making a single pun about his name. Don’t think I can do it? Watch.
A simple truth here: The Suns are not 4-0 in the bubble without Cameron Payne. If Monty Williams doesn’t make that call to him, Ty Jerome is leading the second unit, and as much success as I wish on that guy, the NBA is just too much for him right now.
Payne is averaging 11.5 points per game in the bubble, and while that is undoubtedly too small of a sample size to draw a meaningful conclusion, it is also more than double the points per game average of any of the Suns’ other backup point guards’ season so that has to mean something.
There are still a few shots he takes that I would consider ill-advised, but he is making them and when he is leading a group that hasn’t played much together, taking matters into his own hands is understandable. So far, it seems to be working, so keep at it.
The Heat’s second team is going to be vulnerable and the Suns’ bench, led by Payne, can (and will) take advantage.
There is still a lot of basketball to be played but at this point, but if the Suns could only bring back one backup point guard next year, I would vote for Cam Payne!
(Ah, dammit! I almost made it.)