The Phoenix Suns may not do much more after adding Torrey Craig before the trade deadline, but maybe they need to be aggressive when playoff matchups are considered.
Like most playoff contenders, the Suns have a couple of soft spots that could prove costly in the postseason – and potential opponents know it.
The Phoenix Suns’ Western Conference rivals could be able to exploit some Suns weaknesses in the playoffs, so how can Phoenix fight back?
As they prepare to take the floor in Houston to face another “should-win” game (but we know these can be dangerous), the Suns probably can’t help but glance at the standings.
Entering Monday’s action — and with the Los Angeles Clippers’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday — the Suns have a four-game lead in the loss column over the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and the Clippers, with a five-game lead on the defending champion Lakers.
If they sustain the level of play they showed through the first 48 games, the Suns could throw a 50 in the win column by the time the regular season concludes May 16. With only 72 games in a truncated NBA schedule, 50 wins would be a serious achievement.
And it wouldn’t mean very much to playoff-starved Suns fans if the team were to lose in the first round — a distinct possibility, especially if Phoenix fails to land a No. 1 or No. 2 overall seed in the Western Conference.
The future is bright, and there are a few draft-eligible players to consider for next season, but the focus is on the “now.”
Here are a few of the prominent Western Conference rivals the Suns could face during the postseason, and how some changes may be needed.
Phoenix Suns playoff matchup: The Denver Nuggets
This is likely to be a recurring theme – and a common gripe among Suns fans until something is done: The team needs depth at center.
As has been well-chronicled already, Dario Saric is a stunningly successful backup center – especially when he’s defending people other than Nikola Jokic.
But if the Suns draw the Nuggets during the playoffs, they’ll need more to defend The Joker than Deandre Ayton and Saric. Oh, and Frank Kaminsky isn’t the answer.
For now, the options are certainly limited. Kaminsky has been out of action recently and, even when he’s healthy, he plays much more like a stretch four. He poses little resistance against a force such as Jokic.
The buyout market is basically dried up, with the Suns perhaps holding out hope that the injured Hassan Whiteside becomes available via buyout.
Jokic looks like a 35-15 guy for every game of the potential series.
Jamal Murray is fully capable of ruining Suns hopes, too, as his performance during the Orlando “bubble” showed last season. He’s putting up career highs in points (21.3) and in 3-point field-goal percentage (.412) this season as the Nuggets continue to roll.
Denver has won 14 of its past 17 and all five since the trade-deadline acquisition of Aaron Gordon — who’s still only 25 years old.
Gordon has hit 25 of his 39 field-goal attempts, averaging 14.3 point per game in his four games with the Nuggets.
Michael Porter Jr. is now a legit force, too. Since the All-Star break, he’s putting up 20.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and some sharp shooting: .592 from the field including .523 from 3-point range.
One of the Suns’ backup center possibilities, JaVale McGee, also is now with the Nuggets.
Phoenix Suns playoff matchup: The Los Angeles Clippers
More on the the buyouts. These things are tricky and sometimes met with sighs of exasperation from teams that aren’t attractive enough to pull off a Brooklyn Nets thing (James Harden whined until he forced the Rockets to trade him, then other vets Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge found their way to Brooklyn via buyouts).
NBA title rings are a strong lure for veterans who don’t need a massive payday anymore.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote some GMs want an overhaul of the buyout system.
"If the clear-eyed reality is that these players are simply faded All-Stars released from the back end of expensive contracts, the visual of them flocking to superteam rosters in two marquee markets does cast a chilling impact on the league’s collective psyche."
But, really, any playoff contender could have jumped into the rental mix — including the Suns (not to say they didn’t kick the tires on previous candidates).
As for the next opportunity, Suns fans can scout the Rockets’ Kelly Olynyk on Monday night. Houston could decide on a buyout prior to the April 19 deadline for postseason rosters to be set.
He’s a guy the Suns should certainly consider — a more versatile, better passing, better shooting version of Frank Kaminsky. He’d spread the floor when he subs for Ayton and he has plenty of pressure experience.
For the purposes of defense evaluation, though, this Clippers matchup isn’t so scary at the five.
Ivica Zubac and Serge Ibaka lead the team in rebounding and blocked shots, but combine for only 19.5 points per game on offense. Zubac could push Ayton around a little bit, but points in the paint shouldn’t be a huge concern.
LA added veteran Rajon Rondo and, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the rest of the offense poses all kinds of threats for the Suns’ defense.
Can the defense react quickly enough to close out on George? Probably.
Can the Suns stifle opportunities in paint? Sure.
But Leonard is always a problem, and this potential series could come down to Devin Booker against Leonard and George.
Phoenix Suns playoff matchup: Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers — a year after adding Markieff Morris to their rotation on a buyout — went out and landed Andre Drummond, an All-Star-caliber center after the Cavaliers bought him out.
The cost for the guy who earned $27 million last season? Less than a million dollars. And the Lakers already were the NBA’s best defensive team.
That move rattled many of the smaller-market teams.
If the NBA would like to correct this farce of the “buyout market”, declare that any player purchased after the trading deadline would be ineligible for the playoffs. That would stop it cold. If you want a guy, trade for him before the deadline.
— Bob Rathbun (@BobRathbunTV) April 1, 2021
We’re just not that bent about the situation. But we also believe the Suns are much closer to NBA title contention than are the Hawks.
Again, the buyout candidates who ultimately prove a huge addition are few and far between — and Drummond already stubbed his toe and has missed the Lakers’ past two games.
So, what are the Suns’ matchup challenges with the Lakers?
The best weapon against the two-headed monster of LeBron James and Anthony Davis could be coach Monty Williams and his staff. The game plan is the starting point.
Clearly, Ayton and Mikal Bridges — with a considerable amount of help — will leave it all on the court trying to mitigate the LA duo’s impact. But if these teams meet in the postseason, Williams’ plans including switches, strategic double-teams and generally trying to show new looks may prove the difference.
There is little doubt, though, that if Whiteside and/or Olynyk become available before April 19, the Suns should take a long look.