With the regular season meeting its end yesterday and the play-in tournament soon to follow, the long awaited reunion between the Phoenix Suns and the NBA playoffs is now just around the corner. Ending a 10-year drought, the Suns know exactly how much this moment means to their fans, even despite their unfamiliarity with the postseason atmosphere.
Whether good or bad, a memorable playoff performance can easily allow a player push his regular season outing into the back of everyone’s mind. People only seem to care about how you play when it matters most, and this concept not only applies to basketball, but other sports, and really all aspects of competition as well. Depending on the circumstances, this phenomenon can either work as a profitable blessing or as an unfortunate curse.
During Phoenix’s last postseason venture, it was Steve Nash and Jason Richardson who elevated their games once reaching the game’s biggest stage, with Nash scoring additional 3.5 points per game and Richardson scoring an additional 4.1 points per game during the run. Although our modern Suns differ greatly from this ancestral team, they would be wise to at least try and mimic the efforts of those prior.
Simultaneously, avoiding a downturn like the one Amar’e Stoudemire experienced that same postseason remains important as well. Stoudemire’s points, rebounds, and field goal percentage decreased during the trip, and then he departed Phoenix to join the New York Knicks shortly after.
Boom or bust, make or break, it all holds true for Phoenix now. But although everyone on the roster is likely to try and use the postseason’s bright lights to their advantage, these three Suns have the most to prove during the 2021 NBA Playoffs
Phoenix Suns with something to prove – Frank Kaminsky
Very few figures managed to bring more excitement and intrigue to the college basketball landscape than Frank Kaminsky during his time as a Wisconsin Badger. But although the Wooden Award winner heard his name called relatively early on draft night as a ninth overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets, his collegiate success has failed to translate over to the professional level.
For his career, Kaminsky averages 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, having played four seasons with the Hornets before spending his last two here in The Valley. With the Suns, Kaminsky serves as a steady role player, logging just over 15 minutes a game while working beside Dario Saric to back up Deandre Ayton.
But Kaminsky’s contract expires after this year, and with nine other teammates averaging more minutes per game than him right now, his odds to resign with the team do not look very promising. If he somehow turns things around during the postseason though, that could change within an instant.
With Kaminsky, you always know what you’re getting. As the more consistent back up big this year, the Suns might put him out on the floor more frequently during the playoffs, possibly looking for some stability during close games nearing their completion. Monty Williams seemingly trusts Kaminsky, having turned his way more often than not amidst Ayton’s recent injury issues. With this combined again with the motivation to play himself into a new contract, this is Kaminsky’s best shot to find his way back to notoriety.
Phoenix Suns with something to prove – Torrey Craig
Joining the Suns this March after the Milwaukee Bucks dealt him for cash considerations during the PJ Tucker exchange, Torrey Craig right now finds himself surrounded by strong competition as a wing player, crowded by the likes of Devin Booker, Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson. Even before coming over, Craig too struggled to earn consistent minutes with the Bucks, playing a career low 11.2 minutes per contest.
With this understood, it feels likely that Craig will approach this postseason with a notable sense of urgency. Also like Kaminsky, Craig finds himself with a contract set to expire after this season, prompting him to step up and make a statement.
With the Suns alone this year, Craig averages 7.0 points per game and shoots 51 percent from the field. Additionally, Craig brings playoff experience to the table from his days as a Denver Nugget, which remains a valuable factor which the team somewhat lacks. His league-renounced skills as a defender too makes him a likely candidate to earn opportunities during tough stretches for the team.
Phoenix Suns with something to prove – Deandre Ayton
When you’re taken as the first overall pick, your team often does so with the belief that you’ll one day lead the franchise deep into the postseason. As that character for the Suns, Deandre Ayton absolutely makes this list, looking to justify Phoenix’s choice to take him at number one, which at this point feels like a mistake given the emergences of Luka Doncic and Trae Young.
Although not necessarily seen as a disappointment or “bust,” Ayton has still yet to really blossom into a star. But if the Suns hope secure their first ever NBA Championship this summer, they need Ayton to step up and assume that role.
We know what Chris Paul and Booker offer, but Ayton remains a bit of a question mark. During Phoenix’s memorable bubble run last year when they won all eight games, Ayton flashed his talents with two 20+ point and 10+ rebound games, but also slowed down during the final three contests, averaging 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Now with his first chance to partake in some playoff basketball, Ayton can silence his critics by taking his game to another level. Playing with greater aggression remains the easiest way for Ayton to accomplish this. In games won by Phoenix this year, Ayton averages 10.3 field goal attempts compared to his 9.1 attempts in losses. Both the Suns and Ayton himself need a good run from him, so keep an eye on how he responds.