The Phoenix Suns entered the NBA playoffs as the fifth highest ranked defensive team with a 110.4 rating. But with the first round now nearly complete, two of the four teams ahead them have already “gone fishin,” including the Los Angeles Lakers, so graciously escorted from the postseason by the Suns themselves.
We got some more room on the boat 🎣 #Fanfishin
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 4, 2021
Lakers and Blazers are officially Gone Fishin' pic.twitter.com/IBNDSES5o8
Having clearly emphasised defensive prowess from a team standpoint this year, the Suns remain well-suited to square off against any team, no matter what weapons they wield. But although most know this already, perhaps the team’s best chance to further prove this truth to any remaining skeptics lies only one day ahead, with a series set to tip off against a team that really made them bleed from a defensive standpoint earlier this year: the Denver Nuggets.
During their three contests this season, the Nuggets won the series by snatching the last two games as overtime victories. Although the extra time added on certainly played a factor, the Nuggets nonetheless hurt the Suns where they normally excel, racking up 120 points during their first win, and then 130 during the next. At the time, the Suns were giving up only 106.5 points per game to their opponents.
But now stands a perfect chance to right their former wrongs. As we all know, on a postseason stage everything that happens matters to a far greater extent. If the Suns knock out the Nuggets, that bitter taste likely still swelling around everyone’s mouth following the two back-to-back overtime losses will surely dissipate.
If the Suns hope to make good on this though, they need to start by shutting down these three Denver Nuggets.