To give you an idea of how lopsided Game 5 was, the Phoenix Suns only led the supposedly left-for-dead Los Angeles Clippers for only 20 seconds. The Suns seemingly thought they could just waltz into Phoenix Suns Arena, and then emerge from it two hours later as Western Conference Champions. Even Clippers super-fan Skip Bayless showed little confidence in his team ahead the matchup.
In a couple of hours, Chris Paul will almost certainly be headed to his first NBA Finals. Almost certainly.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 29, 2021
However, the Suns waltzed their way not into a champagne bath, but into a Clippers buzzsaw. Los Angeles finished the contest winning by a 116-102 score, sobering up Phoenix to an extent unseen since their series with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The complexion and the narrative of the series changed immediately after this dominant Game 5 performance. Bayless, notorious for his knee-jerk reactions, claimed later that night that the Clippers would win in seven games.
Yes, the Clippers are the favorites now. They have all the momentum, all the strategic advantages, and the hot superstar in Paul George. On the other hand, the Suns must realize that they are no longer entitled to a spot in the NBA Finals and that no adjustments or strategy will matter if they do not establish the sense of urgency required to win an NBA playoff game.
But hope still persists. Game 6 can go down as a much better performance if Suns head coach Monty Williams makes the right adjustments. Here are three that he can put into play to not just regain the strategic advantage—but also get his team back the momentum.