The Phoenix Suns Are Not Just Lucky, Their Doubters Need to Shut Up

Even in a season in which seemingly everyone has doubted the Phoenix Suns, only for them to eventually prove them wrong, their haters are still hating. Heading into this year’s campaign, the Suns were not on anyone’s radar. I will say myself; I did not expect this amount of success.

Nobody believed the Phoenix Suns would have that much regular-season success.

How about those regular-season predictions? How about ESPN predicting the Suns to finish seventh in the Western Conference…with a 40-32 record? Actually—try 51-21.

However, a point of realization eventually did come into fruition. The Suns grabbing the conference’s second seed forced some to give them a nod, the eye test did the same, and their depth became notable as the season progressed well. This team, for those who watched them, clearly seemed to be destined for a playoff run.

But its one thing to start believing that a long playoff run is coming, and another to actually watch it play out. Fast forward to the end of June, and the Suns are in the NBA Finals.

Now people are calling this postseason run for the Phoenix Suns just lucky.

I want to address the first point made here. Yes, Anthony Davis was hurt. However, I would ask if Jason McIntyre even watched Chris Paul during the first couple of games of this series.

In Game 1 against the Lakers, Paul hurt his shoulder. You could visibly see Paul struggling to even handle the basketball. I repeat. CHRIS PAUL, THE POINT GOD, COULD BARELY HANDLE A BASKETBALL!

Remember Game 2? Where Paul played under 23 minutes and missed most of the fourth quarter? I certainly do.

However, it seems many have forgotten. Everyone only wanted to talk about how the Lakers were  up 2-1 until Davis got hurt. But on the other hand, a healthy Paul likely puts the Suns up 2-0 to begin things. Averaging 9.2 points and 7.7 assists per game, on 38.6 percent shooting, Paul was clearly compromised.

One of the greatest indications of Paul’s lousy shoulder was his 3-point attempts. Paul, who averaged 3.7 3-point attempts per game during the regular season, attempted just 1.7 per game in the first round. Paul’s shoulder, being in so much pain, restricted him from arguably a top three component of his game.

The Phoenix Suns spanked the Denver Nuggets.

Next up, the Nuggets and Jamal Murray. Murray, who tore his ACL, did not play in these playoffs. A major blow no matter how you look at it.

Yes, I understand the Nuggets do not get swept with a healthy Murray. But the Suns knocked out the Nuggets in the most compelling way possible: with a sweep. It is not as if the Suns barely squeaked through. The Suns spanked the Nuggets, even when they were at home, and with the 2021 Most Valuable Player, Nikola Jokic.

The Phoenix Suns took care of the Clippers in convincing fashion.

Then, the Suns met the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference finals. Unfortunately for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard was not fit to play.

But how quickly people have forgotten that Paul was forced to miss the first two games of the series due to testing positive for COVID-19.

In these two crucial games, the Suns came out on top. Coming out of quarantine meant a rusty start for Paul, who initially looked shaky from the field. CP3 shot a lowly 26.8 percent from the field in his first two games against the Clippers.

In my opinion, no Paul against no Leonard is a fair duel.

One cannot forget Cameron Payne injuring his ankle in Game 3. This left the Suns with a lack of depth and energy off the bench on the road. In Game 6, Cameron Johnson had an illness, forcing him onto the sidelines. But even while missing a key part of their rotation, the Suns came out on top, 130-103.

The Suns simply got the best of the Clippers—no luck needed. That’s all they’ve done to just about every team this year, contrary to popular belief.