Phoenix Suns: Is This Chris Paul’s Best Team Ever?

The 2021-22 Phoenix Suns vs the 2014-15 Los Angeles Clippers

A year later, the Clippers still put up a fantastic 56-26 record, but once again prematurely fell off the postseason stage, this time to to James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

This Clippers team very distinctly reflects the one prior, but its biggest difference came with regard to 3-point shooting. Improving their willingness to let it fly, this team took 26.9 triples per game, rather than 24.0 from the year prior. Other than that though, this team’s point differential, shooting percentages, and rebounds per game all changed by less than a single point from the year before.

With this team essentially looking exactly the same, but now more reliant on the triple, the Suns gain favor as a team built to defend that very shot, and eventually emerge as the better team.

Almost like setting a trap for the Clippers, Phoenix’s astute wing defenders can allow this group to continue launching up shots from deep—and forcing them to miss, as it remains what they do best. Last season, the Suns clocked in as a top five team in lowest opponent 3-point percentage, and as a top 10 team in fewest opponent 3-pointers made per game.

But this coming year, they will only improve. As young players, Mikal Bridges Cameron Johnson likely become much better defenders under another year Jae Crowder’s tutelage.

Last year’s Clipper team only slightly outshines this year’s Suns team, but with a huge change in its offensive tendencies that play into Phoenix’s strengths—if the Suns were to beat either Clipper team, it has to be this one.