The Phoenix Suns ran into a crucial stretch of games immediately out of the All-Star break gates this year. With Chris Paul unable to play at all due to his wrist avulsion, while Devin Booker and Cameron Payne both missed time with injuries as well, they got hit with a boulder of adversity to immediately begin their 2021-22 season’s second half.
However, they handled it just like they have with everything else this year: with great care and poise.
Going 5-3 over the eight-game stretch, Phoenix doubled up their confidence. They licked their wounds and kept moving, giving opposing teams in the Western Conference little-to-no hope of catching them in the standings.
Even with that much scoring and playmaking sitting on the sideline in Paul, Booker, and Payne, the Suns offense made all the major adjustments required to ensure that their team stayed competitive.
With their maintained 8.5 game lead over second place Memphis Grizzlies, and being on pace for the best record in franchise history, the Suns showed that their depth is just as much a reason to fear them as their backcourt.
The stellar play of Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Deandre Ayton all came together as one major factor in keeping the Suns afloat following the All-Star break, but it would be unfair not to recognize the contributions from some of the team’s glue guys as well.
These three role players stand out amongst the rest as Phoenix’s unsung heroes in getting the team across this bumpy part of the road.