The Phoenix Suns are currently locked in a fascinating playoff battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and there are sure to be many more twists and turns before a winner can advance. The Timberwolves might have convincingly taken Game 1, but the Suns won the regular season series 3-0.
If the Suns are going to put an inconsistent regular season behind them and go on a run, they need to get the best out of their trio of superstars. Kevin Durant held up his end of the bargain in the Game 1 loss, scoring 31 points in all manner of difficult ways. Bradley Beal played well but looks like he could give more, while Devin Booker had a dreadful night, going 5-for-16 from the field.
According to Draymond Green though - if Durant can just alter his game and do something he never has before - then the Suns can win the series.
Green was speaking on his The Draymond Green Show podcast in the aftermath of his own exit from the postseason. Something Suns' center Jusuf Nurkic took great pleasure in seeing happen, as the Golden State Warriors couldn't make it through the play-in tournament. Green's suggestion? Have Durant guard Timberwolves' star Anthony Edwards... for the entire series.
"What the Phoenix Suns are going to have to do, is there going to have to play KD on Anthony Edwards the entire series. That has to be his matchup. And what Phoenix has to do is they have to rely on Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen you're gonna have to hit some shots. They are going to have to rely on those guys to carry the load offensively. To ask Kevin to go try to lock up Anthony Edwards and then go carry the load on the offensive end, he is in year 18, it ain't happening every night"Draymond Green
Green may have a point here, because Durant may yet garner an All Defense selection for his efforts on that end during the regular season. Doing this could also allow Booker to rediscover his mojo in this series, knowing that he is the primary scoring option and the closer, because Durant won't have the legs to do everything on both ends of the court.
Colin Cowherd says Kevin Durant is becoming ‘irrelevant’ 😳
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 22, 2024
"Jokic looks much better historically. Steph is really the soul of the Warriors, winning titles before, during, and after him. Anthony Davis is now a more consistent player on both ends. Giannis has more regular season… pic.twitter.com/SVRGv3RfgG
Where the holes begin to appear in this logic though, are expecting Grayson Allen to hit some shots. During the regular season sure, but he had a bad 0-for-3 night from deep in Game 1. In fact he could be out altogether with a rolled ankle moving forward in this series. Trusting Allen to knock down some shots and Booker to go superhuman can win you games, not series.
The same is true of Beal - who looks like he could have a massive series - but who has had his fair share of injuries this season. Besides, if you have maybe the greatest scorer in the history of the NBA, shouldn't you use him to pile up points when he's on your team? Suns' owner Mat Ishbia didn't trade for him to be the defensive anchor.
On top of all that - if Edwards wants a switch on any given possession - more often than not he is going to get it. Having Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns as your teammates helps to ensure that happens. That would just put Durant back to where he was already in this series, matched up with one of those two big men.
Perhaps if the Suns take a portion of what Green is saying here, and have Durant guard Edwards more often than not while still taking his fair share of shots, the the Suns can have success. It is about finding balance, because Durant as the lockdown defender is not how you win this series and advance.