The 3 worst playoff matchups for the Phoenix Suns

2. L.A. Clippers

On paper this doesn't look like a dreadful matchup for the Suns - but upon closer inspection - it absolutely is. The temptation here is to instead pick the Oklahoma City Thunder, because like the Timberwolves they are young and hungry, and have a player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is further along in his personal development than Edwards.

He plays with a poise that calms his whole team, and the Thunder just hammered the Suns 128-103 without Gilgeous-Alexander suiting up. But it is the L.A. Clippers who are the harder postseason matchup, because they will be able to play at the kind of slow pace that can and will grind the Suns to a halt.

The Clippers can throw Kawhi Leonard on Durant, and Paul George on Booker. Terance Mann and James Harden can take turns guarding Beal, while Ivica Zubac and Nurkic is a closer contest that may ultimately be a wash. The Clippers also have Russell Westbrook off the bench, and the idea of him driving at the disappointing Eric Gordon, Nassir Little, Bol or Eubanks is a terrifying one.

The Suns would still have some joy scoring against the Clippers, and it is also fair to point out that the other team in Los Angeles has cooled off some since trading for Harden and going on a two month tear. But the Suns can also stop nobody either - and with the Clippers third in offensive rating this season (119.0) and with loads of ways to hurt you - they are a team the Suns want to avoid.