With the 42-17 Suns now firmly ensconced in the West’s No. 2 seed, All-Star point guard Chris Paul has emerged as a possible 2021 MVP candidate, writes Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
The offseason additions of Paul and Jae Crowder, plus the marked improvement of Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, have all contributed to Phoenix’s (very probable) return to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. But the 35-year-old All-Star has been a driving engine for the Suns, averaging 16.0 PPG, 8.8 APG, and 4.7 RPG with a shooting line of .487/.377/.927.
“I think at the end of the day, I know who I am and I know what I bring to a team, but I also understand with our team, it’s about us,” Paul said of his season with the Suns so far. “It’s not something I worry about or wake up and think about or anything like that. It’s just about the process, like getting ready for tomorrow’s game. I think everything else will take care of itself.”
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- As Anthony Davis has returned (albeit on a minutes limit), the Lakers have continued to balance their center rotation, writes Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. Marc Gasol missed three games with a dislocated pinky, but immediately supplanted Montrezl Harrell as L.A.’s backup center when he did return, behind new starter Andre Drummond. Head coach Frank Vogel indicated that Harrell had been briefed about the situation. “He understands the big picture and what we’re trying to get accomplished,” Vogel said.
- The Lakers plan to engage head coach Frank Vogel in contract extension conversations during the 2021 offseason, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski indicated on an NBA Countdown broadcast Saturday, as relayed by Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report. Vogel is in the second year of a three-season contract he signed with L.A. in 2019. During his first season, the Lakers won their first title in 10 years.
- With All-Star big man Anthony Davis now back in the fold, the Lakers are still figuring out their lineups during the home stretch of the 2020/21 NBA season, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “It’s like you’re starting over with the guys and just trying to find a connection with these guys again,” Davis said. “They’re trying to find a connection with me. So, it’s like we’re starting from zero, which is tough so late in the season.”
Harrell had a DNP but I suspect he will be saved for when LJ is in, since LJ can best get passes to him when he cuts forward from behind the basket. Schroder may do best with a shoot-first mentality and quick-striking to the rim with the center not patrolling low following Harrell.
Harrell gets most his mins when LeBrons on the bench – He’s nothing more than an ISO player with a high fg% . He’s not really dependent on any outside player. I assume this was more for getting a longer look at Gasol
Iso scorer with a high FG%, NOTHING MORE? Wow, scoring efficiently in isolation is very difficult
Indeed X it is…. my point tho was he does not make others better and nobody contributes greatly to his success so bringing back LeBron isn’t going to bring up his play-
He is who he is no matter the variables surrounding him……. and probably will be until he retires . Not a huge knock, but his game is very limited , especially in modern NBA…. if his fg% was 46-50% rather than 60% he might be outta the league already .
I like Trez, you know exactly what your going to get night to night, theres value in that
Disagree, or would, except I cannot get the Bas.Ref lineups page working. Source for Harrell getting more points with LJ off?
Harrell used to be considered a picknroll player with Lou Williams in two-man schemes. None of the Laker guards nor LJ nor AD do that much of that which has left Harrell a bit adrift.
The goal for the LJ/MH offense as I described is taking advantage of Trezl’s activity in the paint with LJ’s vision height & timing. This is LJ making things happen for others, not Trezl. This scheme needs LJ there to pair with. None of the other guards can be counted on.
It is important to use Harrell, not just take him from the Clippers and give up on him b/c Lou is not present. He is a nice contrast to Gasol, who they like to set high. I like his fight and mobility in a PT role. Gasol too, PT. Drummond, like a car wreck.
The basic rotation for Trez earlier when everyone was healthy was to play (mostly) when LBJ was on bench…ofc there was some overlap and ofc Trez does benefit for LBJ (AS everyone does really cept Schroeder) but I think he was mostly viewed as Bench burst offence
I cant speak to the Lou- Trez dynamic – I like Trez as well but I can see how limited his game really is…. As someone here earlier said its not just he;s short for the position he really doesnt have that much muscle mass as well (Dad bod)
His intensity and hustle is certainly admirable and I can see how that wins fanbases over but in certain playoff matches I can certainly see Vogel handing out a string of DNP’s this year.
Drum 30 at C Gasol 10 Davis 8 Trez 0
** Trez future – Altho I think he’s probably the easiest guy to gauge; his contract/worth is a bit tricky…. I think he declines his 1/10 for next year….. I think his value is about a hair less than 10 per year but on the right team i could see a 3/36 (max) being inked next year- If Cha wanted some Bench big production I could see that a natural landing spot with the open cap… Will be interesting to watch…hes still pretty young but he’s preety much reached his ceiling- My max would be 3/24 personally but Nba doesn’t work as straight-line as say baseball in worth…all bout cap
lol dad bod. I did not consider lack of muscle mass… thought he had that base covered.
In the ABC game JVG kept asking about Harrell’s DNP. Nobody said anything about a dad bod lol.
Somehow Drummond will mess it all up for the Lakers! I see a Laker-Jazz series coming up… they’re sharp and he’s not.
I overlooked your point on Lakers not having a facilitator with LeBron out.
Def a solid point, worth discussion. Dennis is not a facilitator whatsoever altho he has his selling points
I wonder on Drummond too but will hold my final thoughts until he gets a chance to play with Lebron. Like Harell I think theres a lot to be gained w that tandem with prolly more court time shared overall…. Short adjustment period but if Andre cant get his game to the next level w LBJ it will be telling for future GM’s. He’s never paired with a great passer/floor general yet really
If they can wait till rd 3 to see Utah I think that favors LAL if they can even get there, The playoff team will basically have No exp together whatsoever, scary no doubt but has a chance to click and run the whole thing if it does
True, maybe Drummond learned to not care who the PG is! Better notice LJ though!
The seeds are not clear yet, but… If they drop to 6th the brackets will be unbalanced favoring the #1 seed. Utah up by 2 games. Lakers, Clippers & Suns will play each other before the finals.
Talk about a homer reporter in Phoenix. A player who is 51st in scoring averaging a paltry 16 PPG is supposed be a possible MVP candidate? Objective much? Not at all.
MVP is the best player in the best team
Jazz don’t have mvp
MVP is not about stats
MVP is not about stats, I guess that explains how Russ won it based solely on the fact he averaged a triple-double with a sixth place team who had just the 10th best record in the NBA at 47-35.
Before he became a bandwagon Nets fan, Harden-Wetbrook MVP spent his time constantly bashing CP3 and praising Westbrook. It’s clear CP3 is a much better player to have and his style is much less toxic to team success.
Bandwagon Nets fan? That’s news to me.
Firmly ensconced in the #2 seed, while tied with the Clippers?
Neither “firmly” nor “ensconced” comes close to describing the Suns hold on the 2 seed.
Phoenix has like 8 awesome, high-IQ players on its team, they can’t give the MVP to anyone but Steph Curry, who has led the worst team in decades to respectability – if that isnt what “MVP” means, then it doesn’t mean “valuable” anymore.
Joker also has too much help to win it, Steph has absolutely no help.
No disrespect to Curry, but I’d take Dray and Wiggins over Gordon and Murray’s torn knee ligament any day. Jokic is the deserving MVP
I’m not sure what the Lakers are trying to accomplish pretending Drummond should start
By this metric the MVP of the NBA is Jimmy Butler… by a WIIIIIIIIIIIDE margin (Lebron would be the closest to him in this aspect). How many people have even considered him in MVP debates lol? This is a ridiculous article. Paul isn’t even the alpha on his own team lol
Always thought Harrell more a PF than C. He can play with Drummond or Gasol. No one complains about depth. Only thing that matters is winning. Drummond will get his chance. It’s up to him to step up. Lakers better hope they get out of first rd.
CP3 is having a great yr. MVP of his team not the league. Rockets suck. Worst record in NBA. This is a deep draft. So even the 4th pick could be best player in draft. That’s why Rockets tanking.
Harrell should play back up 4, he is too small defensively against players 6’10 or over and is not the thickest guy either. For me Jokic is Mvp this year. AD hasn’t played well all year, even before his injury, we will need Harrell in more often with AD at the 5 once playoffs come. Our best lineup plus minus wise is Ad at 5, Harrell at 4, LeBron at 3, with a backcourt of Schroeder and Caruso. My prediction is this lineup will be Vogel’s go to in 4th quarters of playoff games assuming good health. If we need some more spacing or if he gets blistering KCp will kick Caruso out.
Going to be very few mins if everyone gets healthy-
Drum 30+
Dennis 35+
LBJ/AD- 35 each
KCP 30-
Rotation will be slashed to 9 . Some folks will not be happy this offseason with playoff minutes, most in walk/option/ RFA years as well . Should be interesting offseason, some feelings will be hurt
And the media continues to pander to all the Lakers fans out there. Some pathetic excuse for a reporter at CBS Sports thinks they will finish with the #4 seed. So sad.