The backcourt pairing of Chris Paul and Devin Booker has reached historic levels this season, particularly during the first two games of the NBA Finals, Gina Mizell of Suns.com writes.
Paul and Booker have caused problems for the Bucks’ defense, combining to score a total of 59 points in Game 1 and 54 points in Game 2. The two stars are now just two wins away from securing an NBA championship for the first time in their respective careers.
“I’m having a hard enough time trying to figure out how to guard those two,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, who’s thrown a variety of defensive schemes at Phoenix thus far. “I can’t come up with a good comparison for you.”
There’s more out of Phoenix tonight:
- Mark Medina of USA TODAY examines the special bond between Deandre Ayton and former NBA player Mychal Thompson as native Bahamians. “I tell him how proud I am of him and to keep going,” Thompson said of Ayton. “He’s the greatest player we’ve ever had from the Bahamas.” Ayton has welcomed the advice with open arms, averaging 16.2 points and 12.1 rebounds in 36.5 minutes per game in 18 playoff contests.
- The Suns could benefit from Frank Kaminsky serving as a frontcourt X-factor the rest of the series, Dana Scott of the Arizona Republic writes. Phoenix is already playing without Dario Saric due to a torn ACL, making it imperative that Kaminsky is prepared to step into the rotation. “For me, my mentality this whole playoffs is just, ‘Stay ready,'” Kaminsky said before Game 2. “You never know what can happen. I’ve been ready, I’ve been putting the work in.”
- The team is treating Sunday’s Game 3 as a must-win contest, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. With a win, Phoenix would take a commanding 3-0 lead heading into Game 4 on Wednesday. “For us, the biggest game of the year is tomorrow,” Paul said on Saturday. “Tomorrow. It’s a must-win game for us. We’ve got to come out with that mindset. Know that they’re home, they’re more comfortable, they will be in front of their fans, but we got to be us. We got to be us and we got to be the hungrier team, and so that’s what we’ll do.”
According to Steve A and Max Kettleman, healthy Nuggets are the best team in the West
Healthy Clippers and Lakers can beat Bucks?
That’s why I’ve said Thanasis should play in this series. They need him defensively
Steven A works for ESPN……why would anyone believe any of their drivel
does he have an acting job on the soap general hospital too? cuz i swear when that show came on the other week, he was there. no joke, it was uncanny.
Watching Stephen A and Kellerman on the UFC broadcast was disheartening. Listen to the song Racoon by Willie D from the Geto Boys. You’ll never look at Charles Barkley or Stephen A Smith the same
Suns are up and playing even. And Booker is not shooting well. Bad sign for Bucks. He’ll wake up second half. Giannis looks good. I’m amazed he’s come back like this after injury. Good gm so far.
You watch Ayton and you will see why Bigs are so important still. He’s going to be a great player, already a top big.
Lopez playing allows Phoenix to get away with more minutes for Ayton with not as much of his drawbacks, which is why I’ve mentioned Portis needing more minutes in this series to space the floor, and also more lineups with less Lopez
Ayton looking like Hakeem out there …..
That’s beyond ridiculous, he isn’t even close to The Dream.
Olajuwon averaged 26 PPG in the playoffs during his HOF career.
And the scoring in the NBA back then was way lower than it is now.
Ayton is barely averaging 16 PPG during the playoffs. No comparison.
The only player looking anything like Hakeem tonight was Giannis.
Giannis is nothing like him. He’s the most athletic big man ever. Not a center like Dream. Ayton controls the gm like true centers do. Unfortunately you can’t see it. Like so many things you don’t see.
Laughed out loud @ Frank Kaminsky being any sort of X-Factor.
Frank was like a Deer and headlights. I think Jalen said it. He didn’t want to shoot or box. Booker off night is concerning to me. I don’t think he should of sat. It’s like giving one away.
Gotta say Giannis is looking good. He hasn’t been a killer and I’ve criticized him for it. He’s still growing as a player. Always said he needs to post more. Glad to say he’s stepping up and showing me. Ayton In foul trouble really hurt too. Bucks fans outside was great. Love that.
Nice win but they need two. Bucks showed who Suns are without Ayton. Best thing I saw is Giannis posting. And working on blocks. Unstoppable there, been saying it.
Agreed. I’ve said Phoenix will win this series in 6 or 7 from the get go, but if the Bucks can get Ayton in foul trouble like that it could go their way. That’s the right game plan especially with Phx being as small as they are behind him. I thought the Suns not making a move for a backup big at the deadline was puzzling.
Not many teams do. Nobody posts enough, even GA, like Al said twice.
I like Kaminski’s game, whatever one calls it, that he does. He’s like a long Cam Payne, squirting himself forward into empty space to solve all problems.