The Phoenix Suns have a regular season record this season, ranking No. 1 in the West and the league. Under the leadership of Chris Paul, the Suns eliminated the Pelicans by a 4-2 score in the first round of the playoffs and advanced to the semifinals.
The Suns started the Tigers
Refusing a 21-point reversal, the Suns narrowly defeated the Mavericks in the semifinals
The Suns' opponent in the Western Conference semifinals is the Lone Ranger team led by supernova Luka Doncic. The two sides fought fiercely in G1, and under the excellent performance of Paul, Booker, Ayton and others, the Suns maintained a crushing posture of the score, and the Lone Rangers failed to take a lead. Phoenix, at one point, widened the point difference to 21 points.
However, the Lone Rangers launched a frantic counterattack in the final quarter. After leading the team to shoot for a long time, Doncic narrowed the point difference to 5 points and saw the dawn of a reversal to win. Phoenix hit consecutive solid free throws, Dinwiddie failed to score key three-pointers, and the Suns narrowly won 121-114, rejecting a 21-point comeback. Phoenix welcomed the semi-finals off to a 1-0 lead.
Suns semifinals G1 narrowly beat the Lone Ranger
Rejecting a 21-point reversal, the Suns have 5 more good news to win! Phoenix finally advances to the Finals!
The Suns also won 5 big news
It is worth mentioning that the Suns also received 5 big news while winning the semi-final G1.
First, statistics show that since the 2021 playoffs, the Suns have won the first game in 6 consecutive series.
A major member of the Suns
This means that the Suns are often able to take the lead in the first game of the playoff series. The Suns won six consecutive Game 1 of the series, helping to build a good start and add more confidence to the final promotion.
Second, the Suns ended the third quarter of the season with a lead of 51 wins and 0 losses, second only to the Lakers in the 2019-20 season (57 wins and 0 losses). In that game, the Suns scored 96-79 at the end of the third quarter. According to statistics, when the Suns led the first three quarters into the fourth quarter this season, the team achieved an unbeaten record of 51 wins and 0 losses (including the regular season + playoffs).
When the Suns led in the first three quarters, the record was 51 wins and 0 losses
This means that while the Suns were leading in the first three quarters, the team's record was 51-0. The Suns continue to set the record, which is also a manifestation of Phoenix's absolute strength. As long as they can take the lead in the first 3 quarters, the Suns are the team with a better chance of winning the game. It seems that the stability of the Suns is indeed a must in the league.
Third, the Suns played 46 of 91 in this campaign, shooting 50.5% from the field. Statistics show that the Suns are the third team in history to shoot more than 50% of the first seven games of a playoff trip.
The Suns shot more than 50% in seven consecutive games
The Suns have shot more than 50 percent in seven consecutive playoff games this season, which is a reflection of Phoenix's strong offensive firepower. The Suns' points under the basket and in the mid- and long-range range are fairly stable, which is the basis for Phoenix's chances of winning in the playoffs.
Fourth, the Suns interior big player Ayton is still improving. In the Western Conference Semifinals G1, Ayton shot 12-of-20 and 1-of-1 from the free throw line, with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block, shooting 60% from the field.
Ayton continues to improve
Statistics show that if the current state is continued, Ayton is expected to become the first player since the playoffs to average 20+ per game and shoot more than 65% from the field.
Ayton is expected to perform miracles
Since the playoffs this season, Ayton has averaged 21.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and shot 68 percent from the field.
Ayton is with Paul and Booker, and is still evolving. Ayton has the highest shooting percentage in the league, and he has become more efficient in scoring in the box and in the middle and long distance. Ayton's excellent performance on the offensive end is the key to the Suns' ability to suppress opponents on the inside. Ayton has become one of Paul's best helpers in the championship.
Ayton, Booker and Paul
Fifth, Paul continues with a highlight. Veteran Paul scored 19 points, 5 boards, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 cap in the first game of the semifinals, shooting 7 of 13 from 5 and 3 free throws.
The data shows that Paul shot a total of 21 of 27 (14 of 14 last time) in the last two games, shooting 77.7%, setting a record for the highest shooting rate of a guard player in NBA playoff history for two consecutive games.
Paul created miracles
Approaching the 38-year-old Paul, the competitive state is still at its peak. Paul's strong play in the playoffs is the main reason why the Suns can repeatedly overcome strong opponents. As a team's backcourt commander, Paul often has passing as his first priority, but when the team needs Paul to end the game, he is often able to step up in the final quarter and key moments. Paul's continued fiery offense helped help phoenix go further in the playoffs.
Suns Chris Paul
Phoenix finally advanced to the Finals Iron Law
Phoenix also ushered in the iron law of reaching the finals. Statistics show that the Suns have maintained a lead in the semi-final game against the Lone Rangers and have never fallen behind. The G1 Suns, which were previously played against the Pelicans in the first round, also maintained a lead in the whole game.
So far, the Suns have never been left behind in the first game of the two consecutive series rounds, the third team in the past 25 seasons, while the previous two teams have reached the Finals (Warriors in 2016 and Pacers in 2000).
The Suns are finally advancing to the finals
This means that the Suns have become the third team in 25 seasons to maintain the lead in the first game of the two consecutive rounds of the series. The two teams that previously won the data reached the finals. And this season's Suns have also achieved this miracle. Reaching the above record marks the Suns' advance to the finals.
Can Paul lead the Suns to the Finals this season?
The Suns reached the Finals last season, but lost to the Bucks by a 2-4 margin. Will the Suns be able to break out of the Western Division and become a Finals team again this season? Let's wait and see.