On May 8, Beijing time, when the Suns lost two consecutive games in the Western Conference semifinals and trailed 0-2, and Paul also suffered a groin strain and needed to recuperate, the outside world was full of doubts and pessimism that the Suns would continue to be "tragic". However, the Suns back at home in the absence of Paul, they burst out with amazing fighting power, especially two consecutive games Durant and Booker double gun outbreak, the two G3 combined to cut 86 points, and in G4 combined to cut 72 points, Dub double gun to form a "1+1>2" effect. Once Paul returns, there is no doubt that the Suns' strength will be further improved, and they are also expected to fight for the counterattack to advance, replicating the 0-2 reversal pattern of the first-round Warriors.
While the Suns have risen in the past two seasons, they ended the Suns' long playoff embarrassment and managed to reach the Finals stage in 2020-21, even taking a 2-0 lead at one point, but then the Suns lost four consecutive games and collapsed to lose the championship. As for the 2021-22 season, the Suns became the regular season champion, but in the second round of the playoffs 3-2 lead to win the match point, losing two consecutive games and being eliminated by the Lone Ranger, especially the tie-break rout was questionable.
The Suns missed out on big championship opportunities for two consecutive seasons, and their goal this season is naturally to compete for the championship, and after the new owner took office, the team opened a big trade mode to get Durant. The Suns' goal is clear, they lack the key to playing a tough playoff game, and Durant has proven himself in the playoffs in his past career, after all, he led the Warriors to two consecutive championships in 2017 and 2018, and Durant also won the Finals MVP twice.
Admittedly, the Durant trade has almost hollowed out the role player base, especially the departure of Bridges has led to a sharp decline in the team's defensive strength, coupled with Crowder's contradictions and being sent away, which further weakens the team's overall role player strength.
Against the Nuggets, the Suns lost 18 points and 10 points 87-97 in the first two games of the series. However, after returning home, even without Paul in two consecutive games, the Suns narrowly defeated the Nuggets 121-114 and the Nuggets again 129-124, respectively, with a combined net win of 12 points in the two games.
It is not difficult to see that the Suns lost 28 points in the first two games, but now they only win by 12 points in the two games, which undoubtedly makes the outside world question whether the Sun can still counterattack? After all, the Nuggets still have home-court advantage in the remaining 3 games, in fact, the Suns are gradually finding a way to deal with the Nuggets, and they also have multiple advantages in their hands to fight to complete the next comeback to advance.
First, Durant + Booker 1 + 1 > 2, super double gun can not be blocked
The Suns' tactics are quite simple, that is, Durant and Booker take turns to attack wildly, especially after the lack of Paul combing the offense in the second or third games, and Coach Monty completely allowed the two guns to maximize his offensive power.
In the first four games, the double gun statistics of Durant and Booker are as follows:
1. 29+27 combined to cut 56 points
2. 24+35 combined to cut 59 points
3. 39+47 combined to score 86 points
4. 36+36 combined to cut 72 points
The Nuggets know that the Suns are the main two-gun offense, but they can't contain the power of the Suns' two-gun gun, especially Booker's last two games are 20-of-25 and 14-of-18, shooting 34-of-43 from the field is extremely amazing, including 7-of-12 from the outside for three-point shooting. As for Durant, although he shot 12 of 31 in the last game, he shot 11 of 22 in the last game, and this game was 11 of 19. The Suns have the strongest super offensive double gun, they have already played with clear cards, but they can't stand the Nuggets is unpreventable, "1+1>2" is the most important guarantee for the Suns to fight back and advance.
Second, the Nuggets' defense is a weakness, and the Suns have risen 120+ games in a row
The Nuggets are certainly the No. 1 team in the West in the regular season, but their defense has always been a weakness, and it is difficult for them to freeze the Suns' offense. Even if the Nuggets scored 107 and 87 points for the Suns in the first two games, it was clearly not normal for the Suns.
In the last two games, the Suns have bombed 121 and 129 points in a row, and the two games have combined to 250 points. When the Suns can blast 120+ in a row, it will be difficult to beat them again. In the first five games against the Clippers, they scored 123 points in the second game, 129 points in the third, 136 points in the fifth, and 110 and 112 points in the other two games. As long as the Suns can continue to maintain super offensive firepower, the Nuggets' defensive ability cannot be limited.
Third, Paul's return will further enhance the Suns' competitiveness
Paul was injured in series G2 and suffered a groin strain and has missed two consecutive semi-finals. However, Paul will be reviewed on May 10, while the G5 battle will be played on May 10, and the next two will be played on May 12 and May 15. Paul still has time to recuperate, and once Paul returns to play, the Suns' strength will be further improved.
Fourth, Ayton was continuously crushed by Jokic, but there was hope of a warm rebound
Ayton was the worst performer in the series, with only 14 points and 7 rebounds, 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, 4 points and 9 rebounds, 8 points and 8 rebounds in 4 games. Ayton was suppressed by Jokic's continuous explosion, but obviously Ayton's normal level is not such data, after a continuous downturn, once Ayton warms up and rebounds, it will also enhance the Suns' competitiveness and become a new variable for the Suns to win.
Fifth, players such as Shamet and Warren are expected to become surprise characters
The Suns' role player roster was significantly weakened by the trade for Durant, but that doesn't mean that the Suns' role players don't have players who can step up. In G4, Shamet hit five three-pointers and scored 19 points, especially in the final quarter, he hit four three-pointers. Warren in the G3 game scored five consecutive key points in the final moments and was also responsible for the victory. Monti needs to give more opportunities to players such as Shamet and Warren, and role players such as Clegg, Okogie, and Randale may also explode in a certain game and become a surprise presence on the sun bench.
The defending champion Warriors have already completed a comeback game in the first round of the series, trailing 2-0 on aggregate to eliminate the Kings. As for the only team to have fallen 2-0 behind in the second round of the playoffs, they have now won two consecutive games to tie the total score to 2-2, and have caught up in morale, with three games and two wins remaining, the Suns undoubtedly see the hope of counterattacking to advance to the Western Conference finals again.
(Text/Drunken Lying Float)