4 takeaways from Suns’ win

Jae Crowder says winning “will take of a lot of stuff.” The Suns continue to do that in pursuit of the NBA’s top seed and making history.

With Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton leading Phoenix to an impressive 129-102 victory Friday night over Chicago, and Memphis losing at Atlanta by 15 points, the Suns are now three wins away from having homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

Here are four takeaways from Friday’s 27-point romp without Chris Paul (fractured right thumb), Cam Johnson (right quad contusion) and Crowder (sore left groin) before a sellout crowd of 17,071 to mark the 23rd consecutive sellout at Footprint Center.

1. Booker finished with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting while Ayton went for 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 12 rebounds with three on the offensive glass.

This is what the Suns were supposed to look like when they drafted Ayton after his 1-and-done season in Arizona.

Ayton was calling him and Booker “Shaq-Kobe 2.0.” A little premature.

After winning just 19 games their first year together, it sounded ridiculous.

Then Suns General Manager James Jones made some changes.

Hired Monty Williams.

Acquired veterans Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky.

That all helped change the culture.

Then came the 8-0 bubble run to establish confidence they were on the postseason path.

Jones then traded for Chris Paul and added Crowder to turn playoff aspirations to playoff expectations.

Now the Suns are looking like a machine that’s coming off a finals appearance and revved up to finish what they started this season, but are going through a patch without two starters and the sixth man who has started 13 games this season.

And they’re still winning.

They’re 9-4 without Paul. Booker and Ayton are a big reason why that’s the case.

They’re playing together, but each doing their own thing within the offense and showing the Suns can get it done even without their leader and floor general.

Cameron Payne isn’t Paul, but he finished with 15 points, seven assists and just one turnover Friday night.

Torrey Craig isn’t Crowder, but he nearly posted a second straight double-double with 14 points and nine boards in his second straight start for the injured veteran forward.

Now let’s make it clear.

The Suns need Paul to win a title, but are showing they can win without him thanks in large part to Booker and Ayton.

2. Booker’s words must have reached the NBA officiating

office.

After attempting just six total free throws in Phoenix’s previous four games that includes just one FTA in 36 minutes Wednesday at Houston, Booker went 7-of-7 in the first half Friday.

Now Booker didn’t attempt a free throw in the second half, but maybe he’ll start trending upward on the FTAs.

Then again, the way he barked at the officials after seemingly every field goal attempt, maybe not.

Booker has been driving to the rim, but also taking fadeaway jumpers up against the shot clock and the defense.

After the game, Booker said he won’t let that bother him or hunt fouls knowing the refs tend to let the guys play more in the postseason.

3. Torrey Craig remains perfect.

After scoring 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting (3-of-3 from 3), Craig shot 5-of-5 (2-of-2 from 3) in his second straight start for the injured Crowder.

While the scoring is nice, it’s really a bonus for the Suns.

What Phoenix lacks is consistent rebounding at the four position.

Craig grabbing a season-high 14 boards at Houston and nine against the Bulls is huge.

Crowder is third on the team in rebounds per game at 5.3.

Johnson is at 4.1.

The Suns say they’re rebounding as a group in helping explain why Ayton is averaging less than 10 a game. Booker is at 5.1. That’s good for a guard.

Ayton grabbed 12 boards Friday. That’s better than his average.

But when Crowder, Johnson, and now Craig, are on the boards, that’s what the Suns will need to win a championship, especially if they face the bigger Milwaukee Bucks in a finals rematch in June.

4. It’s been a minute.

The Bulls last reached the postseason in 2017 and lost in the first round to the Celtics.

Jimmy Butler was their guy.

He’s been on three teams since, but led the Heat to the 2020 finals in the bubble.

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are their 1-2 punch now, but can they get out of the first round this time? It’s going to be tough.

Right now, they seem too dependent on DeRozan and LaVine, and aren’t exactly a great defensive team.

Truth be told, they’re subpar in ranking 19th in defensive rating.

The Suns gutted them for 56% shooting (11-of-25 from 3) even with defensive pest Alex Caruso out here.

Having Lonzo Ball would help, but who knows if he’ll even be back for the playoffs.

Ball hasn’t played since Jan. 14 as he has a torn meniscus in his left knee.

They’re currently a fifth seed in the East, but just a game ahead of Cleveland at sixth and just 1-1/2 games behind Boston at fourth.

With the East so brutal and jammed, the Bulls could play either Miami, Milwaukee, Philadelphia or Boston in the first round.