Only catastrophe will stop blazing Suns
PHOENIX – Believe it or not, the Nuggets could have had a less enjoyable time in Phoenix than they did the last few days. Temperatures could have hit 117 or so, which they are expected to do next week.
Otherwise, it was an all-around miserable experience for the Suns’ opponent in the NBA Western Conference semifinals. The Nuggets returned home down 2-0, having lost Monday by 13 points and Wednesday by 25.
“There’s a reason their crowd is yelling ‘Suns in four,’ ” said Denver coach Michael Malone.
There are two reasons, actually: Monday’s game and Wednesday’s. The Suns were equally impressive in each.
The series isn’t over, but it will take something catastrophic happening to the Suns, or the Nuggets discovering answers to myriad puzzles the Suns create, or the Suns suddenly becoming unlike the team we’ve watched all season. Anything’s possible, I guess. Denver could find a way to make a 3pointer. Or get to the free-throw line.
Phoenix coach Monty Williams might finally make a wrong move or two with personnel or strategy. Or maybe he’ll lose his mind and say, “You know guys, that ‘let it fly’ lecture I gave you midway through the Lakers series? Forget that. Play hesitant and scared. And you know how I say defense travels? Well, let’s not even pack it for the trip to Denver.’ ”
Maybe Jae Crowder goes soft, Chris Paul won’t be able to make people look foolish off the dribble and will start to make a few turnovers. Maybe Deandre Ayton’s attention wanders. Maybe Devin Booker goes cold.
A lot of bad things have to come together for the Suns not to wrap this one up fairly quickly and begin preparing for the winner of the Jazz-Clippers series.
The Suns, and probably many of their fans, don’t want to hear such talk.
“We have a lot more work to do,” Williams said.
But is there anyone who watched these games who thinks that work won’t get done? Did the Nuggets provide even one indication they can deal with the Suns? Was there one thing they did that makes you go, “Yep, that’s something they can build upon?”
No, they did not.
Malone called it embarrassing and said it looked like some of his players quit.
Suns fans would call it impressive. What should add to the Nuggets’ concerns is the Suns can play better.
They went through rough patches Wednesday, but they steadily built a lead all night, from four points at the end of the first quarter, to 10 at halftime, to 19 at the end of the third to, finally, 25. Denver never made a serious run.
Said Williams: “I think it’s an unselfish group. They’re willing to make plays for each other. That’s our DNA.”
“The way we play, the ball is going to find you,” said Paul, who finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and no turnovers.
Williams is the one who has twisted the strands of that DNA around each other. In the Lakers’ series, he stuck with Crowder through an awful shooting stretch, and Crowder justified that faith by breaking out in the final games of the series.
In this Nuggets series, Williams has found a role for Saric, who appeared to lose confidence early in the Lakers series and played in just one of the final four games, in garbage time. But he played valuable, productive minutes in both victories over the Nuggets.
Williams has deftly molded minds, too. A lot of his sayings are goofy, but players remember them. Asked how the Suns will handle this success as they prepare for Friday’s game in Denver, Paul repeated Williams’ admonition not to get “happy down on the farm.”
“We’ve got a great locker room,” Paul said, “guys who understand the moment.”
It’s overly optimistic to think the Suns could wrap up this series by winning the next two games in Denver.
The Nuggets are usually tough and resilient. They are likely to respond to Malone’s angry words and probably won’t miss 14 of the first 15 3-pointers they attempt.
But all that will do is earn them a return trip to Phoenix where they will face the inevitable: Miserably hot weather and an opponent that is more talented.