PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 04: Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 04, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
3 offseason goals for the Phoenix Suns: 3. Have a Plan B
When you have superstars like Paul and Booker, you will naturally look to lean on them in the postseason when times get tough. But with a surprising personal postseason record of 72-70, it is clear that relying on Paul for an entire series has not always resulted in the desired outcomes for his teams.
Despite this, he has higher-than-you-would-probably-realize career playoff averages of 20.4 points and 8.3 assists. But where Paul generally excels is managing a game. At least, in the regular season. There is nobody better, yet once again, the postseason seems to be a different proposition for him.
So how about moving away from Paul some, and instead entrusting Booker to do more big-picture stuff? He’s already such a gifted scorer, and the Tatum comparisons are lazy, given they are different players. But they do have similarities as well, and Tatum is having an absolutely fantastic breakout playoff run.
If the Suns could get a Jaylen Brown type (not as good, and not as expensive), then they would have a different tandem with which to hurt opponents. Putting it less on Paul, or even just giving him the chance to take some possessions off, would go a long way to confusing the opposition. It would also mean that they would have to gameplan for more than Paul and the pros and cons that come with him.
Bridges looks like the obvious candidate here to do a Brown impression, but let’s not forget about Deandre Ayton either. Although his time in Phoenix may be coming to an end (and that could be a big mistake), actually letting him have more offensive possessions revolve around him would not only keep him happy but give the Suns a legitimate Plan B when things are going wrong. As they have before.
Boston Celtics and how he has ascended should tell them it is possible if Booker leads them. Unfortunately for them, though, it won’t be that easy. Here are three areas to address this summer.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Goal #1 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-445834 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1397420468.jpeg" alt="Phoenix Suns" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1397420468.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1397420468-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 04: Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 04, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 offseason goals for the Phoenix Suns: 3. Have a Plan B</h2>
<p>When you have superstars like Paul and Booker, you will naturally look to lean on them in the postseason when times get tough. But with a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/16/chris-paul-phoenix-suns/" rel="">surprising personal postseason record</a> of 72-70, it is clear that relying on Paul for an entire series has not always resulted in the desired outcomes for his teams.</p>
<p>Despite this, he has higher-than-you-would-probably-realize career playoff averages of 20.4 points and 8.3 assists. But where Paul generally excels is managing a game. At least, in the regular season. There is nobody better, yet once again, the postseason seems to be a different proposition for him.</p>
<p>So how about moving away from Paul some, and instead entrusting Booker to do more big-picture stuff? He’s already such a gifted scorer, and the Tatum comparisons are lazy, given they are different players. But they do have similarities as well, and Tatum is having an absolutely fantastic breakout playoff run.</p>
<p>If the Suns could get a Jaylen Brown type (not as good, and not as expensive), then they would have a different tandem with which to hurt opponents. Putting it less on Paul, or even just giving him the chance to take some possessions off, would go a long way to confusing the opposition. It would also mean that they would have to gameplan for more than Paul and the pros and cons that come with him.</p>
<p>Bridges looks like the obvious candidate here to do a Brown impression, but let’s not forget about Deandre Ayton either. Although his time in Phoenix may be coming to an end (<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/12/throw-atlanta-hawks-in-rumor-mix-for-center-deandre-ayton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and that could be a big mistake</a>), actually letting him have more offensive possessions revolve around him would not only keep him happy but give the Suns a legitimate Plan B when things are going wrong. As they have before.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Goal #2 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-445946 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324580440.jpeg" alt="Phoenix Suns" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324580440.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324580440-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JUNE 20: Dario Saric #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter during game one of the Western Conference Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena on June 20, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 offseason goals for the Phoenix Suns: 2. Diversify the offensive game</h2>
<p>It is hard to be critical of the Suns, given their success over the last two seasons, but when championships are the ultimate goal then they have come up short. We’ve already touched on the need to have Booker take over more, or simply seeing if running some plays through Ayton can bring with it a different kind of success for periods of close games.</p>
<p>But going one step further and finding (or bringing back) a player who can diversify their offensive game could be hugely important for the Suns next season. Make no mistake, the Suns were and will continue to be an excellent offensive team. During the regular season, they ranked fifth in offensive rating (114.2) and ninth in three-point percentage (36.4 percent).</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, they led the entire league in field goal percentage (48.5 percent), thanks in large part to the mid-range mastery of Paul, and his ability to find teammates for easy looks around the basket. The Suns should continue to lean into this way of scoring, simply copying everybody else and jacking up three-pointers is not the answer.</p>
<p>But it is also clear that, come the postseason, the paint is harder to navigate. Two-point efforts are tougher to create and Paul has an unfortunate history of not hitting the shots in these spaces that he was easily making in November. Enter Dario Saric. Having missed all of this season with an ACL tear, he will be like a new player if he returns to the team.</p>
<p>Defensively he can be a turnstile, but at his best, he shot over 38 percent from deep for the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/minnesota-timberwolves/">Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns already have an elite defense (106.8, third in the league during the regular season), so they can absorb some of Saric’s deficiencies on that end (or another player’s) if it means bringing something that bit different offensively when the games really start to matter again.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Goal #3 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-445947" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1397606475.jpeg" alt="Phoenix Suns" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1397606475.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1397606475-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 15: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns\ is introduced before Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 offseason goals for the Phoenix Suns: 1. The Chris Paul question</h2>
<p>What to do with Paul is the biggest question the Suns face this offseason. Their depth beyond the 37-year-old (Cameron Payne and Aaron Holiday) is poor, and the Suns should look to do something about this during the offseason. Here is a controversial direction the franchise could go. What about bringing Paul off the bench?</p>
<p>It would save his legs during the regular season, especially as he always seems to break down right when they need him most. A young point guard learning from one of the best to ever do it would be huge and could set the Suns up for when Paul is no longer around. For as good as he looked for most of the playoffs (he seemed to fall off a cliff once he turned 37), he won’t be in Phoenix for the long-term.</p>
<p>Paul would have to agree to this, of course, but getting him on board with this plan now could be hugely beneficial for everybody involved. How many times have we seen superstars take too long to realize that they are not the player they once were? Paul is possibly the smartest player in the entire league, so surely he must be aware that changing up his role a bit could work for him.</p>
<p>He would still close games and play huge playoff minutes, it would just be a plan to phase in the next floor general as the decade progresses. As it stands, the Suns don’t have a single pick in this year’s NBA Draft, so finding the next point guard won’t happen that way. Luckily for them, there is a surplus of talented guards in the league today.</p>
<p>Whether it is a sign-and-trade involving Ayton, or just calling a team like the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/orlando-magic/">Orlando Magic, who suddenly have a number of intriguing young guards, there are ways to find a successor to Paul. Doing so through a trade or free agency (<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1536356466235478016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don’t expect them to pay</a> a Jalen Brunson type, though) would actually fit the timeline of Booker (who is 25) better than drafting a raw prospect, anyway. The Suns are on the clock to decide what to do with Paul, and it will decide their future.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="5 potential suitors for Ayton and the Suns" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/14/nba-trades-deandre-ayton-phoenix-suns-2/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/15/exit-survey-phoenix-suns/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/14/nba-trades-deandre-ayton-phoenix-suns-2/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 5 potential suitors for Ayton and the Suns </a> </div>
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