The Phoenix Suns are one of the best stories in the NBA this season. After missing the postseason in 11 of the last 12 seasons and being mostly cellar-dwellers, the Suns broke out in a major way this season. A lot of that improvement is the responsibility of point guard, Chris Paul.
It was not too long ago that Paul was written off by many people in the basketball world. The now 36-year old point guard essentially got ran out of Houston two years ago but he has proven that he had plenty left in the tank.
READ MORE: Why Phoenix Suns should be favorites to win the 2021 NBA Finals
After leading the Oklahoma City Thunder on an unexpected playoff run during the 2019-20 season that ended in the Orlando Bubble, Paul once again was the driving force behind an unexpected season.
The Sun went 51-21 in the regular season, locking down the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. Paul helped grow and develop his younger teammates, as Devin Booker is ascending into stardom. Deandre Ayton is turning into a great two-way center and Mikal Bridges is developing as a game-changing 3-and-D wing.
Phoenix has played a dominant brand of basketball thus far in the postseason. They are 8-2, disposing of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round 4-2 before sweeping the Denver Nuggets. People will point out that both the Lakers and Nuggets were dealing with injuries, but Phoenix had a banged-up Paul in the first round to deal with as well.
He looks to be over his shoulder injury, as Chris Paul put the Nuggets away with 27 and 37 point performances in Denver. Paul’s reaction after the game was an expected one, as he has a chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong.
Paul and Suns are awaiting the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers to find out who they will face off against in the Western Conference Finals. While they may not have been favorites heading into the postseason, there isn’t a team playing at a higher level more consistently than the Suns right now.
