Making the Case: Phoenix Suns

There is a pretty clear ceiling on the current Phoenix Suns team given Chris Paul’s age. With neither Devin Booker nor Paul being a high-volume isolation threat, teams that can switch have found success with handling their half-court offense.

One of the issues the Suns faced with Paul during the Western Conference Semifinals was a dramatized version of what has been a theme in his postseason career: playing it too safe.

Instead of attempting to “empty the clip” as a scorer when his team has its back against the wall, favoring efficiency over shouldering the scoring load. He felt that managing the game until the fourth quarter would be enough — making it easier to load up on Devin Booker early.

Relying on two short-range shot creators that rely a lot on getting into the gap using ball screens isn’t going to be a winning formula against elite defenses.

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The Suns may need a more aggressive scoring threat that can get into the paint far more often than late-career Paul. There may not be a better embodiment of an “empty the clip” guard in the NBA than Russell Westbrook. Since he’s on an expiring deal, it could be worth the risk.