(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns looked like a sure thing to make it to the NBA Finals, but that’s the thing about the playoffs.
They’re now one loss away from going back home empty-handed, and NBA analyst Nick Friedell admits he was wrong about them in the first place.
Friedell, like many others, has come to realize that the Suns aren’t deep or built for a long playoff run.
.@NickFriedell says he was wrong about the Suns:
“I believed in the star-power in Kevin Durant. I believed that he would make that group better. … This is not a team that is built for a long postseason run because they’re a flawed roster.” pic.twitter.com/iggfvahISD
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 10, 2023
They gave up most of their depth to land Kevin Durant, and while their starting lineup is obviously one of the best in the league, they just don’t have enough behind them to withstand the physical burden that comes with playing playoff games every two nights.
Deandre Ayton’s effort — or lack thereof — has been a talking point, and he’s looked gassed from time to time.
Chris Paul hasn’t even played since late in Game 2, and he might not be able to suit up for Game 6, either.
Durant has been quite injury-prone over the past couple of seasons, so having him on the floor is always a risk, especially if they’re playing him over 40 minutes a night.
Josh Okogie has been solid defensively, but he’s an offensive liability, so he might not be the guy they need to round up their starting lineup.
Devin Booker has been stellar and arguably the best performer in the playoffs, but even if he’s still young, he might still be quite worn out if the Suns manage to come back from this series and advance to the next round.
Basketball is a team sport, and the playoffs prove it more than anything.
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