Los Angeles Clippers 'playing playoff basketball already,' says Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams
LOS ANGELES — Three questions entering Sunday’s Suns-Clippers showdown at Crypto.com Arena.
Suns through two games?
Suns coach Monty Williams likes to analyze his team in 10-game increments.
So, two games aren’t enough, but he is noticing a few things early.
“We haven’t been healthy all year, not even in training camp,” Williams said. “That’s no excuse. We’ve won one game. We lost a game that we should’ve won. If we win last (Friday night), nobody is asking about assessments.”
The Suns could be 2-0 as they blew a five-point lead late in Friday’s overtime loss at Portland, but they could also be 0-2 as Dallas squandered a 22-point, second-half advantage in Wednesday’s 107-105 loss in Phoenix.
“I can see the potential of our team,” Williams said. “I’m not into the excuse that it’s only been two games, but I also feel like once we start to get healthier, we’re going to be a lot better cause everybody will be in their normal spot.”
Cam Johnson, Landry Shamet status?
Cam Johnson is questionable with a right hip contusion suffered from taking a charge in the first half Friday and Landry Shamet is probable with a left hip strain.
Torrey Craig started the second half for Johnson, but Johnson returned in the third only to miss the final 10:27 of the fourth quarter and the entire overtime.
Johnson shot just 2-of-9 from the field for five points, going 1-of-6 from 3. He looked stiff trying to run in the media viewing portion of practice and Saturday stood most of the time.
Two nights earlier, right quad cramps sidelined him the final minutes of the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s victory at Footprint Center.
As for Shamet, he’s been working to return from a left hip strain that’s kept him out four straight games counting the preseason. The Suns bench could use his scoring.
How the Clippers look?
They’re the most talented team in the league led by arguably the NBA’s best coach in Ty Lue.
“They’re playing playoff basketball already,” Williams said. “Searching out matchups. Playing iso a lot. Because they have so many wing, forward type players, they make you switch and then they switch. So it’s somewhat of a playoff game.”
Kawhi Leonard looked good in his return after missing last season with a knee injury suffered in the 2021 playoffs. Playing 21 minutes, Leonard scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards against the Lakers in the opener win.
The Clippers (2-0) had six players reach double figures with John Wall being and Paul George each scoring 15.
Wall didn’t play last season either as the Rockets put him on the shelf. The guy still has that explosiveness and can knock down the midrange shot.
This is an early statement game for both teams as it’ll be the second of a back-to-back for Clippers as they won Saturday night at Sacramento, 111-109.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Three questions entering Suns-Clippers showdown in Los Angeles
