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Phoenix Suns have too much offense, will push past Los Angeles Clippers in 6

duane rankin, arizona republic
·4 min read
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(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

First-round series schedule

  • Sunday: Game 1, 5 p.m., (Bally Sports Arizona, TNT), Footprint Center

  • Tuesday: Game 2, 7 p.m., (Bally Sports Arizona, TNT), Footprint Center

  • Thursday: Game 3, 7:30 p.m., (Bally Sports Arizona, NBATV), Crypto.com Arena

  • April 22: Game 4, 12:30 p.m., (Bally Sports Arizona, TNT), Crypto.com Arena

  • April 25: Game 5, TBD, Footprint Center (if necessary)

  • April 27: Game 6, TBD, Crypto.com Arena, (if necessary)

  • April 29: Game 7, TBD, Footprint Center (if necessary)

Dec 15, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) moves the ball against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) moves the ball against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction: Suns in 6

The Clippers have Kawhi Leonard, tremendous depth and arguably the best coach in the league in Tyronn Lue, but they’ve had a drop off defensively. They’ve gone from being eighth in defensive rating the previous two seasons to 17th this season. That’s a problem against a team that has two the NBA’s best scorers in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Phoenix should pull away in what is a great 4-5 matchup.

2022-23 regular season series: 2-2

  • Oct. 23: Suns 112, Clippers 95.

  • Dec. 15: Suns 111, Clippers 95.

  • Feb. 16: Clippers 116, Suns 107.

  • April 9: Clippers 119, Suns 114.

  • (Home team in bold).

Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee (10) defends Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during a game on April 9, 2023, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee (10) defends Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during a game on April 9, 2023, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Last Suns-Clippers playoff meeting

2021 Western Conference finals (Suns won in 6)

  • Game 1: Suns 120, Clippers 114.

  • Game 2: Suns 104, Clippers 103.

  • Game 3: Clippers 106, Suns 92.

  • Game 4: Suns 84, Clippers 80.

  • Game 5: Clippers 116, Suns 102.

  • Game 6: Suns 130, Clippers 103.

  • (Home team in bold).

Suns forward Kevin Durant talks to the media as Phoenix prepares for their first-round playoff match-up against the L.A. Clippers at the Suns Training Facility in Phoenix on April 12, 2023.
Suns forward Kevin Durant talks to the media as Phoenix prepares for their first-round playoff match-up against the L.A. Clippers at the Suns Training Facility in Phoenix on April 12, 2023.

Three major storylines

Kevin Durant vs. Russell Westbrook. They played eight seasons together, put Oklahoma City on the map, but had a bad breakup when Durant left for Golden State, the team the beat the Thunder the previous year in the Western Conference finals in seven games. They’ve played against each other 11 times in the regular season, but this will be their first playoff matchup.

High expectations. The Clippers were supposed to have won a title by now after landing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the Summer of 2019. Hasn’t happened. They got bounced by Denver in the 2020 bubble, lost to the Suns without an injured Leonard in the 2021 conference finals and didn’t even make it out of the play-in tournament last year. Now they enter this season with a healthy Leonard, but an injured George, who is out with a knee sprain. Is this now or never for the Clippers?

Why Phoenix made the trade: The Suns didn’t move Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a pick swap to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren right before the Feb. 9 trade deadline to lose in the first round. They’re 8-0 with Durant in the lineup, but that’s a small sample size. Can Phoenix keep rolling in the postseason. If the Suns stumble? Not good. Not good at all.

Feb 16, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns Deandre Ayton (22) defends a shot by Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) at Footprint Center.
Feb 16, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns Deandre Ayton (22) defends a shot by Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) at Footprint Center.

Suns-Clippers matchup breakdown

Best Superstar: Durant or Leonard

Both have two chips. Can score on all three levels. Leonard has been playing great in the last month and a half as he’s averaging 29.3 points in April, but slight edge to Durant, who has already impacted the play of his teammates in just eight games.  Advantage Durant.

Best starting 5

The Suns have the better backcourt with Devin Booker and Chris Paul over Eric Gordon and Westbrook and at the center position with Deandre Ayton. Ivica Zubac is a live big body and will make Ayton work. If the Suns big matches his energy, that’s even a bigger edge for the Suns. Advantage Phoenix.

Best bench

Norman Powell can go for big numbers at any time. The Clippers ranked third in the NBA in bench points at 41.5 per game while the Suns averaged 36.2. Bones Hyland has been a huge addition for Los Angeles. Torrey Craig is solid, but the Suns aren’t nearly as deep or productive as the Clippers. Advantage Los Angeles.

Moore: Pressure is on Monty Williams to guide the Suns to an NBA championship

Best coach

The Suns' Monty Williams won NBA coach of the year last season. The Clippers' Tyronn Lue won an NBA in Cleveland coaching LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Both bring quality game plans into matchups, but Lue’s ability to adjust in games and utilize multiple defenses always gives the Clippers a chance to win. Advantage Lue.

Team stat comparisons

Points per game: Suns 113.6 ppg. (17th), Clippers 113.6 (18th).

Points allowed: Suns 111.6 ppg. (6th), Clippers 113.1 ppg (12th).

Offensive rating: Suns 114.5 (14th), Clippers 114 (17th).

Feb 16, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams talks to guard Chris Paul (3) as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Footprint Center.
Feb 16, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams talks to guard Chris Paul (3) as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Footprint Center.

Defensive rating: Suns 112.3 (7th), Clippers 113.5 (17th).

Pace: Suns 98.83 (22nd), Clippers 98.84 (21st).

Personal fouls: Suns 21.2 per game (26th), Clippers 19.5 per game (10th). 

Clutch win %: Suns 47.2% (17-19, 17th), Clippers 52.4% (22-20, 11th).

Suns-Clippers: First-round NBA Playoffs news, notes

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: Phoenix Suns have too much offense, will push past L.A. Clippers in 6