By Darnell "Playmaker" Sallins
The Western Conference Semifinals are set to begin featuring the favorites in the West versus the top team in the West. The Phoenix Suns against the Denver Nuggets. A series that features two league MVPs, a all-time great point guard, and deadly scoring across the board.
The Phoenix Suns got by a tough and competitive Los Angeles Clippers team dealing with injuries to both of their star players. After losing Game 1 at home because of Kawhi Leonard scoring dominance and the effort from Russell Westbrook, the Suns ripped off four straight wins. The series turned once Leonard was diagnosed with a knee sprain before Game 3.
The Denver Nuggets made swift work of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a gentlemen's sweep. The Nuggets won the first games of the series, but Anthony Edwards enchanneled his Ant-Man persona in Game 4 to avoid the sweep. Nevertheless, the Nuggets finished business in the series.
Regular Season Series
The Nuggets and Suns split the regular season series 2-2. Both teams were able to defend their home court. The Nuggets won the first two games in which both were at the Ball Arena in Denver. The Suns won the last two games in which both were in Footprint Center in Phoenix. Unfortunately, none of the four games featured both teams at full strength.
For the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker played three of the four games against the Nuggets and he struggled. Only averaging 14.7 points on 38.2 percent shooting, 21.4 percent from three-point. Chris Paul had a pretty good regular season averaging 15.7 points on 41.5 percent shooting coupled with 10.3 assists in three games against the Nuggets. Then, there's Kevin Durant who played the last two games of the regular season series. Durant averaged 29.5 points on 60.6 percent shooting while shooting 61.5 percent from three-point range.
On the Denver Nuggets, their stars played only two of the four games in Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. which were both home games. The Joker is in the running for a third consecutive MVP and against the Suns, he played great. Averaging a triple-double with 31 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 12 assists. Jamal Murray averaged 21 points on 40.6 percent shooting and 43.8 percent on three-pointers. It's a different story for Michael Porter Jr. as he struggled in the two games versus Phoenix. Averaging only 9 points on 35 percent shooting and 16.7 percent from three-point.
Remember however, the stars in this series barely saw each other even though the teams matched up four time. The Nuggets' stars on played the home game which was before the trade deadline. For the Suns, Booker and Paul played three of the four games, but Kevin Durant could only play the last two games in this series with both being in Phoenix.
Playoff Preview
There are two major questions going into this series, one on each side.
Can Phoenix keep up at this pace with playing their starters huge minutes?
Can The Joker and the Nuggets finally make a deep playoff runs outside of the bubble in 2020?
Both are valid questions, and both will be answered.
Beginning with the Suns, the Big Four averaged at least 34 minutes per game in the Los Angeles Clippers series. DeAndre Ayton played 34.4 minutes, Chris Paul played 38.6 minutes, Devin Booker played 43.2 minutes, and Kevin Durant played 43.8 minutes per game in that series. Despite the minutes played, Booker was amazing against the short-handed Clippers. Booker averaged 37.2 points per game on 60.2 percent shooting from the field and 46.7 percent three-point range. Two of the games Booker scored 45+ points has he led the Suns.
For the Nuggets, none of their starters have averaged 40 minutes of playing time in their Minnesota Timberwolves series. Jamal Murray played the most minutes at 38.4 minutes per game against the Wolves. Next is The Joker at 37 minutes per game then Porter Jr. at 36 minutes, and Aaron Gordon at 32.6 minutes. Murray led the team in scored at 27.4 points per game while The Joker averaged close to a triple-double with 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9 assists versus Minnesota.
The "durability" favors the Nuggets by a slight edge which could be because of the competition. The Suns played a very rough and tough Clippers team that loss Kawhi Leonard after Game Two. The Nuggets had it easier as they controlled the Timberwolves for most the series.
Now, the star matchups are clear. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant versus Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Anyone of these star players can take over any game and any series when called upon. Already mentioned Booker's two 40-point games, Murray and Jokic each had a 40-point game in these playoffs. Durant didn't have a 40-point game in the first round but scored at least 25 points in all five games this postseason. There's no doubt that all eyes will be on these four superstars, but a question must be asked about the third star on each team.
Which third player will be more beneficial to their team advancing to the West Finals? Talking Chris Paul for the Suns and Michael Porter Jr. for the Nuggets. Chris Paul, the Point God in the NBA could be the difference in this series for the Suns as his ability to be the floor general can go toe to toe in the passing department with The Joker. Michael Porter Jr. for the Nuggets has to be able added that third scoring ability for the Nuggets as Booker and Durant can combine at least 60-70 points in their sleep with supreme efficiency.
Game One is Saturday, April 29 at Ball Arena in Denver at 8:30PM on TNT