It took a few extra days with the Play-In tournament needing to run its course, but at long last ,the Phoenix Suns finally know their first round opponent for the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Scheduled to tango with the New Orleans Pelicans this evening, Phoenix will then play either the Utah Jazz or Dallas Mavericks, and then whoever emerges from the bracket’s other side should they maintain their winning ways from the regular season. On that other side of the bracket, one can find the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors.
Although the Suns stand above all their NBA counterparts for now, fresh off a record-breaking 64-win season and the sole proprietor of the tournament’s top seed, all these opponents possess some considerable talent. Phoenix needs to develop a unique plan of attack for each team—tailored around their weakness and strengths.
In doing so, they might want to feature a few specific players vs a few specific teams, unveiling a kryptonite of sorts.
While Phoenix’s leaders Devin Booker and Chris Paul promise to make an impact on everyone the Suns play, these guys represent their most lethal weapons against each Western Conference challenger.
Phoenix Suns Top Weapon vs #8 New Orleans Pelicans: Chris Paul
As one of the game’s better stories this year, the New Orleans Pelicans play tough and fight for victories with undeniable grit. The team’s top-10 ranking in both opponent turnovers and transition points this year best exemplifies that attitude.
Slowing down crafty shot-maker C.J. McCollum and the lengthy Brandon Ingram will be important tasks, likely falling onto Mikal Bridges’s shoulders. But all the while, a clean ball-handler and distributor like Chris Paul feels like the only thing able to negate New Orleans’s stingy and aggressive play style.
With an otherworldly 4.6 assist to turnover ratio this year, subbing Paul into the game will be like throwing cold water over an aggressive flame in the…
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