torrey craig | On The NBA Beat

For the third time in franchise history, the Phoenix Suns have secured a berth into the NBA Finals (@Suns/Instagram).

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The Phoenix Suns are headed to the 2021 NBA Finals, and there absolutely should be no asterisk attached to their stellar run, according to guest Greg “Espo” Esposito, host of the Solar Panel Podcast. And why should there be? Phoenix bounced back from a 2-1 deficit to dethrone the defending champions before sweeping the MVP Jokic-led Nuggets. Then, the Suns took down a deep and resilient Clippers squad in a gritty series that could have gone either way. Espo breaks down how the Suns just keep on winning and provides a brief glimpse into their forthcoming Finals appearance against either the Bucks or Hawks.

6:05-6:20: “What you’ve seen is a maturation process for Devin [Booker]’s game. You’ve seen leadership. You’ve seen just the chance for him to finally on the NBA’s big stage, the playoffs, prove that he is not an empty calories guy.”

8:28-9:19: “Having grown up a big Charles Barkley fan, I’ve always taken issue with the ‘If a guy doesn’t win a championship, you have to kind of pooh-pooh his career and his legacy.’ … Basketball is a team sport. Individuals can have big games, but what you’re seeing with the Suns is proof yet again that nobody wins alone. This team is truly a team, and the thought that Chris Paul’s legacy or his career wasn’t impressive until Year 16 when he finally made it to the Finals just seems somewhat laughable. But that’s the storyline. That’s the way things are perceived nationally.” Continue reading

According to Greg Esposito, veteran point guard Chris Paul has made a splash in his first season in the desert, teaching the young Suns how to compete each and every game (@Suns on Twitter).

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The 2020-21 NBA regular season has officially come to a close, and one of the most pleasant surprises was the year the Phoenix Suns recorded. Suns fans already had reason for optimism after an 8-0 performance in last year’s Orlando bubble, but rarely does a team make the jump so quickly from outside of the playoffs all the way to the No. 2 seed, especially in the crowded Western Conference. We’re joined this episode by Greg “Espo” Esposito of The Solar Panel podcast, who attributes this growth to the veteran leadership of new addition Chris Paul, the coaching of Monty Williams, and a cadre of supporting players who all have effectively filled their roles when their names have been called. Espo also takes us through a few potential playoff scenarios, including a possible first-round matchup with the defending champion Lakers.

Note: This episode was recorded on Sunday, before the Suns were locked into the No. 2 seed and the full seeding in the play-in games was still yet to be determined.

4:54-5:23: “I had them going like 41-31. I thought a 5 or 6 seed was probably where they’d top out. I did not see this coming. And a big part of it was they’ve been healthier than most teams, but I just did not see them being a top two team in the West, finishing with 51 wins and an over .700 winning percentage. It was not in my wildest dreams.”

9:19-10:38: “His [Chris Paul’s] talent is undeniable, but what he brought to this young group was a mindset, an approach to the game. And they did not take any night for granted this year. … And every night, they came out and they played hard. Rarely did they lose back-to-back games. … That’s Chris Paul’s doing. It was like having a head coach on the floor that went completely along with Monty Williams’ philosophy as the coach off of it. And that’s what Chris Paul did for this team. He helped them grow up.” Continue reading

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