The Phoenix Suns failed to close out the conference finals on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers as they lost Game 5 on home court. Now, the Suns head back to LA with another chance to book their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Here are four adjustments the Suns must make if they're going to avoid a Game 7 back in the desert.
1. Limit turnovers
Phoenix is usually very sure-handed with the basketball. They had the fourth-least turnovers in the Association during the regular season but on Monday, their mistakes came back to haunt them. The Suns committed 14 turnovers which turned into a total of 23 points for the Clippers. This was very unlike Monty Williams' team. They have to clean it up in Game 6 because LA is hungry and with a red-hot Paul George leading the way, mistakes will prove to be costly.
2. More aggressive inside
With the way Deandre Ayton has played in this postseason for the Suns, it's hard to imagine them getting outplayed inside. But, unfortunately, that was the case in Game 5. The Clippers outscored Phoenix 58-32 in the paint. It was utter domination. DeMarcus Cousins was thriving off the LA bench with 15 points in just 11 minutes, while the likes of PG and Marcus Morris were having no issue getting to the hoop.
Ayton had just 10 points and 11 rebounds on Monday. He wasn't his usual aggressive self around the hoop. It was very clear. The Suns also weren't shooting the ball all that well from downtown (35%). They need to get Ayton more involved on Wednesday and let him thrive at what he does best: use his physicality to wreak havoc on defenders in the paint and vice versa on the opposite end when he's defending.
The lack of production inside was arguably the difference-maker in Game 5. This must be improved upon.
3. Supporting cast needs to step up
What's made this Suns team so special throughout the course of the playoffs is their depth. While Devin Booker and Chris Paul are the catalysts, there are guys around them who have been putting forward some high-level performances.
Well on Monday, outside of Book and CP3, there wasn't much help. Ayton had just 10 like mentioned above, while Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Payne combined for a mere 14 points. All three of these players are key complementary scorers. Bridges has been a beast in the postseason, showing the ability to get to the hoop or drain countless threes. But, he's struggled in this series with single-digit scoring nights in the last two games. As for Crowder, he's one of the Suns' most reliable three-point shooters. Payne? A sparkplug off the bench.
Cam Johnson was about the only bright spot in Game 5, dropping 14 points. The rest of the rotation has to be better in Game 6 because Booker and Paul can't do it all alone. It has to be an all-around effort. If Paul is going to get you good looks with his impressive facilitating abilities, you have to capitalize.
4. Somehow slow down Paul George
Pandemic P has fully transformed into Playoff P. George has been nothing short of amazing without Kawhi Leonard. PG erupted for a playoff career-high 41 in 40 minutes on Monday while shooting a perfect 8 for 8 from the line. The Suns literally had no answers for him on the defensive end. He was driving to the hoop and finishing with contact, pulling up and draining mid-range jumpers, or draining threes.
Phoenix has to make life harder for George. They need to put more of a focus on hounding him consistently and now allowing PG to get good looks. He's obviously the leading catalyst for this Clippers offense and if they can shut him down to a certain extent, it's going to be hard for LA to even up the series.
If the Suns can put more attention to detail against George, it's going to be a key factor in advancing.
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