Deandre Ayton has largely been credited for his game-winner that gave the Phoenix Suns a 2-0 lead against the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Finals. However, another name that should be acknowledged for that clutch brilliance is no other than head coach Monty Williams.
He might not be on the court to help the team execute, but his spectacular game-calling saved the Suns big time. In fact, he was caught and heard on camera telling Ayton to dunk the ball if Jae Crowder decides to throw it up near the rim.
"DA – if he throws it, you gotta try to dunk it. Okay?"
🤯 SOUND ON to hear Monty Williams in the @Suns huddle before Deandre Ayton's game-winning tip-in!#ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yCDqHmVF1L
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2021
Sure enough, that is exactly what Deandre Ayton did. With less than a second left and the Clippers leading 103-102, Ayton escaped from Ivica Zubac, soared, caught the ball from Crowder and threw down the ball without wasting any time knowing they don't have much of it.
The result? A thing of beauty that will be remembered for a long time by Suns fans who watched the game in Talking Stick Resort Arena:
🚨 DEANDRE AYTON AT THE BUZZER 🚨pic.twitter.com/D1Q0DszOHb
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 23, 2021
Monty Williams proved himself once again as one of the most brilliant basketball minds in the NBA. While he didn't win the 2021 NBA Coach of the Year award–finishing second behind Tom Thibodeau–being able to lead his team to the Western Conference Finals with a real chance to make it all the way to the NBA Finals is surely a huge reward and honor for him already.
Of course the job is far from over, especially against a Clippers team who has already came back from a 2-0 lead twice. However, with Williams at the helm for Phoenix, Ty Lue and his LA might have a hard time pulling off another massive comeback.
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