How far can Devin Booker and the Suns go without Chris Paul?
[caption id="attachment_323948" align="alignnone" width="1820"] (Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]
Chris Paul is officially out.
Paul’s backcourt partner Devin Booker now looks to carry the majority of the offensive load, as CP3 has been ruled out indefinitely due to COVID-19 protocols, right as the Phoenix Suns look to face off against the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA's Western Conference Finals.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, Paul and Booker’s fates seem intertwined, as Booker had failed to make the playoffs in his five seasons before the arrival of CP3. Now in his first Conference Finals appearance, Booker and the Suns are without their top playmaker.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1406410695600713731?s=20
In 10 playoff games, Paul has been the second-highest scorer behind Booker while averaging 25.5 points and 10.3 assists in their series sweep of the Denver Nuggets. CP3 has also helped former #1 draftee and pick-and-roll partner Deandre Ayton shoot 71 percent from the field for the playoffs.
Booker, in his Western Conference debut, will be asked to not only carry the scoring load but also take over the playmaking duties as he's pushed into the #1 scoring and assist option for the Suns. Paul’s absence also pushes Ayton into the #2 scoring option, as the former 1st overall pick looks to not be an afterthought from a 2018 draft class that also included Trae Young and Luka Doncic.
Some positive news for Booker and Suns is that the Clippers will also be without the other half of their superstar duo, as Kawhi Leonard has also been ruled out of Game 1 with a sprained knee and will stay back in Los Angeles to rehab. Terance Mann started for Leonard, scoring 39 points to close out the #1 seed Utah Jazz.
https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1406354068755255296?s=20
Former Murray State product Cameron Payne is slated to start in place of Paul, who has been averaging 10 points and 3 assists off the bench. Paul has been in constant virtual contact with the team, working with Payne and the starters, while watching Game 6 between the Clippers and the Jazz with Suns head coach Monty Williams.
For Paul to return he needs to have either two consecutive negative tests or spend 10 days in quarantine since the first positive test/from the onset of symptoms. Game 1 of the Western Conference finals tips off later today at 3:30 p.m. EST, while Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, six days after Paul will have entered COVID-19 protocols.
(Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]
Chris Paul is officially out.
Paul’s backcourt partner Devin Booker now looks to carry the majority of the offensive load, as CP3 has been ruled out indefinitely due to COVID-19 protocols, right as the Phoenix Suns look to face off against the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA's Western Conference Finals.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, Paul and Booker’s fates seem intertwined, as Booker had failed to make the playoffs in his five seasons before the arrival of CP3. Now in his first Conference Finals appearance, Booker and the Suns are without their top playmaker.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1406410695600713731?s=20
In 10 playoff games, Paul has been the second-highest scorer behind Booker while averaging 25.5 points and 10.3 assists in their series sweep of the Denver Nuggets. CP3 has also helped former #1 draftee and pick-and-roll partner Deandre Ayton shoot 71 percent from the field for the playoffs.
Booker, in his Western Conference debut, will be asked to not only carry the scoring load but also take over the playmaking duties as he's pushed into the #1 scoring and assist option for the Suns. Paul’s absence also pushes Ayton into the #2 scoring option, as the former 1st overall pick looks to not be an afterthought from a 2018 draft class that also included Trae Young and Luka Doncic.
Some positive news for Booker and Suns is that the Clippers will also be without the other half of their superstar duo, as Kawhi Leonard has also been ruled out of Game 1 with a sprained knee and will stay back in Los Angeles to rehab. Terance Mann started for Leonard, scoring 39 points to close out the #1 seed Utah Jazz.
https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1406354068755255296?s=20
Former Murray State product Cameron Payne is slated to start in place of Paul, who has been averaging 10 points and 3 assists off the bench. Paul has been in constant virtual contact with the team, working with Payne and the starters, while watching Game 6 between the Clippers and the Jazz with Suns head coach Monty Williams.
For Paul to return he needs to have either two consecutive negative tests or spend 10 days in quarantine since the first positive test/from the onset of symptoms. Game 1 of the Western Conference finals tips off later today at 3:30 p.m. EST, while Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, six days after Paul will have entered COVID-19 protocols.
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