Post-Mortem: 2020-21 Phoenix Suns

[DCasey91]

Also moving Cam Johnson to the starting unit could be the go. Looks ready.

Gotta find a better backup big. Nance at the Cavs would be handy imo

Cam Johnson needs to put on a few more pounds IMO if hes going to start.

Crowder at this point is still the best option for them, unless they do some sort of move or trade in FA.

Suns are going to be smallish anyway, I do like Cam at that spot. Nance added size on the bench.

Sell high buy low. I do think the team is capped somewhat on the ceiling (CP3/size) but it’s perfectly setup for success though.

Work around the margins sort of thing. But the core of Booker/Mikal/Ayton/Johnson is very good and will get better.

[Pharmcat]

Monty Williams was terrible in the finals. They need to get him a defensive coordinator

[GSWFan1994]

They should have at least a 2 or 3 year window to compete for a title and maybe even improve some parts of the roster.

Beyond that it's hard to tell, mainly because CP3 will be really old by then and also because their cap will be tied to an Ayton/Booker/Bridges core, which will add to roughly 100 mi/year, limiting other ways to improve the rest of the team.

[DCasey91]

Monty Williams was terrible in the finals. They need to get him a defensive coordinator

They really couldn’t do much honestly. Remember they were 2-1 down against a similar setup with AD/Lebron

Switchable elite bigs that play tall and small crushes smaller types all ends up. They had trouble with the Clippers too.

I mean even on paper the size differential is big time. Then add exp/prime as heck age and a best player in the comp or near enough on the other side. It was actually Bud that needed to adjust and he thankfully did. Just monster the boards ggs.

79 ORB! Five guys over ten ORBS for the Bucks it’s too much in the end.

Lakers got 70 last year. Huge important stat differential.

Small ball is dead and buried imho.

37 point difference over the last 4 games so basically a 9 point spread.

Watching the game it was literally Ayton and a tree of bigs on the other side lol.

[pj0tr]

Monty Williams was terrible in the finals. They need to get him a defensive coordinator

He wasn't great for sure, but he pushed all the right buttons all year, and really between him and James Jones, he re-established a winning culture in Phoenix for the first time since the Nash years.

Even last year, before the bubble, if Ayton doesn't get suspended for 25 games, Phoenix makes the playoffs IMO without needing the play-in.

[DCasey91]

I mean honestly what could Monty do? The blitzkrieg pace approach worked because Bud tried to run with them and Giannis was underdone game one.

Exactly like the Hawks once they realized they could just get free offensive rebounds it was ggs from then on. Interior got smashed inwards with only one true sized big whose young and can’t guard Giannis in fact AD would get monstered too.

Size matters.

Look at the size of Holiday, Middleton, Lopez, Portis, Pat, Tucker. Then you have a headache in Giannis which Suns legitimately have no one.

Only Crowder and Ayton has size that’s it that’s the list right there.

Paul is an easier cover then Giannis obviously.

[bisme37]

Congrats on an amazing season Suns fans. You guys were great. This playoff run was incredible experience and your team will be back more seasoned and stronger than ever.

[radeonboy]

Thought the Suns would win. Wanted them to win. I don't see this team making it back to the finals. This was the year where they could have had it. I've seen this too many times to various sports teams where they make the finals after sucking for so long, almost win it but don't and end up never being able to get back to the same point. Suns blew it. I don't expect to see them in the finals for some time again.

[og15]

Monty Williams was terrible in the finals. They need to get him a defensive coordinator

What were his options? The roster didn't really have options for him to drastically adjust how he was able to defend.

[og15]

Thought the Suns would win. Wanted them to win. I don't see this team making it back to the finals. This was the year where they could have had it. I've seen this too many times to various sports teams where they make the finals after sucking for so long, almost win it but don't and end up never being able to get back to the same point. Suns blew it. I don't expect to see them in the finals for some time again.

Without a dominant star or overall dominant team (in your conference), the likelihood of making back to back finals is extremely low to basically none. So yes, I have zero expectations of them making it again. Of course I also didn't expect them to make it this time either, but twice in a row? Can't see it.

[Pharmcat]

Monty Williams was terrible in the finals. They need to get him a defensive coordinator

What were his options? The roster didn't really have options for him to drastically adjust how he was able to defend.

Wall defense

[Marvin Martian]

Fire Monty Williams. He was outcoached. The Nets gave him the blueprint for beating Giannis when they had no defensive personnel, and Monty couldn't even do that

[Marvin Martian]

Monty Williams was terrible in the finals. They need to get him a defensive coordinator

What were his options? The roster didn't really have options for him to drastically adjust how he was able to defend.

The Nets had no defenders and they shut down MIL offense easily. Build the wall and let the erratic Holiday and Middleton chuck the ball at a 30% clip.

[xdrta+]

Do you give CP3 100M?! That’s the real question.

Only if you're insane.

[ANTETOKOUNBROS]

The Suns lacked depth in the front court defensively to slow a physical team like the Bucks, that was the one thing that they were missing and is the key to forming a Giannis wall. The Suns were built to defeat any other team other than one that is headed offensively by a guy like Giannis. The Bucks style lets them play in their element which is one of physical attrition. The Suns only chances to pull away and sustain leads came from unsustainable shotmaking from distance.

[skones]

Do you give CP3 100M?! That’s the real question.

Only if you're insane.

It'd be more insane to not pay him and take a mammoth step back next season.

[EArl]

Do you give CP3 100M?! That’s the real question.

Only if you're insane.

It'd be more insane to not pay him and take a mammoth step back next season.

They have to pay him so he can stay. Without CP3, they're a first round team at best. Maybe not even make it through the play in tournament.

[xdrta+]

Only if you're insane.

It'd be more insane to not pay him and take a mammoth step back next season.

They have to pay him so he can stay. Without CP3, they're a first round team at best. Maybe not even make it through the play in tournament.

I don't believe that. Besides, with him they're not a championship team, as was proven. You really want to hamstring yourself for the next 3 years, overpaying a 36-39 year old? Foolish.

[ILOVEIT]

Ayton, like Hero and Duncan last year, just way overrated.
Name me one actual skill move he made other than dunking or laying in serve ups by CP??
And in the the guy he's defending.....50 points in a must win game.

I guaranteeeeeeeeeeeeeee you that Ayton will have super average numbers next year when CP3 takes off.

Loved seeing small market teams get the love....

[ANTETOKOUNBROS]

The talent is there, if Paul opts out and comes back for peanuts and give the Suns some room to add defensive talent to the front court, they could come back if Ayton takes another leap.