Chris Paul and the Suns are heading to the NBA Finals

Read Time:2 Minute, 30 Second

After 16 years in the NBA, Chris Paul will be going to the NBA Finals for the first time. In a chippy six-game series, the Phoenix Suns were able to beat the Los Angeles Clippers. The series saw Chris Paul miss the first two games due to health and safety protocols after testing positive for Covid-19. Devin Booker had his nose broken in Game 2 of the series, which did have some effect throughout the following four games. The team also missed Cam Johson in Game 6 due to a non-Covid illness. It is clear that the team was not at 100% during the series, but they were able to defeat a Clippers team led by Paul George.

While the Clippers were not able to force a Game 7 or reach the NBA Finals, they deserve much respect for their season. The team was able to come back from two 2-0 leads in the postseason, eliminating the Dallas Mavericks in seven games and eliminating the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz in six games. The Clippers did not have superstar Kawhi Leonard for the entirety of the Western Conference Finals after a knee injury in the second round. Paul George stepped up in Leonard’s absence leading the postseason in points and minutes at the time of elimination. The Clippers also missed Serge Ibaka throughout the postseason and missed Ivica Zubac in Game 6. Demarcus Cousins stepped up in the absence of both, posting a career playoff-high.

Game 6 saw good performances from several Phoenix Suns players. Devin Booker, Jae Crowder, and Deandre Ayton produced tonight, dropping 22, 19, and 16 points, respectively. On the other side, the Clippers saw 20+ point performances from Paul George and Marcus Morris Sr., who dropped 21 and 26 points, respectively. Game 6 belonged to Chris Paul though. Chris Paul dropped 41 points, with 31 of those points coming in the second half. Paul hit seven of his eight three-point shots with his intensity affecting everyone on the court. The fourth quarter saw Clippers guard Patrick Beverly be ejected after shoving Paul to the ground from behind which brought a smile to Paul’s face.

The question that comes out of Game 6 is who will the Phoenix Suns face in the NBA finals. The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks are currently tied 2-2 with Game 5 taking place tonight in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Game 5 after the hyperextended knee he suffered in Game 4. The Bucks will need to see Khris Middleton step up again if the team expects to win in Game 5 and take the series lead. On the other side, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks is questionable for Game 5 after sitting out Game 4 due to the freak ankle injury suffered towards the end of Game 3. The series will end by Monday, July 5th, at the latest, with the Finals expected to start not too long after that.