Playoff success for Phoenix Suns depends on Deandre Ayton
As the Phoenix Suns are set to take on the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs, the Suns’ success will depend on Deandre Ayton.
It has been a long, 10 years for the Phoenix Suns. From missing the playoffs to tanking, coaching turnover, etc. the Suns have endured basketball ineptitude. Well, ever since former Wildcat Deandre Ayton arrived as the No. 1 pick in 2018, things have been steadily rising in the Valley.
The team is starting to turn a corner, and with the blockbuster addition of star point guard Chris Paul this off-season, the organization is set to play in their first playoff series since 2009-10.
Arizona Wildcats
However, as the team enters as the No. 2 seed in the West, they are still largely seen as the underdog with a marquee matchup against the 7-seeded and defending World Champion Los Angeles Lakers looming.
Led by superstars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers are certainly loaded with talent, and despite their injury issues earlier in the season, they are still the odds-on favorite to win the series and possibly make the NBA Finals once again.
If the Phoenix Suns are to break through and shock the world, it is truly going to be a team effort, and it likely starts with the play of Deandre Ayton.
Now 22, he is still a young and developing player in this league that is continuing to go through “growing pains”. However, he has shown glimpses of greatness along the way that have led many to believe he has star potential.
Unfortunately for him, with fellow 2018 draft picks like Luka Dončić and Trae Young putting up “bigger numbers”, it has led to a lot of unfair criticisms of Ayton. The expectations in Phoenix have been high, and understandably so since he was the former No. 1 pick.
So as the Suns are set to face an extremely talented Los Angeles team, he is going to have to find a way to come up big in this series, or Phoenix will have an unceremonious end to the season. If there was ever a time for him to start living up to the hype, it is now.
Series Information:
- Game 1: Los Angeles vs Phoenix – 5/23 at 1:30 PM PST
- Game 2: Los Angeles vs Phoenix – 5/25 at 7:00 PM PST
- Game 3: Phoenix vs Los Angeles – 5/27 at 7:00 PM PST
- Game 4: Phoenix vs Los Angeles – 5/30 at 1:30 PM PST
- Game 5: Los Angeles vs Phoenix – 6/1 TBD (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Phoenix vs Los Angeles – 6/3 TBD (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Los Angeles vs Phoenix – 6/5 TBD (If Necessary)