“Flawed roster” – ESPN’s Nick Friedell QUESTIONS Kevin Durant and Phoenix Suns’ star power to ride in big moments
Nick Friedell has recently questioned Kevin Durant and Phoenix Suns' star power
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After suffering a devastating loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5, the Phoenix Suns are in danger of being eliminated. The Suns have had trouble finding continuous success in the playoffs despite having a strong record in the Western Conference this season. Nick Friedell of ESPN questioned the Suns’ ability to deliver in crucial time, pointing to their deficient roster as a significant problem.
Friedell said that the Suns were exposed in the postseason because they lost depth in the form of Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson in the deal for Kevin Durant. Even though Durant has been excellent, the team cannot be led by him alone. The Suns have relied largely on Devin Booker while Chris Paul is out with a left groin injury. Due to the more balanced rosters of teams like the Nuggets, this has left them vulnerable.
“I was wrong I believed in the star power of Kevin Durant. I believe that he would make that group better guys, but they’re not good enough. This is not a team that is built for a long postseason run because they’re a flawed roster.”
The Suns’ inability to stay up with the Nuggets in Game 5 was caused by their lack of reliable bench depth. The Suns were unable to match Denver’s scoring despite Booker’s 28 points and Durant’s 26 points and 11 rebounds. Five Nuggets players scored in double digits, led by Nikola Jokic’s 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. Bruce Brown, who came off the bench and scored 25 points, also had a big game for them.
Nikola Jokic Leads Denver Nuggets to the Brink of the Western Conference Finals
In Game 5, Jokic concluded the game with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA playoffs for the most triple-doubles by a centre.
Throughout the playoffs, Jokic has been the Nuggets’ driving force, and Game 5 was no different. Five players scored in double figures, giving him a lot of help from his colleagues. Particularly remarkable was the Nuggets’ bench, where Bruce Brown led the way with 25 points.
Denver’s postseason success has been significantly attributed to their balanced roster. Despite having Jokic as their star player, the entire roster has contributed. Aaron Gordon has contributed a strong defensive presence, and Michael Porter Jr. has established himself as a dependable scoring option.
The Nuggets have won all three games at home in this series, and they will now try to win Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Suns have displayed moments of brilliance throughout this series, but they have been exposed by their dependency on their star players.
In case you missed it:
- Nikola Jokic reveals $25,000 reason for pre-game moment with Suns owner Mat Ishbia
- Chris Paul injury update: Suns PG reveals whether he’ll play in team’s elimination game
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)