Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) drives against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, February 20, 2021, in Memphis, Tennessee. (AP Photo / Brandon Dill)
Having Chris Paul on his team could make possible wins like the surprising explosion of the fourth period of Friday for the Phoenix Suns.
It could also make possible cakewalks like Saturday’s 128-97 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Paul finding his elite form in recent weeks, there is a certain level of play that the Suns will have almost every night. With the talent that Phoenix has around Paul, following the leader’s lead will yield great results.
On Saturday, that meant not letting a Grizzlies team with a lack of hand even come close to sniffing a chance at victory.
Coach Monty Williams praised his team’s focus on taking care of business.
“These are the types of games where you can lose pace,” he said. “When they have so many guys, you can mess up the game, and we didn’t do that tonight.
“I reached a time limit and was grateful for the way we played in the fourth period, because it is a time when you can enter the game playing, making bad moves, I need to ask for the time limit to take us back to where we need to be and we didn’t have to do that tonight. “
Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins met with his team Friday night after a victory over the Detroit Pistons and tried to take the necessary precautionary measures in his rotation. That’s because the Grizzlies on Saturday against Phoenix were playing their fourth game in five nights and their fifth game in seven nights.
With Memphis already dealing with some COVID-19-related injuries and absences before that, he had to sit some players against Phoenix to be safe. It was point guard Grayson Allen, striker Kyle Anderson and big man Brandon Clarke. With the Grizzlies already losing holders Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr., that left their rotation decimated.
It is not a good idea with Point God in the city.
It never hurts to watch Paul take control of a game. He started playing in the first quarter offensively and was established from there.
Paul hit all five shots in the first half to 13 points. As a whole, he only had 16 points and six assists, a testament to his excellence that he can do this with a line of statistics that suggests anything but the precise manipulation of the opposition.
The Suns maintained a double-digit lead in 10 minutes, staying above 15 for most of the second quarter, and it only got worse from there.
The Suns played a good defense against the Grizzlies’ bad attack. Memphis looks kind of decent, but it never really fell. As the Suns’ victory breeze against the Orlando Magic in early February, it seemed that the Grizzlies were not entirely there because of how many guys they were losing.
The Grizzlies lost 16 consecutive points from three points to open the game.
At the time of attempt number 17, Suns won by 25, with 41.4 seconds to go until the end of the first half.
Phoenix went all the way. The Grizzlies didn’t have enough of a fight after the Suns beat them from the start. The Suns’ 31-point lead at halftime was reduced to just 26 in the second half.
This game would not have been strongly contested in any way that shooting trends, but it didn’t help that the Suns also made a franchise record of 24 three points.
In such an open game, some players were able to get a rhythm score. Devin Booker had a game record of 23, while 19 points were contributed by Mikal Bridges, Cam Payne and Dario Saric.
Memphis finished 5 out of 33 (15.2%) in the three-point range. The Suns had 35 assists for just nine turnovers.
Suns viewers this season will often remember Paul’s greatness. In addition to his impact on the last two victories, there is also the fact that on Saturday he surpassed the damn Oscar Robertson in the all-time assist classification, moving up to sixth place.
Everyone at Suns doesn’t take it for granted.
“For us, we won a great game, but I’m just delighted to be part of it with him,” said Williams of Paul’s achievement. “When you think about the name Oscar Robertson, it’s unrealistic that Chris plays the way he does … I just find that incredible and a blessing, and I feel so honored and humble to be part of this team when he did that.”
Booker made sure to get the game ball for Paul so that the team could present it later, a ball that Paul still held while talking to the media.
“It’s kind of hard to put it into words, being a fan of the game for so long and being a fan of it for so long – now being able to grace the court with him is unbelievable,” said Booker.
“It really means everything,” he added as he handed Paul the ball. “Just being part of the story, man – it’s Chris Paul right there. I say this every day. I call him by name and surname because that’s how I grew up saying that. “
Booker said “there is no mistake” that Paul is so remarkable as a basketball player because he has now seen Paul’s daily work in recent months.
Paul’s special mindset was reflected when asked if he was trying to get Magic Johnson – No. 5 – next on the leaderboard this season.
“I’m trying to accumulate victories,” said Paul with a sly smile.