USA TODAY
MILWAUKEE If only family and friends could engage with NBA players at games the same way they did before the pandemic.
Perhaps then former Los Angeles Lakers player and team broadcaster Mychal Thompson might be here so he could embrace Phoenix Suns third-year center Deandre Ayton before playing the Milwaukee Bucks in Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals. After all, Thompson often greeted Ayton before the Suns played the Lakers to further cement their bond as native Bahamians. I tell him how proud I am of him and to keep going, Thompson told USA TODAY Sports. He’s the greatest player we’ve ever had from the Bahamas.
Arizona PBS
July 8, 2021
Chris Paul has become a Phoenix Suns fan favorite this season, but a question remains: Will he return to the Suns in 2021-22? (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Chris Paul added to his impressive legacy after Game 1 of the NBA Finals by joining the elite company of Michael Jordan. And the hungry-for-a-championship fan base in Phoenix was thrilled to see it.
Paul is symbolic of a Suns team that has struggled for years to reach the NBA Finals. Now that they’ve arrived, tickets are at a premium – StubHub had nothing less than $660 options on Thursday afternoon – national media has descended on the city and the Phoenix Suns Arena team shop is quickly selling out of finals gear.
Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Eli Cohen | Last updated 7/5/21
Bucks star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled as “doubtful” for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Earlier in the day, coach Mike Budenholzer said Giannis “had a good day and is making good progress,” according to Mark Medina of USA Today. As Duane Rankin of Arizona Republic noted, Budenholzer said that Antetokounmpo was able to do some on-court work, saying, “I’m just going to leave it (that) he did court work. So he’s making progress and we’re pleased that he’s making progress.”
USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES The Phoenix Suns finished with an 84-80 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday at Staples Center, a game that cemented a 3-1 series lead after both teams struggled to generate offense.
Clippers forward Paul George missed a pair of free throws while the Suns held an 81-78 lead with 6.3 seconds left. After George s intentional miss on the second foul shot, Clippers forward DeMarcus Cousins grabbed a rebound and drew a foul. After making the first shot, Cousins intentionally missed but lost possession because he hit the shot off the backboard.
USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES With the same candor that he often uses toward teammates and officials, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul spoke bluntly and critically about his own play.
In his first game after being sidelined for eight days because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, Paul labored through the Suns’ Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with 15 points while shooting 5-of-19 from the field and 2-of-7 from 3-point range. I got to be better, Paul said. I shot terrible. I ve got to pick up the pace.
Despite his frustrations, Paul maintained perspective about his unfortunate circumstances.