Brandon Marshall, an NFL analyst and former wide receiver, recently made a bold claim that in order to win in the NBA playoffs, all you need are your main team players to perform well. Marshall specifically pointed to the Phoenix Suns, who fell to the Denver Nuggets 97-87 on Monday night, as an example of this.
Brandon Marshall tried to tell me you don’t need depth in the playoffs if you have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Nuggets 2-0. pic.twitter.com/jalTs5U9lA
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) May 2, 2023
Brandon Marshall Argues That Strong Main Team Players Are Key to NBA Playoff Success: Analysis of Suns vs. Nuggets Game
Despite Devin Booker’s 35-point performance and Kevin Durant’s 24 points, the Suns lost due to a lack of contribution from their supporting cast. Chris Paul, who has been instrumental in leading the Suns to the playoffs, left the game with a left groin injury in the third quarter and did not return. Additionally, Deandre Ayton, who has been a dominant force in the paint, struggled with foul trouble and ultimately fouled out.
Marshall argued that if Ayton and Paul had performed their duties, the Suns could have beaten the Nuggets without relying on their bench. Marshall asserted that a strong bench is not necessary for success in the playoffs as long as the main team players, such as Durant and Booker, perform to their best abilities.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, had a balanced attack with Nikola Jokic leading the way with 39 points and 16 rebounds. While Jamal Murray struggled with his shooting, Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope stepped up and contributed 16 and 14 points respectively. Caldwell-Pope also hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that erased a 73-70 deficit and put the Nuggets ahead for good.
Although a strong bench can provide a boost for teams in the playoffs, Marshall’s claim highlights the importance of having reliable and consistent performances from main team players. The Suns may have fallen short on Monday night due to the lack of contribution from Paul and Ayton, but their success in the playoffs thus far is a testament to the fact that having a strong starting lineup can be enough to compete at the highest level.
Chris Paul Leaves Game 2 With Left Groin Tightness
The Phoenix Suns suffered a big blow as Chris Paul exited Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets due to left groin tightness with 4:32 left in the third quarter. The veteran point guard seemed to have suffered the injury while fighting for a rebound against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Paul played 25 minutes and had eight points, six assists and five rebounds before he was led to the locker room.
Paul’s absence will be a significant factor for the Suns in Game 2 and the series, as he is their best playmaker and the leader of the team. Although he is aging, the future Hall of Famer has been crucial for Phoenix throughout the season. Losing Paul will be a massive loss for the Suns, and they will need to rely on other players to step up if he is further sidelined following this setback.
According to the Suns, Paul will not return due to his left groin tightness. Phoenix fans will undoubtedly be disappointed with this news as they hope for their team to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
