3 adjustments Phoenix Suns need to make to save series vs. Lakers

2. Start Cam Payne

It would’ve been blasphemy to suggest this at any other point during Chris Paul’s career, but even with two days off between Games 3 and 4, it’s glaringly obvious that one of the NBA’s best playoff performers is actively hurting his team in his current state. It’s devastating to witness yet another CP3 postseason run derailed by injury, but the shoulder stinger he sustained in Game 1 has severely limited his impact.

Through three games, Paul is averaging a meager 6.7 points and 6.3 assists per game. He hasn’t topped seven points in a single game, he’s shooting 38.1 percent from the floor, he’s missed three of his six free throws after leading the league in free-throw percentage, the Suns have been outscored by 16 points during his 86 minutes on the floor, and perhaps most revealing of all, he’s attempted just one 3-pointer in three games. The problem is, he still seems dead-set on playing through injury.

“I don’t know, just gotta figure it out,” he said after Game 3. “It’s the playoffs, everybody’s a little banged up. I’ve just gotta figure it out.”

Nobody can blame Chris Paul for wanting to help his team; this has happened way too many times to him before, and this season has been special for him and the Suns. He’s stated over and over how he’s been most proud of his ability to stay on the court this year, and after what happened in 2018 with the Houston Rockets, having to watch his team miss out on a memorable postseason run because he went down with another injury would string a lot worse than his shoulder.

But facts are facts: Paul can barely use his right arm right now. He’s not a threat from anywhere beyond the mid-range, where his form has become an awkward shotput as he tries to will the ball into the basket. The Lakers defense doesn’t respect his 3-point shot, he can’t put any zip on his passes, and free throws look downright painful.

So unless he miraculously heals overnight, the Suns need to spread his minutes elsewhere and game-plan in advance for their short-term future without Chris Paul. The first step is starting Cam Payne, who’s been great since his ejection in Game 1. Payne provides the Suns with a reliable floor-spacer (he’s 7-for-15 from deep in this series and shot 44 percent from 3 during the regular season), scorer (13.0 points per game this series) and ball-handler who can actually make the defense work. He’s no CP3 as a playmaker, but even his 4.7 assists per game in this series will provide some oxygen for a Suns offense that’s being suffocated at its point of attack with Booker.

“We have a style of play that we try to implement no matter who’s on the floor,” Williams said. “Now granted, it’s Chris, and he’s been the architect all year long, but I thought Cam Payne came in and did some really nice things, from shot-making to attacking the paint.”

At this stage, the best avenue may be starting Payne and either letting Jevon Carter hound Dennis Schroder up and down the court or allowing E’Twaun Moore’s ball-handling to shine off the bench. After all, Booker and Payne played 659 regular-season minutes together, posting a Net Rating of 7.1 together. It’s not like this would be some brand-new pairing to whip out in the middle of a crucial playoff series.

It’s abhorrent to have to add another playoff “what-if” to Chris Paul’s resume (and the Suns’ ever-growing list, for that matter), but he can’t help this team in his current state. Unless something drastically changes with Paul’s shoulder over the next 24 hours, Phoenix needs to prepare to be as effective as possible without its lead floor general out there.