3 takeaways from game one of the Clippers vs. Suns

1. The Suns don’t have the depth to keep up with the LA Clippers.

While the LA Clippers may be without Paul George, they are arguably the deepest team in the NBA. The Clippers have everything from high-end scorers in Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, and Norman Powell to defensive specialists in Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann, and Nicolas Batum. This gives them the edge over a team like the Phoenix Suns.

For instance, during game one, the LA Clippers had nine players contribute in over ten minutes of action. This does not include two elite role players, Marcus Morris Sr., and Robert Covington, who ended the game as DNP. In the end, that is 11 quality players who would have a significant role on almost any team in the league.

Conversely, the Phoenix Suns are the complete opposite. Although four of their five starters scored over 20 points, no one else on the team eclipsed ten. Not to mention their bench scored a total of ten points, while the Clippers’ bench posted 34.

The Clippers have a major advantage over the Suns, as their starters will have less pressure to score the ball. The bench statistics would have significantly increased if Covington had left his contributions on the court.

Another factor fans should take note of is the number of minutes the Suns’ starters have to play. In the series’ first game, Kevin Durant played 45 minutes, and Devin Booker played 43 minutes. If the Clippers can put up a fight, these types of minutes are not sustainable for their star players, especially Durant and the stage he is at in his career.

Additionally, Chris Paul played 39 minutes. As he turns 38 in approximately three weeks, the Suns cannot consistently rely on him to contribute night in and night out.