Suns: Chris Paul Needs to Emerge in Pivotal Game 5 vs. Mavericks
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If there was ever a time to put the Batman signal out for Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, it's now.
The Suns left Phoenix up 2-0 and return to the Footprint center all square after dropping Games 3 and 4 to the Dallas Mavericks.
The series lead evaporated for a multitude of reasons, yet the conversation always seems to shift towards the recent play of Paul.
Game 3 saw Paul turn the ball over seven times before halftime (a career high in the playoffs for turnovers before halftime), while Paul managed to amass four personal fouls before the break and eventually fouled out in Sunday's Game 4.
With Paul and shooting guard Devin Booker firing on all cylinders, the Suns are considered to be unstoppable. Yet that hasn't been the case for Phoenix in these last two games, and for a player that prides himself in leadership, time is ticking to turn the tide of the series.
That's not to say Paul is at fault for Phoenix's recent demise, but even outlets such as ESPN ponder whether or not the past two games were a fluke.
"Paul hasn't been the same player since turning 37 -- four days ago," said Tim MacMahan.
"He was in vintage "Point God" form while the Suns jumped out to a 2-0 series lead at home, particularly during his 14-point flurry early in the fourth quarter to put away Game 2.
"But Paul had a bizarrely bad birthday weekend, when he had more turnovers (nine) and fouls (10) than buckets in a pair of road losses as the Mavs evened the series.
"Some of Paul's struggles can just be chalked up to uncharacteristic sloppiness. He'll likely never have a seven-turnover first half again, as he did in Game 1. And it was a shocking mental mistake to pick up his fourth foul just before halftime while chasing an offensive rebound he had minimal chance of grabbing."
The storyline of "Chris Paul needs to play well for the Suns to win" isn't some groundbreaking thought, but simply more of an overstatement at this point. Paul has been impacted in various ways (foul trouble, turnovers) these last two games, and with the series on the line, the Suns need Paul to emerge now more than ever.
Paul won't show up in a dark mask in the streets of Gotham for justice. Rather, he'll conduct Phoenix's offense efficiently to ensure the Suns again hold the series advantage heading into Dallas on Thursday.
It's easier said than done, as the Mavericks have done a stellar job at forcing Paul out of his comfort zone. Yet for the Suns to have any chance at winning what has now become a best-of-three series, Paul needs to find his form sooner rather than later.
Game 5 seems like the perfect opportunity to wipe the slate clean and put on a vintage performance.
