Should Suns be Worried About Chris Paul's Minutes?

The Phoenix Suns currently hold a 2-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers with an important Game 4 happening in just a few hours.

The Suns hope they can snatch a 3-1 lead and take LAC back to Phoenix in what could be an elimination game on Tuesday. However, the Suns have 48 minutes of basketball ahead of them before that scenario can even be discussed.

Part of Phoenix's success has been the performances of their starters, even in the clear absence of production from the bench.

Players such as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant shined when the lights were brightest in Games 2 and 3, but have played awfully strong minutes to ensure that happens.

Playing your best players is never an issue, especially when you reach the postseason and every game counts more than usual.

However, there has been some hesitation when it comes to Chris Paul's usage.

ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler appeared on "Get Up!" yesterday and expressed concern about Paul's minutes:

"Normally I would say no - usually I'm one of those guys who doesn't want to hear about minutes. It drives me insane any time the topic comes up... normally. This is a little bit different," said Legler.

"This is pretty extreme, you're talking about guys averaging 40 minutes a night, particularly Chris Paul. That's where my main concern would be because he has a history of breaking down in the postseason. The deeper you get and he continues to play these kinds of minutes, he could face some problems down the road.

"They don't have a lot of depth, they don't have a lot of answers at point guard certainly - but you do have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to run your offense through to give Chris Paul a little bit more extended time [on the bnch]. I'm not as concerned about it with Kevin Durant, he just had a lot of rest. He was out for a long time with an injury.

"One of the byproducts of missing time with an injury is your legs are fresher and we've seen guys benefit from that in the past. I'm not too worried about Durant, I'm certainly not worried about Devin Booker or Deandre Ayton. Chris Paul is the guy I'm looking at and one of the reasons I was excited for him when they got Kevin Durant, I thought it would preserve him more because he wouldn't have to be as aggressive offensively. So that's one I wan to look at if I'm Monty Williams. That number can't be around 40 minutes a game, which is where it's at now."

All are valid points, but where exactly does Williams draw the line with bench players subbing for Paul?

Landry Shamet has primarily handled duties as backup point guard in place of Cameron Payne, who has missed all three games with lower back soreness and is questionable heading into Game 4.

Shamet is averaging a mere 1.3 points per night on nearly 14 minutes averaged each game. Thus far he's the only backup guard to feature in all three postseason games and has given next to nothing as far as production is concerned.

Surely Payne's healthy presence would entice Williams to sit Paul down more, though the Point God is averaging a cool 11.3 PTS - 7.0 RBS - 8.3 AST - 2 STL in the first three games, making a hard argument to sit him.

As the postseason digs deeper, Williams will be tasked in finding the balance between keeping his best floor general out on the court and resting his nearly 38-year-old point guard.

Run the risk of running Paul into the ground or watch a massive downgrade fill in - that's been one of the handful of issues the Suns have had to juggle to begin he postseason.

Game 4 between the Suns and Clippers will begin today at 12:30 PM PST.