The Suns have been one of the most perplexing teams in the NBA this season. The Frank Vogel-led squad began the year with the fourth-shortest odds (+600) to win it all. And now, despite going into the playoffs with a fully healthy team, Phoenix has dropped to ninth (+2200) at most sportsbooks.
While nobody can be blamed for questioning the Suns’ title chances — they have been far too inconsistent all season — the one positive going into the postseason is the recent form of Bradley Beal. The three-time All-Star is averaging 21 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in April, but it’s his staggering three-point percentage of 69.4 and his perimeter defense that have made him Phoenix’s secret weapon.
Beal, the go-to scoring option in Washington for years, has never been renowned for his defense or ability to play off the ball. But to his credit, the former Florida Gator has embraced the lesser role of a 3&D player on a Suns team boasting two top-level shot-makers in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. As a result, Beal has been routinely guarding the opposition’s lead guards and thriving in the role.
Against the Timberwolves on Sunday, for example, Beal was the primary defender on Anthony Edwards, who was held to just 13 points and couldn’t get into his bag. Beal showed he can be a disruptive pick-and-roll defender with the requisite quickness to go over screens and hound ball-handlers — not an easy task in the modern NBA.
Beal will again be pitted against Edwards when the Suns and Timberwolves square off in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs this weekend. Ahead of the series, Beal made it clear that he plans to make things difficult for Minnesota’s leader scorer.
“We’re not going to make it easy on him if he’s not going to stop being aggressive either,” Beal told reporters, via Sports Illustrated. “It’s going to be a good matchup and a good series. He’s a young, talented player that’s always in attack mode so we gotta make sure we’re ready.”
If Beal continues to commit on defense, the Suns could shock a lot of teams in the playoffs.
