No Backing Down, Suns Take Game Four in LA

Right after the Suns walked off the Staples Center court with a convincing 100-92 victory over the Lakers, Chris Paul relayed his pre-game conversation with head coach Monty Williams “Monty told me he was going to sit me and I said “Hell no.” 

The fight from the star guard carried over onto the court, as Paul looked every bit like the player that put his name into the Most Valuable Player conversation during the regular season. The stat box showed 32 minutes, 18 points, and 9 assists. My eyeball test said the Suns wouldn’t have been in the game without Paul on the court.  “I’m just glad that I and coach got the relationship where we can have that conversation,” Paul said after the victory. 

So here we are in a best of three series starting Tuesday night on the Suns homecourt. The Lakers may be without Anthony Davis, who suffered a groin injury. Paul’s fight to be on the floor was the story of the day. More from the Suns head coach “if our guys could’ve seen that conversation(pregame), it would’ve given us more juice today, I have to trust his will and his experience; I don’t want to be the guy that takes it away from him, he’s worked his tail off for years to be in this moment.” 

The series is tied up at 2-games apiece. Game five will be Tuesday night in downtown Phoenix.