Phoenix’s lack of a traditional point guard in this series apparently played a role in the Suns’ demise.
Minnesota’s defensive pressure puts the Suns in a constant state of disarray. And there is no natural general to restore order. Bradley Beal and Devin Booker are usually responsible for getting Phoenix into its offense. But it’s proving trying for two of the Suns’ three star players, as they’ve been constantly harassed by Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Every square inch of space on the pitch is deserved.
Those matchups played a role in Minnesota exhausting the Suns in the second half of each of the first three matchups heading into Game 4 on Sunday night.
Yes, Phoenix probably could have used a point guard. But his absence is becoming a familiar phenomenon in the NBA. Teams are giving up floor generals in exchange for extra size and length.
“They play a more modern style of basketball. A lot of teams look to five guys who can all be about the same size, and they can all handle the ball and try to make a play,” Wolves point guard Mike Conley said. “There are advantages to having a point guard, I always think, versus a traditional point guard. There are a lot of small guards that are really smart, high-IQ basketball players that can really help the game.”
Conley is proof. His arrival in Minnesota at last year’s trade deadline steadied the Timberwolves’ ship. He masterfully leads a team that has a lot of mouths to feed and is a go-to option to get Minnesota into action at big times.
The Timberwolves leaned toward a point guard-oriented approach at times throughout the season, even playing a three-point lineup consisting of Conley, Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin in the second half of the season.
But McLaughlin and Morris’ roles diminished as the team’s rotation tightened in the postseason. Thus, Minnesota’s de facto backup point guard has been Alexander-Walker. Like Booker and Beal, Alexander-Walker is much more of a wingman than a floor general.
But the 25-year-old is quickly evolving into a dreamlike hybrid between the two. In addition to everything he did in the series – serving as both a lockdown perimeter defender and 3-point sniper – Alexander-Walker also had 12 assists to just three turnovers over the first three matches.
Not bad for a guy playing with the ball for the first time in his career in the playoffs. Alexander-Walker noted that’s what’s different for him this year compared to last year’s series against Denver.
“Last year I didn’t really play with the ball. I try to be a leader, put guys in positions, knowing the offense like Mike does. I think that’s what we’re doing well this year,” Alexander-Walker said. “When Mike had those minutes off, we were able to maintain our lead, get some good offense and generate some good looks.”
Conley joked that “the reason (Alexander-Walker) is who he is today.”
But in fact.
“That’s not too far from the truth,” Alexander-Walker said.
Alexander-Walker noted that he had a great mentor and role model in Conley, who he played with since their time in Utah.
“(I) pick his brain all the time. What does he see ? I try to talk to him as much as possible when he’s on the bench, just to see if he looks or feels different so I can start the offense but also be myself,” Alexander said- Walker. “I’m not going to be Mike, but…I’m learning from him and how to keep our pace and pace going.”
That’s part of the magic of Conley. It’s reading the game and the team and adapting your game accordingly. Conley fills so many gaps as soon as they appear.
“He’s someone who doesn’t really want to shoot the ball a lot. It keeps people together. And then when the time is right, you really see another version of Mike that surprises people,” Alexander-Walker said. “I always tell him they don’t know it’s by choice. Mike chooses to play this way, because he has this big picture. In the end, it helped me. Since I got to Utah, how much my game changed, I was just an impatient young guy trying to score on every possession.
Now he can add “legitimate point guard” to his resume.
“Whatever the needs of the game were, he really responded, whether it was throwing shots, attacking a fence or running the point and then defending,” Timberwolves coach Chris said. Finch. “It’s been just incredible.”
This is Conley-style praise. Conley – who is 36 years old – is currently Minnesota’s starting point guard. But the question has been raised for a while as to who his heir apparent will be.
This could very well be his current mentee.
“Nickel has been great. He accepted some of my moves. He’s learning a little. You see those little step-3s he makes in the corner, the reads he makes,” Conley said. “This is stuff he worked on. He’s been preparing for this for years. I’m sure he’ll take over one day and do his thing.
BRIEFLY
Finch finished third in NBA Coach of the Year voting. Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault won the award, while Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley finished second. Finch received a first place vote.
