After just three games with Kevin Durant, the Suns were dealt a massive blow after the 2x Finals MVP tweaked his ankle in a freak pre-game accident.
After much speculation about when Durant would return and how it would impact Phoenix’s playoff hopes, NBA insider Shams Charania finally revealed his likely return date.
“Phoenix Suns’ 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant (sprained ankle) is progressing toward a potential return to action on Wednesday vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, barring any setback, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. A targeted home return of Wednesday vs. Minnesota will give Durant and the Suns seven final regular season games to prepare for the playoffs,” reported Shams. “Phoenix currently holds the fourth seed in the West, just two games ahead of the No. 7-seeded T’Wolves.”
A targeted home return of Wednesday vs. Minnesota will give Durant and the Suns seven final regular season games to prepare for the playoffs. Phoenix currently holds the fourth seed in the West, just two games ahead of the No. 7-seeded T'Wolves. https://t.co/sZYwcEEZSX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 24, 2023
Durant, 34, was traded to the Suns after a series of controversies de-railed his tenure in Brooklyn. Now, he’s in a place where he can devote his entire focus to the game in distraction-free surroundings.
But will the addition of Durant be enough to push the Suns past the steep competition in the West?
Are The Suns Favorites To Win The Title?
With Durant, Booker, and Chris Paul, there is no question that Phoenix has the talent to beat any team in a playoff series. Unfortunately for them, however, depth is also a huge factor in the postseason, and the rotation is pretty thin outside their top four.
“Following the addition of Durant, the largest looming concern for Phoenix for the rest of the season is health,” wrote CBS Sports’ Michael Kaskey-Blomain. “As currently constructed, they’re just not built to survive a sustained absence from a key contributor, and therein lies Phoenix’s second biggest concern moving forward: Depth, or the lack thereof.”
It’s clear that the key to success for Phoenix will rest on the shoulders of Durant and Devin Booker, who may be the best duo in basketball right now.
With Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, the stars have some quality backup options that should relieve some pressure for them to score.
Beyond that, the Suns are still looking for consistent contributors, and their shortcomings have been made clear with KD out of the lineup.
The hope is that, even with their flaws, the combined powers of Durant, Booker, and Chris Paul will be enough to push them over the edge in a tight series.
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