NLL Insider - Phoenix V Oklahoma CF Preview!

by Nautilus, updated on Tuesday, August 17 2021, 08:43 pm EST

Phoenix Suns
The NLL is currently going through their own climate change crisis with the Phoenix Suns blazing at an astronomical temperature at the moment, but it wasn't always that way throughout the 2021 season. The start of the season was riddled with injuries for the Suns and there was questions being asked whether they would ever get healthy. It was week 12 when things really turned the corner, winning 31 of their last 33 games in the regular season and propelling themselves into the third seed of the Western Conference.
Rumor has it that despite his long reign as Pheonix GM, Penny hasn't been able to get this franchise past the first round of the playoffs but after making short work of Anthony Davis and the Spurs and sweeping the Portland Trailblazers, the Pheonix Suns have an opportunity to represent the West in the finals if the can get through the Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have absolutely been rolling throughout the entirely of this season but there seems to be a storm on the horizon. There has been a fair few comments over the past season that defense doesn't translate well to our league, but casting an eye over the squad of Oklahoma City, their calling card is arguably their elite defense at every position and the fact that they only lost 12 games in the regular season and finished with the best record in the West, its hard to argue against it. With sweeps in the round one and round two, the favourite in the West loses one of their stars to a knee injury for this third round match up with the Suns. Can the rest of the squad step up to compensate or is the loss of Kawhi too much to overcome? This is going to be a fun series

Centre Match Up
Demarcus Cousins v Hassan Whiteside
Two stars that have their arrows moving in the downward trajectory, which one will be able to find some of their past glory to make an impact on this series.
Coming off a knee injury and achilles rupture, Cousins isn't quite the player that he used to be a couple of years ago but on a team like Phoenix, all he needs to do is play his role and that is exactly what he does. The name of the game for Cousins is rebounding, defense and using his big body to wrestle some of these gorillas in the NLL. Averaging 6 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists in these playoffs is what you would expect from Cousins at this stage in his career.
A few seasons ago, Whiteside was a dominant force in the NLL but as the days tick by, his potency in the league is becoming less and less effective. In saying all that, Whiteside is still 7 feet tall and can impact a game with physical traits alone. 2 blocks and 11.6 rebounds per game so far in the playoffs, Whiteside plays the vital role as the defensive anchor in the paint.
Even though both players are just playing a role at this point in their careers, I have to give the slight nod to Whiteside due to the fact he is the better defender and the more aggressive rebounder of the two.
Advantage - Oklahoma City

Power Forward Match Up
Brandon Clarke v Draymond Green
Phoenix has a number of options when it comes down to the Power Forward position, with the likes of Markkanen or even Durant at the four but Clarke has started for the past two series so I think he will remain in the starting line up at least to start game one. Clarke's game is built off raw athleticism at the moment. With a team that has KD, Butler and Lowry all demanding shots, Clarke isn't seeing many touches on the offensive end of the court, but he is contributing where he can. Fast break points, rebounding and doing the dirty work are the areas where he is making an impact and filling in the areas that the stars are lacking.
Only drafted nine years ago, the miles are starting to pile up for Draymond Green and I wonder if that's why his minutes are around 20 per game throughout these playoffs. Offensively, Green plays as a distributor rather than a shooter, only averaging 5 shots per game so you don't have to worry too much about him lighting you up but defensively, Green is one of the best in the league and an absolute pest. I can quote his stats but that doesn't represent Green's true value. Its the things that aren't in the box score that Green does that make him a winner and a true team player.
This match up is an interesting one. On paper you would think Clarke's athleticism and pace would be too much for Green to handle as he starts to slow down but it would be a brave man to bet against Draymond Green and I'm not that man.
Advantage - Oklahoma City

Small Forward Match Up
Kevin Durant v Carmelo Anthony
Last season, Pennywise and the Pheonix Suns took the risk of bringing in Kevin Durant, who was recovering from a torn achillies. Durant has always been a dominate force in the NLL but coming off such an injury, the risk was whether he would come back and be the player he once was. Fast forward to the 2021 playoffs and Kevin Durant cannot be stopped! 35 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, a steal and absolutely outrageous percentages in these playoffs, Durant isn't only back to the player he was before the achilles injury, but is it possible that he is better than he was?
Unfortunately, one player that may have had a chance against Durant is Kawhi Leonard but a partically torn ACL in the semi finals will keep him out for the remainder of the playoffs. The Thunder's back up plan may have been Danny Green but he won't return till game four either so it's fair to say Oklahoma are short at the wing position. Enter Carmelo Anthony. For the majority of the season, Anthony has been playing a sixth man role for the Thunder and doing an honest job of it. Melo has started 10 games this season and when he gets starter minutes, he contributes like vintage melo, averaging 20 points, 5 boards and 3.5 assists per contest. It's hard to replace the complete package that Kawhi Leonard is but Anthony might be able to help on the offensive end.
Unfortunately, this might become a blood bath for the Oklahoma City and might be the match up that costs them a shot in the finals. Durant is hungry and destroying everything and everyone in his path. Unfortunately, Carmelo isn't known for his defense capabilities.
Advantage - Pheonix

Shooting Guard Match Up
Jimmy Butler v Seth Curry
Whether you see Jimmy Butler as a tier one or tier two star, he is someone you definitely prefer to have on your side of the court than not. Jimmy Butler is a leader and a competative beast. He is a defensive juggernaut, off ball and espically on ball, averaging 1.6 steals a game. Unlike the NBA, Butler shots and makes threes in the NLL and the fact that he is hitting at an 48 percent clip in the playoffs is a terrifying thought. Jimmy has been playing an over qualified role of Robin this season, averaging 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per match up. "3 and D" Butler is a tier one star in my eyes.
As mentioned previously, Oklahoma City is lacking at the wing position with the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green out, so I see Seth Curry filling in as the starting Shooting Guard. Even though Curry has been coming off the bench, he has been playing a major role for the Thunder throughout these playoffs and throughout this season, having a real chance to be awarded the sixth man of the year award. As good as Curry has been this season, he has stepped his game up in the playoffs, averaging 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and shooting, wait for it... 59 percent from beyond the arc, on 5 attempts per game!
I'm interested to see how Seth Curry goes as the starter in this series but its hard to go past Jimmy Buckets. The elite defense, the fact he is hitting threes at almost 50 percent, getting to the line 5 times a game and the sheer size advantage, he is going to hard to contain at both ends of the court.
Advantage - Pheonix

Point Guard Match Up
Kyle Lowry v Lebron James
This past off season, the Pheonix Suns made the decision that they had to upgrade their point guard position, trading out Dennis Schroeder with assets for Kyle Lowry, which would complete their three headed monster blue print. Kyle Lowry is the facilitator, a three point bomber and an absolute bulldog on the defensive as advertised this season, averaging 20 points, 7.5 assists and 2 steals per game. Fun fact about Lowry, he has attempted 90 free throws this season and has only missed one single free throw in week 19 against Philadelphia.
As a traditional forward, I can see Lebron James sliding over to the Small Forward position at some point this series to do battle with Kevin Durant but to start game one, I believe he will be the starting at the position where he has been having so much success and that is at the point. Despite being one of the best players to play in this league, Lebron's physical traits themselves make it straight up unfair to other point guards in the NLL. Averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists andimpressive defensive stats, Playoff Lebron is a different beast and will right there at the tail end when they are handing out the regular season MVP, but first, the ring.
As good as Lowry has been this season, it's hard to see him being any sort of match up for The King. His sheer size and strength are going to be overwhelming on both ends of the court. Ideally, if the defensive rotation strategy was working in our engine, you would have Butler guarding James but since that's not the case, this is going to be a tough series for Lowry
Advantage - Oklahoma City

Bench
Coming off Pheonix's bench, they have a nice blend of youth and experience, with players that could be starting on my teams in the NLL. The likes of Trent Jr, Markkanen and Batum can all slide in along side the superstar three without taking shots away from them and all have the ability to bomb it away from deep. Only real concern I see when the starters go out for the Suns is there rebounding. Khem Birch keeps them honest but outside of him, no one is really crashing the glass. Oklahoma City may be able to target in on this and capitalise.
Speaking of OKC, due to the injuries of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, players have had to step up into the starting line up leaving their bench realitively thin. DeAndre Jordan and Alex Caruso are the only real notable names for the Thunder bench at this stage. Caruso has been very respectable so far in these playoffs and Jordan may be able to capitalise with Pheonix's weak rebounding second units, as mentioned previously.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma City's depth is going to be tested due to injuries so I can see their starters playing large minutes but if I look at the raw talent coming off the bench for each club, I have to give it the Pheonix
Advantage - Pheonix

Prediction
There has been a common theme throughout this preview and the word unfortunately has been written way too much but I had to emphasise how unfortunate it really is because this western conference showdown could have been one for the ages. The loss of Kawhi and to a lesser extent, Danny Green has had a snowball effect on the Oklahoma City ball club and it makes it extremely hard to forecast them winning this series. I have faith that Ben will do everything he can but Durant, Butler and Lowry is ust too much fire power. I see the series going to the way of Pheonix 4 - 1

NLL Insider - Phoenix V Oklahoma CF Preview!

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