Suns on a roll despite injuries to Chris Paul and Cam Johnson
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Deandre Ayton (left) and Devin Booker. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Chris Paul's nagging heel injury has kept the 37-year-old point guard on the bench since Nov. 7 and has left Suns fans wondering "Is this the end of Phoenix's NBA title hopes?"
- Phoenix lost another starter several days earlier when Cameron Johnson tore his meniscus.
Yes, but: The team has done surprisingly well since then and currently leads the Western Conference with a 15-6 record.
The big picture: Paul missed his 11th straight game on Wednesday but the Suns have gone 8-3 during that stretch.
- All-Star Devin Booker dropped 44 and 51 points in his last two outings, respectively.
Yes, and: Cameron Payne has done great as the Suns' starting point guard in Paul's absence, averaging nearly 16 points and 7 assists during that span.
- Torrey Craig deserves props for the work he's done since taking Johnson's spot in the starting lineup as well.
Zoom in: Deandre Ayton has also stepped up in a big way. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday after averaging 24 points and 16 rebounds during a 3-0 stretch for the Suns, which included a 29-point, 21-rebound performance against Utah.
What we're watching: It's unclear exactly when Paul will return, but general manager James Jones told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday, "He's close."
- Johnson's return will take a bit longer. He's been out since Nov. 4.
- He was projected to miss up to two months.
Meanwhile: Jae Crowder, whose spot in the starting lineup Johnson took, is still in limbo while the Suns look for a trade partner for the disgruntled forward.
- The Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards have been reported as possible destinations, while ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Suns and the Washington Wizards could strike a deal as well.
Jeremy's thought bubble: I started the season with guarded expectations and was somewhat pessimistic about how the team would fare with Paul and Johnson both hurt.
- But the way the Suns have played over the past few weeks has made a believer out of me again, and I can't wait to see what the team looks like when our injured starters return.