Phoenix Suns Have Had the Best Starting Lineup All Season

The conference finals series between Phoenix and Denver tipped off on Monday night and the Suns prevailed at home to take a 1-0 lead. Mikal Bridges was the top scorer of the night with 23 points on 50% shooting from deep. The Suns’ balanced scoring attack across the starting lineup was too much for Denver to handle. PHX had four players score 20+ points, and the starters nearly shot 60% from the field. These five guys (Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Jae Crowder) have been consistent all season long and have developed a special chemistry that earned them the second best record in the NBA this year.

INTERESTING FACTS

Mikal Bridges started every single GP (72) for the Phoenix Suns in 2020-21
The starting 5 against Denver on Monday in Game 1 started together in over 50% of the regular season GP
None of the postseason starters missed more than 12 GP during the regular season
Phoenix has now won a conference semifinals game for the 1st time since 2010

Odds vs. DEN: PHX -225 (Spread -5.5)
PHX Stock Price: $14.78 (via FANDEX)

MAIN TAKEAWAY

PHOENIX SUNS HAVE HAD THE BEST STARTING LINEUP ALL SEASON

COLORS KEY | FULL SUNS OUTLOOK

When it comes to the best lineups in basketball all season long, Phoenix tops the charts because any given player can have a great night and pick up the slack when one is struggling, plus they are nearly always healthy. Brooklyn, for example, has the most talented group of starters, but they hardly played any games together before the postseason. Many of the squads with star-studded lineups had some of their better players miss time. Phoenix, Arizona housed the best starting five during the entirety of the 2020-21 regular season, which has continued into the postseason.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Ayton’s huge slam

Deandre Ayton drops the hammer 🔨 pic.twitter.com/ZFe1ldy0H1
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 8, 2021

DBook with the four-point play

Booker with the tough AND-1 pic.twitter.com/Y5GALNxDb3
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 8, 2021

CP3’s 11 dimes

👀 @CP3 guides the @Suns to victory in Game 1 with 21 PTS (14 on 6-6 FGM in 4th) and 11 AST! #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs
Game 2: Wednesday at 9:30pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/AQLvyM48oe
— NBA (@NBA) June 8, 2021

Booker, Ayton, and Bridges all have big nights

☀️ Book, Bridges & Ayton all score 20+ in the @Suns Game 1 W! #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs @DevinBook: 21 PTS, 8 AST@mikal_bridges: 23 PTS, 4 3PM@DeandreAyton: 20 PTS, 10 REB
Game 2: Wednesday at 9:30pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/UQID2KVkyI
— NBA (@NBA) June 8, 2021