I know many of our loyal readers do not live in Phoenix or the great state of Arizona. You come here for compelling insights into your Phoenix Suns and to share your thoughts and opinions on the state of the team. You probably didn’t come here from the local Sun Valley weather report. But today, as part of my processing last week, you will. I will make my best impression of Kristy Siefkin. It’s been strange since the last buzzer sounded in Denver last Sunday night. For a team and a fan base that has been playing consistently and consistently for months, the Suns literally stepped on the brake pedal with their 4-0 sweep of the nuggets. The team and all players involved have not had that long break since 2020. We saw basketball action non-stop after the NBA resumed last July. The bladder. The bubble playoffs (which the Suns missed by a goddamn game). Free agency, the NBA draft, and the opening of the commercial market, all happened in a week last November. The subdued preseason. The regular season in which the Suns played 72 games in 144 days. The games for Phoenix in the NBA playoffs, which take place every other night. And now for a week … nothing. Like an F-14 Tomcat barrel rolling over Russian MiGs, I feel wrong. What made this week especially weird was the summer rush in Phoenix. Given the nature of my daily job – managing resort pools and the food, drink, and recreational experiences that take place on their decks – I spend a lot of time outdoors. I’ve been doing this for the past 11 summers. I’m no stranger to the scorching heat and the effects cornstarch can have on the inner thighs (it’s a lifesaver, let me tell you). However, for some reason it feels different this year as the mercury has risen to 117 °. There is an eerie haze in the atmosphere as the Telegraph Fire burns 60 miles outside of the greater Phoenix area. The sun turns orange before it goes down. It actually looks like the Phoenix Suns logo is thinking about it. The lack of basketball this week makes me feel the heat more than ever. Maybe it’s because the nighttime distraction of basketball suddenly stopped. The momentum this season has stalled. I haven’t had a beer with the guys in almost a week! Apart from the fact that other teams are fighting for their chances at their respective conference finals, this week in Suns basketball was full of speculation and worry, “viral load count” and talking heads. The news early Wednesday morning that Chris Paul was infected with COVID-19 surprised us all. Just a few nights earlier, we celebrated a place in the conference finals. Now we were wondering what the hell happened. It was a scorching Sunday night after the Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. When the last horn sounded, Monty Williams and Chris Paul hugged each other warmly on the pitch. The emotions between the two were palpable. You could feel the real love these men have for one another, knowing that they have shared more than just basketball experiences. “With Chris and me, that I coached him my first year and then switched to another team, that we’re back together and at that moment we know that we can achieve more, that’s pretty cool. At the same time, I wanted to take a second to feel that for a minute, that for a second, ”said Williams after the game. “Chris meant so much to my career, he meant so much to my life. I’ve shared with a few people, but in the darkest moment of my life, Chris was right there. And one of the highlights of my career, it’s right there. So I’m just grateful to God for him and all of our boys, and that’s what it is now. ”Those words and these men meant so much to each other and the Phoenix Suns organization. Their dedication to getting the little things right has equated with the bigger things taking care of themselves. Who knew how hard these quotes were less than a week later, because what both men worked so hard for could ruefully be in jeopardy. Chris Paul, Monty Williams and the Suns boarded their plane and flew to Phoenix, knowing that victory would be a well-deserved break. The team and its fan base looked forward to the much-needed calm that was reportedly filled with scoreboard watching and speculation about the Western Conference finals. The week’s biggest questions should be, “Who would you prefer to face in the Western Conference Finals?” And “Why was Devin Booker snubbed by an All-NBA team?” Then the temperature began to rise from the concrete jungle of Phoenix and permeate the air. In northern Phoenix, on Tuesday night, dusty winds began to blow and light rainfall began to fall. I stood in my back yard only to be blown up by the 108 ° sandy monsoon storm. It was as if the weirdness had taken the form of a dirt wall and engulfed the city. We all woke up to a notification after a notification about Chris Paul and his coronavirus infection. Some began their extensive research on the current NBA guidelines regarding the logs. Others had to be spoken of off a cliff. Me? I made a quick reaction video to help navigate my mind. I know I felt a lot better after a conversation between the Solar Panel guys and Flex out of Jersey, who always provide unique insight from sources close to the situation. If the information was correct and Paul’s viral load count was just above the threshold to be considered positive, chances are that – since he is vaccinated – he could present the two negative COVID-19 tests required to enter the competition are required in game 1. We still don’t know what the outcome will be as we eagerly await the news release tomorrow. The NBA held out the blows all Wednesday morning. It was a chilly 102 degrees outside at 8:03 am when Shams reported that Kawhi Leonard would be indefinitely out after developing knee problems in Game 4 between the Clippers and Jazz. This would drastically change the way Suns fans view the series between the two teams, the winner of which would face the Phoenix Suns. I know personally that because of their Star Wing defenders in Leonard and Paul George, I tended to play the jazz in the Western Conference Finals (to be honest, I don’t care. We are, in my humble opinion, better than either team ). With news that Chris Paul may be out for a period to be determined, news that Leonard was missing out on time increased the likelihood that the Utah-Los Angeles semifinal game between Utah and Los Angeles could last seven games. That was good news for Suns fans, although due to the injury to a player, particularly the Kawhi caliber, you never want to feel it. If the series went to Game 7 – which we’ll find out tonight if it does – Game 1 would be Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals next Tuesday. More time to pass logs. I think I’m still in a basketball-less haze that is currently reflecting the atmosphere over the Greater Phoenix Area. You’d think after 11 straight summers without post-season basketball to talk about, I’d be used to it. But this time of year is usually spent scouting out prospects and complaining about the draft. The fact that we’re talking about coronavirus (allow me to jump on that soap box very quickly) reminds us that despite the 16,000 fans in the Phoenix Suns arena, we’re not out of this pandemic yet. We all have to do our part. And even if we do as Chris Paul supposedly did, it still might not be enough. But are you going to break up anyway (I got off my soap box and sprained my ankle, adding to the weirdness of this week. Don’t worry, it’s not nearly as sprained as Kyrie’s. Too far?). That’s what makes this story and this week so strange to me: it’s the combination of the ungodly heat, the return of COVID to my everyday language, and the absence of Suns basketball that distracts me from everything. Yes, I am a simpleton. I enjoy the distraction. What did Kurt Cobain say about the 1993 song All Apologies? “I wish I was like you, easy to amuse”? Yes I am. I am easily amused. I’m sure it’s the heat that speaks. But, you know what? Typing that and transferring it to the universe felt better. We’ll know a lot more about the fate of the Phoenix Suns tomorrow when the team raises the media about Chris Paul’s situation. We’ll know whether the suns play on Sunday or Tuesday. We’ll know when basketball will fill our feeds again. And I’ll be easily distracted again. It’s been a strange week, Suns fans. Let’s get even crazier and win a championship in the coming weeks.
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