Phoenix Suns eliminate Lakers from playoffs; set new franchise win record

The Phoenix Suns set a franchise win record as they eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from playoff contention. 

Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns did not take the loss in last year’s NBA Finals lightly. The Suns used it as motivation and that’s why they have the best record in the NBA at 63-16. Phoenix also eliminated LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers from playoff contention.

Not something King James is used to.

The 2021-22 Phoenix Suns have set a new franchise record 63 wins and counting with three games left to play. Tied for the franchise record before this were the 1992-93 and 2004-05 teams. Phoenix is eight games ahead of the second seed Memphis Grizzlies who are having quite the season themselves.

Head coach Monty Williams and the Suns front office have done an excellent job in building a very balanced lineup. The Suns’ roster features seven players who average double-digits in scoring. Devin Booker leads all players on the team, averaging 26.7 points per game.

Phoenix needs to stay on course for the playoffs and not get caught up in the moment. It’s fun having the best record in the NBA during the regular season. That won’t matter if you crumble in the playoffs.

Every player has a different mentality and driving factor that keeps them going. For a lot of players, it’s that coveted Larry O’Brien trophy that you want to be holding in June. One player trying to add that trophy to his legacy is Chris Paul.

Paul will turn 37 in May and he’s not getting any younger. Still, he’s able to score on the best defenders and is one of the best point guards of all time. Even without a ring.

For the first time since the 2016-17 season, Paul is averaging double-digit assists again with 10.7 per game. He also averages 14.7 points and 1.9 steals. Age only seems to be a number for Paul as he continues to have long-term success in a league where it’s hard to find consistency. That is what Paul has been doing almost his whole career.

Someone whom Chris Paul knows very well is his good friend LeBron James. With a 121-110 loss to Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention. Before the season started, many fans and media questioned the roster the Lakers had assembled. Nine of the 17 players on the Lakers roster are at least 30-years old. Seven of those players are 33 or older.

Head coach Frank Vogel and the Lakers are expected to part ways in what seemed like an almost inevitable situation. He’s been a head coach in the NBA since 2011 and has been the head man for the Lakers since 2019.

Vogel was able to win a championship in his first season as the Lakers’ head coach. The Suns ironically eliminated the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs last season. This year they did the same thing, except they knocked them out before the playoffs even started. That sounds like a nice rivalry brewing up in the West.

Phoenix will get a few more days to rest and recover once the regular season ends this Sunday, April 10. The Suns will have some time in between the Play-In tournament and the start of the playoffs.

Will Phoenix be able to conquer the Western Conference again and make another appearance in the NBA Finals? Who do you think is going to win it all?