‘Not that far’ - Stephen A. isn’t buying a deep playoff run for Kevin Durant & Suns | NBA Countdown

Adrian Wojnarowski joins Malika Andrews on NBA Countdown to discus the financial restraints facing the Phoenix Suns with their current roster as Grayson Allen is eligible for a 4-year/$75 million extension starting March 27. Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon and Kendrick Perkins joins the conversation as they debate how far Kevin Durant can lead the team in the playoffs.
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[@alex4863]

Phx is the example of prioritizing stars with minimal bench, there coach isn’t what they need. Second round exit easy for Phx if they’re lucky.

[@Unc.357]

we're gonna spank the clippers on the way out

[@alex4863]

@@Unc.357 keep up that spirit up in the 4th quarter lol you guys are geniuses.

[@jalynjones9136]

Suns have a bench u don’t know anything about ball

[@Mo_Gotem]

Lmao this is prime example of people that don’t know ball

[@stacybombath917]

@@alex4863acting like pg and harden ain’t chokers

[@Roadrunner0077]

This will be the first year both NFL and NBA champs repeat in the same year

[@user-sj1jq8fg9p]

Pretty crazy idea number 15 jokic and mahomes that's sounds scripted lol

[@Roadrunner0077]

@@user-sj1jq8fg9p dang I ain't even think of that one g 😂 that would be crazy

[@BroBrown-up5ov]

Nonsense fanboy 💯😤

[@Roadrunner0077]

@@BroBrown-up5ov you unzipped my pants tho 🤣 wet lips

[@Eric-lx8hp]

Only if Kawhi gets hurt again

[@JayinWaldoKC]

"Everybody keep a cool booty" Big Perk had my lmao 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂!

[@maxmitchell4013]

To be fair they had no Booker and Allen, O’Neil and Gordon are normally good for atleast 10-12 points

[@anthonythomassr9333]

Rebounding is all the Suns need also some toughness on the defensive end

[@jeromec1983]

That's all huh. Sounds like crucial parts of the game.

[@stacybombath917]

you win by scoring

[@apparentlylivin]

​@@stacybombath917the less rebounds you get, the less opportunities to score. The less defensive stops you get, the more your opponents outscore you

[@Roadrunner0077]

Im not even a nuggets fan but nobody beating them 4 outta 7 ...its looking like a back 2 back

[@blablablaa14]

Some crazy stuff can happen, but they look much better than not only all NBA team now, but most recent champions would have lost to this Denver team

[@aldrinalquizola3615]

Suns gonna win this year if they healthy on playoffs

[@ericreid8111]

Clippers can take them. Its a wing dominated league. Clips have 3 wings including 2 2-way wings in pg13 and klaw. Harden is a wing playing the point. You have powell as a wing shooting 42% from 3.

[@blablablaa14]

Clippers can't beat Denver cause they can't guard Jokic@@ericreid8111

[@blablablaa14]

Not unless they can defend Jokic@@ericreid8111

[@supernotnatural]

Grayson Allen deserves every PENNY he gets. %48 from 3pt with 150+ pointers made this season. Lillard is at %34 and has supermax......

[@aquintaancrum4385]

Stephen A. Smith you're 100 % incorrect! Mr. Durant (Kevin) has been a force to reckon with, averaging 30.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game during this season. His shooting percentages are equally impressive: 60% from the field, 68% from beyond the arc, and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line. PHX Suns have managed to stay afloat thanks to Durant's stellar performance. PHX biggest problem is their inexperience starting point guard and inexperience starting shooting guard lack of IQ and experiences. Neither one are top 24 point guard and shooting guard in the NBA! Devin Booker and Bradley Beal don't have the IQ for their starting position, they are not offensive and defensive playmakers, they don't understand offense situations, defense situation, and clock management, they don't know how to create on offense and distribute the ball, and they are the main reason why Phx Suns are losing games and the worse 4th quarter NBA team (2023-24). Bradley Beal missed his first eleven shots in last night's game and remained scoreless and Frank Vogel never pulled Bradley Beal out of the game to return to winning like they did in Denver (3/5/2024), and at home against Toronto (3/7/2024) with Eric Gordon.

[@alvin081988]

They will be a tough Team to beat....I still don't see them beating the Nuggets, Maybe OKC and Twolves bec they are inexperienced

[@damondthompson9112]

Because of OKC n Minnesota are inexperienced I wouldn't be surprised if each team lose in first round just like Sacramento lost to GS last year

[@Schistomaisis]

actually I feel only them and less likely the clippers have a chance

[@Georgeborey771]

​@@damondthompson9112knicks and heat last yr? Why u just gotta bring the warriors

[@AJones-he5wh]

Agreed

[@lucaskunz5319]

the beat coming in at 2:38, classic NBA tune iykyk

[@BroBrown-up5ov]

Kevin durantula for league mvp 💯👍

[@thegoat2874]

They should’ve ran it back with CP3 Booker KD and Ayton and just added depth to that. I kinda wanted to see what Ayton could’ve been under Vogel

[@adeadele-nz6xt]

Lol ayton ??? Dude soft like ice cream . Hes meant to be dominating in blazers ,dude aint doing sht

[@JansMarinara]

​@@adeadele-nz6xtbro if you're talking soft ayton is like melted ice cream but they only got soft serve in return, nurkic is soft as hell

[@anthonycollier2043]

Not only is ayton and jokic soft, but booker and cp3 was soft when it mattered in the playoffs. They melted like hot butter. 😂

[@Cahluvca]

Ayton....no

[@LukeWeyrauch93]

@@JansMarinaralmao no, Nurk is completely different than Ayton.

[@DAFR2849]

The Suns are going to win it all.. mark my words

[@inFiniteAiR945]

Stop….

[@hacknslashn5903]

Keep making these stupidly top heavy teams

[@kobekobekobekobekobe]

tell me u don’t watch ball without telling me u don’t

[@zayanapostolatos2041]

Lol

[@blablablaa14]

I mean their owner was a new owner and they decided the Ayton + CP3 were worse than Beal. I am not sure they made a bad decision cause the players they have are arguably better. But they could have gotten role players instead of Beal to make it work better

[@charles4830]

@@blablablaa14They got Nurk, Grayson, Beal, Royce plus Bol for cheap. I guess they’re in the right direction.

[@blablablaa14]

They are almost in the playin what are you talking about@@charles4830

[@thydevdom]

The thing will always be that they’re a really hard team to beat when healthy. Teams like that always have a title shot.

[@ThunderTalk]

They need a true point guard

[@ShaquillePollard]

They had one

[@daltonoftheyear]

@@ShaquillePollard steve nash

[@tyekennedy-nu3eu]

​@@daltonoftheyear charles barkley

[@Avenue77]

​@@daltonoftheyear Chris Paul

[@brendanbloom3366]

@@ShaquillePollardhe played too slow

[@yengvang8737]

"A person who you want to have the ball to make the decisions" one name comes to mind, Chris Paul.

[@TyTheSaxGuy]

gets hurt too much, thats why they got rid of him, the thing that hurt them is that Beal is hurt just as much if not more lol

[@yengvang8737]

@@TyTheSaxGuy so they let go a guard who got injured and traded for a guard that's always injured lol

[@TyTheSaxGuy]

@@yengvang8737 that's what's funny Lmaooo it backfired

[@felipemendez8448]

Whoever is the GM of the Suns should be fired when you got Beal and Booker instead of eyeing Holiday.

[@TyTheSaxGuy]

@@felipemendez8448 truer words havent been spoken 🙌

[@felipemendez8448]

The Suns should have traded for Holiday when he went to the Blazers and bringing another role player in the off-season.

[@user-js7mo3wy4z]

With the injuries I like were they at 37-27. SAS saying that is silly 😂 KD has played most of the season. DBook has not so that’s ignorant. The big 3 is enough just get to the postseason healthy. That always was the gameplan not winning 60 regular season games

[@JT-pi7hj]

This postseason is gonna be interesting if Timberwolves and the Thunder are the two sets seed. Imagine these teams playing Dallas, Suns Lakers or the Warriors in the first round the only team I can give the benefit of is Denver. The Suns are a dangerous team, I know their bench is not top in the NBA, but their best starting 5 can compete with and beat any top team in the NBA.

[@keithjenkins7436]

If KD stays motivated. They'll probably get to finals

[@noahkramer942]

No they won’t. I’d bet any amount on it not happening

[@Young-ep8ik]

KD is still as good as he was in his prime. It’s just that the league collectively have so much offensive talent now, efficient volume scoring is no longer a luxurious rare commodity, and that is the only thing KD is elite at. So naturally his production doesn’t translate to wins as easily.

[@brendanbloom3366]

Kd been one of the best defenders but go on with your narrative. Kd played games early in the year with a new coach and 13 new player and both book and Beal were out but espn narrative won’t mention that.

[@joykenn9772]

​@@brendanbloom3366KD best Defender. Go sit down son

[@brendanbloom3366]

@@joykenn9772 go learn ball idiot. Both the numbers and eye test back up that kd has been one of the best defenders this season. All you know is narrative and not actual ball.

[@adeadele-nz6xt]

Yall just come on here to type as if basketball is a one on one game . If u score 60 and ur team mates aint hitting shots u r going to lose the game . Yall jst take shots on KD for no reason lol ... kd elite on everything on the basketball court xcept from passing d rock when doubled . How many efficient jump shooting scorers do we have in the nba?

[@brodiecahill1115]

Haha this clown under rating kds defense. Not his fault with the sheep media. He has locked the best players down in the league this season ya moron

[@jasonbird964]

Why does Stephen A Smith have to yell when the mic is glued to him?

[@superkid12345]

They would be a greater threat in a best of 5 series, not best of 7

[@juicelord4792]

Every team in the playoffs is more of a threat with less games bruh

[@kevinvargas2054]

​@@juicelord4792his point is the suns can't keep up this type of success in a playoff series

[@jalynjones9136]

@@kevinvargas2054 & his point is dumb cause he’s wrong

[@masonharkness6437]

Saying the suns don’t have a closer while Booker and KD are on the team is crazy

[@carlosiverson3857]

They only talkin about kd when he losse a game. Whre was sas and perk vs nuggets?

[@matthewmathurin5743]

KD is my favorite player and follows him wherever he goes. The team has not been playing well due to connectivity and spacing. The turnovers happen due lack of effort or Damm right laziness. I see they are beginning to get it right and will certainly see them make a deep run in the playoff and maybe win it All

[@CoachRJ334]

The Nuggets has the best twam in the NBA they just know how to win ....SUNs can win a game but not 4

[@jow8480]

They took the nuggets to 6 games when ayton and paul was out 😂

[@MsMytube75]

What is senior insider?😅

[@iamgalatia]

We done with the 90’s replace Stephen A and Wilbon

[@kobekobe8527]

They need me

[@MarkPerchatsch]

The Suns have the same problem that the Miami Heat Big 3 had towards the tail end of their run together. Top heavy contracts resulting in a lack of quality role players. This means that KD, Beal, and Booker have to absolutely ball out game in and game out which is a tall task (especially when they can’t stay healthy)

[@BroBrown-up5ov]

Nonsense non believer

[@purplehaze1464]

Its even worse for the sun's because they don't even have a PG on the team and they acting like they don't need one when all the turnovers show that they need one

[@Alanbro5]

Kendrick Perkins is now my favorite

[@musikblaize]

Clips in 6

[@betonblack3621]

As far as Jokic lets them go...thats for everybody in the west.

[@kendallgordon655]

W comment

[@rankobarensic]

Perk that aged well😊

[@AnnupVarkey]

The biggest issue with the Suns is Beal is terrible / average so when he plays alone the team starts losing badly... so KD has to play more minutes just so Suns can compete which in turn leads to severe fatigue and lots of KD turnovers and poor iso ball versus double teams in the 4th. If Vogel would just keep Beal on the bench and play with Allen, Bol Bol and Royce / Okogie / Gordon they would be much better on both ends and more efficient too.

[@fredbarnes196]

Beal at the point driving to the hoop, collapsing the defense and kicking it out will open the game up for everyone, and keep Booker from having to do so much of it... without losing much scoring

[@knell7900]

SAS being objective about kd I can’t believe my eyes . He was still top 5 on the planet after he got swept a year and a half ago

[@joncolunga673]

Idk they had a far worse team last year in the playoffs and took Denver to 6 games. And they had only Booker and Durant. I think they will do better than most people might think

[@mrhoopfan1]

Bench isn't the issue....It's lack of a pg and injuries. I mean, look at Boston's bench

[@viperguyz]

We all know when the going gets tough one guy. 😂

[@Maybehiram]

This issue with this suns team is they have 3 alphas that can’t mesh well. Any team Kd has ever been has completely become more iso heavy because of him. This is just like Brooklyn all over again. They’ll crumble in the postseason

[@NIGHTTIMEstudio]

It's crazy because what they're missing in CP lmao

[@Mektek19]

Devin Booker is not a point guard. He doesn’t even want to be the point guard.

[@pg13pacernation30]

KD has stepped up since Booker’s ankle injury but the others around him is questionable. If they can’t stay healthy obviously they ain’t going far and will be such a failure season 😢

[@jalynjones9136]

I’m here to tell u We don’t care what Stephen A thinks I just want yall to keep this energy when they win it all

[@chrismyco7950]

they are in a similar boat to the clippers before they got harden.

[@maxkamper7451]

Clippers is in 4 spot 👍🏽

[@sicario9850]

Get rid of Beal … go get some depth ! And all NBA type player. And we good. Definitely go get one of the young guards That got potential

[@iaskquestions]

1st round exit. remember KD told Malika hes content being there for NOW..till they don't win in the playoffs at oeadt to WCF

[@jalynjones9136]

Cause book is the actual best player on the team that’s why those numbers are better than book but ppl wanna ignore that

[@elijah.j3288]

Stephen A stopped rooting for phoenix team & started coat tailing Edward’s alone from Minnesota

[@KGtha1]

Stephen A Smith supposedly 1.5 pts per game but than says he got injured cracked his leg lol and didnt play so 0 games played but avg 1.5 pts 🤔.

[@noahha5874]

Any team with kd will never win a chip, I’ll be shocked if suns pass 2nd rd. Kd isn’t. Leader he just a bus rider ! Berkeley is right

[@jasongordan]

KD hate

[@christophers7160]

Sure bot

[@Eblak]

Non stop turnovers..Nurkic 6 offensive rebounds per possession without a field goal is not going to win games.

[@JzDisciple7]

Very poor analysis by Perk

[@baldeagle4710]

KD should have 5 chips by now he’s always had so much help

[@napG1]

Every team he’s been on since leaving the warriors, the stars have been injured. He’s had 0 help. Just guys collecting checks and taking up roster spots. Kyrie, Harden, and Simmons were injured or not playing in Brooklyn. Now, the office is making stupid decisions trying to build a super team. Beal hasn’t played any real stretch of games & booker is injured. 🤷🏾‍♂️ At least be objective.

[@jasongordan]

KD hate is real

[@adeadele-nz6xt]

Kd ve not played on any healthy team in the playoffs since he left the warriors . Last year cp got hurt , nets, jharden n kyrie got hurt , second season covid happend no chemistry , kd got hurt , he came back and got them out of play in den they got swept . Kd shld have gone to miami instead of suns . Kd,jimmy ,bam, hero jheez

[@cristan7525]

even lebron who does have more help have only 3 1/2

[@matthewmathurin5743]

Another obversevation of that team is the way in which they beat themselves. Most of the games they lost this season season because they beat themselves

[@peace_of_mind_00]

Suns need a PG. Booker & Beal aren't PGs. The sun should've tried to get a PG in one of those deals when they moved CP3 & Ayton.

[@Cahluvca]

Top heavy doesn't work in this era....

[@euro51116]

So according to SAS the 10th seed Warriors are a threat but the 7th seed Suns aint? 😂 No consistency

[@DbLegends84]

Timberwolves might shake the Nuggets up but they’re gonna win the chip again Boston looks shook playing Jokic.

[@tucansam3147]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 KD can’t get it done what A shock

[@rohanshah7559]

They’ll probably upset one of the top 4 in round 1 and then exit in round 2

[@KNByam]

Worse defense than an NBA all star game. Not counting the person inbounding the ball its 5v4 and she just stood there guarding no one.

[@FatherManus]

If KD doesn’t get a ring without a super team he will never be counted among the greats

[@jasongordan]

U sound stupid fool if KD went to the hornets right now they will be a super team thats how great KD hater

[@EvanH1122]

Perk likes the sun's? Time to bet the miss the playoffs

[@Sectrix2pp]

They aren't beating my bucks thats for sure 💪

[@fredbarnes196]

KD can't win without Booker? How many games that Booker missed this season Beal also was out. Most. The team would collapse every time KD sat down.

[@JimmyLiapis]

will see what happens in the playoffs suns could do what the heat did

[@robliberachi]

They going home

[@mountainbikingfortherestofus]

Even if all healthy they will not get to the Conf finals. Most of the season the have not played together.

[@RockettServehard-li1do]

Poor ball movement poor spacing too many forced shots

[@algrolls]

Phoenix were never really a threat to win a championship in my opinion sometimes you can just look at a team and know. These so called superteams have never worked even the Miami Heatles never lived up to the expectations. When are these NBA GM's going to realize players don't win championships teams do talent alone isn't enough you need chemistry defined roles and the right complementary talent etc...you can't just go out and buy it you have to grind and earn it.

[@rakim750]

Nowhere

[@fredm.2699]

So once again, a KD team is lacking GIRTH?? Haha..length…and girthiness.

[@neildcruz3227]

Suns dont defend.

[@Christopher._M]

So you are narrative talking. The suns have a better defense than the nuggets and clippers.

[@neildcruz3227]

@Christopher._M bro, no one asked u, and ur clearly capping. No, they don't. Suns barely play defense, dude. I don't know what ur on, but u clearly just yapping.

[@Christopher._M]

@@neildcruz3227 They have a better defensive rating than the clippers and right behind the nuggets. If you look at the defense they have been playing since December they are legitimately better than both. Yours the one yapping lying out of your a**.

[@neildcruz3227]

@@Christopher._M ok sure then let me google and make sure

[@Mo_Gotem]

Ranks 12 in defense, you don’t know ball

[@scottdavis9135]

The Phoenix SUNS should have kept Chris Paul

[@jasongordan]

Who? Bench player chris paul

[@216Browniee]

@@jasongordanDon’t act like Chris Paul didn’t bring success to that organization, he just old now!!

[@fortheqynn3503]

These lazy statistics get thrown around without any attempt to put them into context. If you want meaningful context, look at how the Sune performance change with their Big 3 or over the last few months or something like that, not the whole season. If the Suns are healthy (which is, granted, a big if right now), they've got a legit shot against any team. If they're not, its going to be extremely difficult against most playoff teams, assuming they are healthy themselves. This really isn't rocket science.

[@vaheed7518]

KD ain't like LeBron, Kawhi, and Jimmy Buckets who can drag a team to the Finals.

[@TheOaklandAthletics1989]

Okay so did Jimmy drag Chicago or Philly to an NBA finals ? kawai only did it once and has been in and out ever since. LeBron ?!TF you saying? dudes on the back of milk carton every season. AD been carrying that man ever since he went to LA.

[@baldeagle4710]

Kawhi didn’t drag anyone he had a very good team

[@thegoat2874]

None of them “dragged” a team to the finals

[@joshuaharris53]

@@TheOaklandAthletics1989LeBron in 2007 and 2018 and AD don’t even want keys to be the man of the team

[@brendanbloom3366]

@@joshuaharris532007 and 2018 in historically weak conferences. Those cavs get bitched by any of the top 4 west teams those years. AD clearly was lakers best player in 2020.

[@topshotta2000]

They lost against the Celtics perk

[@clustajr]

Stay sleep on the suns KD will rise to the occasion watch

[@thirdtake3770]

KD is trash because he can’t win without great pieces around him. He is a specialist but he is not the player you build your franchise around. Eternal follower but never a leader.

[@Paulovrish7334]

Like your king, he can’t win without 4 superstars alongside him

[@maxkamper7451]

😂😂😂👍🏽

[@miketyler677]

Suns just scorers and no defensive players

[@Mo_Gotem]

Ranks 12 in defense, you don’t know ball

[@rz6132]

I hope KD can get another ring before his retirement

[@user-rl6xv4yf7f]

anyone else enjoying seeing Kevin Durants career go down the toilet?? since he joined GS he deserves the worst basketball wise

[@gmailgmail6234]

With a superteam kd won’t go nowhere ? Wow lol