Without Chris Paul, the Phoenix Suns need to speed up to beat the Denver Nuggets

With Chris Paul in street clothes, it raises a major question for the Suns: What do we do now?

It confronts coach Monty Williams ahead of Game 3 at Footprint Center on Friday with the Suns facing an 0-2 deficit. They wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated with a loss, but what evidence would there be that Phoenix could win four in a row against a Denver squad that’s soaring a mile high?

Before we go further, we need to wish a speedy recovery to Paul. He is without question one of the greatest point guards to ever lace up a pair of basketball shoes.

Paul has been an unstoppable offensive force and commanding floor general for most of his career. The only thing that’s eluded him is a championship, and he’s been so close so many times.

He had a shot at a title derailed when the NBA nixed a trade that would have paired him with Kobe Bryant on the Lakers. He had another slip away when the owner of the Clippers was caught on a voice recording making racist statements that were so egregious the players considered a strike. If not for an injury against the Warriors when Paul was with the Rockets, we’d be calling him a dynasty killer. And he had Milwaukee down 2-0 in the 2021 NBA Finals when injuries to others (and lopsided officiating) ruined it.

And now this.

Somehow, this groin injury stings the worst.

Paul’s game is made up of fundamentals, vision and confidence. It’s the kind of thing young point guards should watch as they seek to pattern their games. Paul’s injury hurts more than the Suns, it hurts the NBA and basketball, globally.

Paul is proof that normal-sized humans can thrive in a world of giants through smarts, tenacity and skill. (As CP would say in his familiar North Carolina drawl, “I ain’t never been the biggest, yaknowwhatimean? Had to find other ways to contribute if I wanted to play.”)

Sources: Chris Paul out at least a week in Suns-Nuggets series

For Williams to beat Denver without Paul, the stoic coach might have to get a little loosey goosey. If I were advising him, I’d suggest speeding up.

Stay with me for a few paragraphs, I’m going to toss out a bunch of numbers that back up what I see when I watch the games, but the Suns should strongly consider trying to blaze past Denver using an offense that would bring a smile to anyone who remembers the 7-Seconds-or-Less era.

There are statistics that track pace of play by estimating how many possessions a team gets per 48 minutes. This season, according to ESPN’s Hollinger Pace Factor, the Suns averaged about 100 possessions per game (100.2), slightly faster than Denver (99.7).

If both teams play at that pace, it signals an advantage for the Nuggets. They had one of the NBA’s most efficient offenses, averaging 115 points over those 100 possessions. The Suns, meanwhile, were toward the middle of the pack at 112.1.

Further, no player in the NBA was more efficient than Denver’s Nikola Jokic (31.8), according to another Hollinger formula that includes made shots, 3-pointers, free throws, assists and rebounds.

The only player on the Suns' roster in the top 10 was Kevin Durant (26.1), who landed ninth on the list.

Chris Paul ranked No. 76.

Now, consider that the Nuggets would never beat the Suns in a sprint. And that Paul would often slow the Suns’ offense down to set up pick-and-rolls or methodically work his way to the paint for his patented fallaway jumpers. (He had that working before he got hurt in Game 2. How does he get so open when everybody in the NBA knows what's coming?!)

Also, consider that everyone except Devin Booker and Kevin Durant has had offensive struggles in halfcourt sets. (And even Durant missed a lot of shots in Game 2).

Now, wonder what would happen if the Suns played Cam Payne and told him to push the tempo on everything — even made baskets.

Then consider a breakneck substitution pattern that involves guys like Terrence Ross and T.J. Warren, who’ve been glued to the bench this series.

I’m imagining a lineup of Payne, Booker, Ross, Torrey Craig and Durant, a group that would try to run Denver’s starters off the floor in stretches. Or Booker, Damion Lee, Durant, Deandre Ayton and Craig. (Defensively, put Craig on Jokic, and allow Ayton to roam and gobble rebounds to start the break.)

Maybe it’s crazy? But maybe the Suns need to get a little crazy to make up for the loss of one of the greatest offensive talents of all time.

Here's hoping CP heals up. There’s no good answer for the Suns with him in street clothes.

'Embrace it': Suns look to climb back into series down 2-0 to Nuggets

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: To beat Denver without Chris Paul, the Suns need to play faster