B/R Says Suns' Bench Could Hold Them Back

The Phoenix Suns' bench could cost them in the postseason, according to Bleacher Report.

The Phoenix Suns enter the start of the Western Conference playoffs with one of the best starting lineups in the entire postseason. 

A starting five of Chris Paul - Devin Booker - Kevin Durant - (probably) Josh Okogie - Deandre Ayton could lead Phoenix to the franchise's first NBA title, though some have concerns about their bench play. 

In Bleacher Report's article going through one thing that could hold each team in the West back, that's exactly what author Mo Dakhil pointed out:

B/R Says Suns' Bench Could Hold Them Back

"The Phoenix Suns made the biggest splash at the trade deadline by acquiring Kevin Durant. To no one's surprise, it came at a cost. That cost? Two major pieces of the rotation. And it turned the Suns into a top-heavy team," said Dakhil.

"Finding Phoenix's postseason Achilles' heel might be as simple as asking: Who will join the core when it matters most? Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul are the obvious starters and crunch-time players. Who is the fifth?

"Monty Williams has to cobble together a rotation with the pieces who are left over: Landry Shamet, Torrey Craig, Josh Okogie, T.J. Warren, Terrence Ross and Cameron Payne.

"There is an open competition for that spot.

"It will come down to who can keep the court spread with their shooting and not be a defensive liability. So far, Okogie has started alongside the core four. The Suns have played only eight games with this starting lineup, though, and that might not have been enough to develop the needed chemistry.

"If the Suns fail to come out of the West (they are favored by FanDuel), it will be because they could not adequately fill the fifth spot in their key lineups."

Thanks to their barrage of injuries this year, the Suns were forced to incorporate their role players into more significant roles. As a result, Phoenix feels as if their bench is more battle tested and ready for the postseason than previous years.