How Phoenix Suns Can Avoid Elimination in Game 6

What will it take for the Phoenix Suns to win Game 6 and keep their season alive?

The Phoenix Suns are on the brink of elimination. They are currently down 3-2 in the second round and are one game away from being sent home by the Denver Nuggets.

What will the Suns have to do in order to keep their season alive?

Get KD Going

The reason Phoenix went out and traded for Kevin Durant in the middle of the season is for times like now.

Durant is a two-time champion and two-time finals MVP so he has been in high stake playoff games before and needs to spearhead this team.

Throughout this series, Durant is averaging 30.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5 assists. However, Durant had a tough shooting night in Game 5 going 10-15 from the field and 0-3 from three. He is in dire need of a bounce back performance - why not do that in a pivotal Game 6 when his teammates need him the most.

After years of ridicule stating Durant can’t lead a team to a championship, tonight is his chance to put that argument to bed.

Unleash Ayton

During the regular season Deandre Ayton was reliable. He averaged an impressive 18 points and 10 rebounds.

However, in the playoffs, Ayton has fallen off a cliff especially in this second-round series where he is averaging just 10.8 points. It's not only on the stat sheet but Ayton seems disengaged and is not playing in the aggressive manner that's needed this time of year.

That has to change tonight. If the Suns are going to keep their season alive they will need Ayton to perform at an elite level on both ends of the floor - if healthy. He is currently questionable with a ribs injury. 

He must be aggressive on the offensive end while also doing his best to contain Nikola Jokic, something he has failed to do in the series thus far.

Ayton is very capable of going off for 30+ points so the pressure is on him to finally get out of this slump and be there for his team.

Increase Bench Scoring

In Game 4, a big reason for the Suns' victory was because of Landry Shamet’s 19 points off the bench. During Game 5, Bruce Brown’s 25 points off the bench for the Nuggets helped carry them to a 118-102 win.

Second unit scoring has been a major theme this series. If the Suns are to win tonight they desperately need contributions from their bench.

Phoenix’s bench was silent during Game 5 as not a single player from the second unit scored in double figures. Especially with Chris Paul injured, it's critical that at least one player from the second unit steps up.

Over the past few games we have seen Monty Williams give more minutes to guys like TJ Warren, Jock Landale and Terrence Ross. It's their time to show that the playoff lights are not too bright for them and that they could be trusted on the biggest stage.