Tuesday night feels like a milestone in the Phoenix Suns season for several reasons. Chief among these is the fact that Bradley Beal appears ready to play what will be just his fourth game for the franchise.
The old problem that interrupted the start of his time with the Suns finally seemed to have been resolved. The positive update on Beal’s back is such that he isn’t even listed on the organization’s injury report ahead of the game against the Golden State Warriors.It’s not all good news though, as Kevin Durant is still listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. The same problem that caused him to miss Friday’s loss against the Sacramento Kings, dropping the team to 12-10. Failure to face the Warriors will mean the Suns won’t have their “Big 3” together again this season, which is extremely frustrating.Then there’s Chris Paul, the franchise’s former point guard who returns for the second time since being traded for Beal, hoping that this time he stays on the court.His first appearance at The Valley was interrupted by referee Scott Foster, who sent Paul off just before half-time as the two teams met for the final time. If you don’t remember what Paul would have done, you can check it out for yourself below. The Suns players certainly had a lot to say about it at the time, too.Paul began the season with the Warriors, but currently comes off the bench on the 10-12 team, playing 26.5 minutes per game. By far the lowest mark of his career. The Warriors have struggled this season, and Paul has done little with his new team to make the Suns believe they didn’t trade him at the right time, even though Beal has barely played. The question of whether he should one day join the Suns’ Ring of Honor is probably a conversation for another day, but there’s no doubt Paul won’t be warmly welcomed by fans again when he returns. This is not the situation like when Deandre Ayton returned earlier in the season and parts of the fan base made their feelings known about the former first overall pick. Paul was instrumental in helping the franchise recover after years in the wilderness, though Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports probably summed it up best below. It will be fascinating to see who Paul faces now that he comes off the bench – and there’s no doubt that in the minutes he shares the court with Booker – he will try to slow down his protégé. However, one thing is for sure: Foster will have no role in the game as he was not assigned to be in Phoenix.
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