Landon Buford
After a 118-108 game two victory in the Phoenix over the Milwaukee Bucks, Chris Paul and the rest of the Suns are two-game way from winning a championship. The series will shift to Milwaukee on Sunday, where the Bucks are seven and one this postseason at home.
They have the opportunity to defend their home court and even this series at two games apiece. But, unfortunately, future Hall of Famer Chris Paul is currently considered one of those great players who does not have a ring.
Suns legend and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is also on the list of great players who did not win a ring when he played in the league.
Charles Barkley was a guest on Sportcenter with Stan Verrett on Friday evening. Barkley was asked what changes when you go on the road during a playoff series during his appearance.
“People are not talking about your mom. They are not talking about your dad, and they are not cursing you to death, but also when that guy looks in the stands and see his family. He gets a burst of energy and juice. The crowd is going wild and you do not ever get tired. And let me tell you something Stan, professional sports really suck without fans. So, I am glad to have all the fans back,” said Barkley.
Verrett followed that question up by asking about Chris Paul and how the prescription of his career would be affected if he can come through to win a championship with the Suns?
“I have always said, I think Chris is the best leader we had in the NBA probably in the last 10-15 years, 16 years. It is really unfair how a team sport. They would hold it against a guy if he did not win a championship. So I’m hoping he wins it because he is on the list with me and the guys are already great players Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing guys who are all-time greats,” said Barkley.
“As I said, I never understand how a team sport became we blame an individual. Because if we blame him, he must be really great. We never say it about the other players on the team. We only said it about the great players.”
Former Suns guard Jamal Crawford thinks the Suns have a real shot since they are not playing the Bulls and Michael Jordan. Unfortunately, for Barkley, when they took them to the Finals in 1993, they had to face the Bulls and Jordan.
“This Suns team they are young, hungry and they are not playing Michael Jordan and the Bulls. So, they got a chance,” said Crawford.
Game three of the NBA Finals is on Sunday at 8:00 pm EST on ABC.
