Gerald Bourguet: Kevin Durant on making Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns work defensively: “Rudy’s gotten extremely better at guarding perimeters, guarding posts, guarding the rim. So you can’t just throw ‘em in actions expecting them to just give in. I think we’ll be strategic with what we do” pic.twitter.com/IWRB5XiODs Kevin Durant on making Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns work defensively: “Rudy’s gotten extremely better at guarding perimeters, guarding posts, guarding the rim. So you can’t just throw ‘em in actions expecting them to just give in. I think we’ll be strategic with what ..read more

Kellan Olson: Frank Vogel said the film sessions for the Suns were very thorough given they had almost a week without a game. Credited the players for being very locked in on the plans and what could shift. “Kind of talked about all of it and we’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us ..read more

Duane Rankin: Jusuf Nurkic understands importance of physicality vs. Wolves, but sees other side favoring Phoenix. “They play with 2 bigs all the time. It’s a challenge for us, but also challenge for them to keep our best players out of the floor. It’s going to be really hard for them.” #Suns pic.twitter.com/P04CsyPXAp ..read more

Kellan Olson: Kevin Durant after practice today emphasized poise and staying level through mistakes, tough shots going down, officiating, etc. Described it as “playing even more free” in the playoffs after establishing the right habits and work across the regular season ..read more

Kellan Olson: Kevin Durant echoed Devin Booker’s notion in here on facing Minnesota’s size defensively. “You just can’t throw them in an action and expect them to give in. We’ll be strategic with what we do, we’ll make the ball move, we gotta get stops and get out and and run too ..read more

Duane Rankin: Frank Vogel said everyone is healthy and ready to go outside of Damion Lee (knee), whose is OUT but has said the deeper the Suns playoff run, the better chance he has of playing. Game 1 vs. Timberwolves Saturday at Target Center. #Suns ..read more

Bradley Beal: I believe the Suns can win a championship, man. We have all the pieces that are necessary. We have unbelievable staff that can best prep us on a nightly basis, and give us all some game plans to follow. Our mentality, our drive; we really want it, we’re really hungry. We have a lot of guys on this team and in this organization that haven’t won at all. So, that gives a little bit more push and fight edge to do something historical, like bring a championship to a franchise for the first time. That’s definitely what brought me here. That’s what lured me to this place. Source: Andsc ..read more

Bradley Beal: Being out there with Book, who’s played in the Finals before. KD has won two [championships]. Damion Lee has got one. Coach has got one. Fiz [assistant coach David Fizdale] has two or three. So, we have the stature in our locker room who’ve won at that level, who knows what it takes to get us there and it’s awesome. We can kind of rely on them for their expertise and helping us get there ..read more

Beal played a key role, averaging 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in April, and scored 36 points in a 125-106 regular-season ending win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 14. The first-year Suns guard will make his first playoff appearance since 2021 when Phoenix plays the third-seeded Timberwolves in the first round with Game 1 on Saturday (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET). “It’s tough. I’m excited about it. I’ve been there before so I’m not going to put a lot on it,” Beal told Andscape on April 9 after the Suns practice. “We obviously have huge expectations and goals, but the playoffs are ..read more

Jon Krawczynski: Anthony Edwards: “I see KAT being the MVP of the series, if we win it, because they’re going to put two and three on me. He’s the best player on the team. You put two and three on me and you leave best player on the team 1 on 1, that’s something we live for ..read more