The knock against Phoenix Suns was that they were too young. Despite having a Hall-of-Fame point guard, an elite scorer and very capable coaching and supporting cast members, all was futile compared to their playoff inexperience.
The Suns burned that narrative quickly. Trailing two games to one against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, Phoenix won three straight to clinch the series. It parlayed that into a franchise-best nine-game playoff winning streak, something that the run-and-gun Suns and the 1993 Western Conference championship team never quite approached.
Without starting point guard Chris Paul — its postseason veteran amid a group of beginners — Phoenix still won the two games of the Western Conference Finals, putting it in position to compete for a championship.