Suns celebrate Monty Williams’ 1st playoff series win after beating Lakers
Jun 4, 2021, 8:51 AM
With the Phoenix Suns’ 113-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, Monty Williams picked up his first series victory for the first time as a head coach.
Chris Paul, who was with Williams in New Orleans for two seasons (2010-11), made sure to let his teammates know following the series-clinching win.
Played this series with heart and soul.
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More to do. More to come.
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ππππππππππ | #RallyTheValley pic.twitter.com/PReeEsajlv— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) June 4, 2021
“Ten years ago I played for Monty, right, two-seven (seeded) series,” Paul said. “Coach, we lost 4-2, right? Right back where we was against the same team.
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“Coach been coaching a long time, his first playoff series win. Let’s go.”
Paul finished off his speech by tossing the game ball to his head coach. An impromptu shower ensued, with the Suns dousing Williams in water.
Heading into 2021, Williams had made it to the postseason twice as a head coach, losing both times in the first round.
His best shot before this season was back with Paul in 2010-11 after New Orleans made the postseason as the seventh seed with a 46-36 record. The Hornets went six games with the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers but were on the losing side of things.
Paul averaged 22 points, 11.5 assists and 6.7 rebounds over 41.7 minutes per playoff game in what was his sixth NBA season.
Luckily for Paul and Williams, they didn’t squander their chance at revenge over a reeling Lakers team that saw Anthony Davis leave early on in the deciding game.
The head coach now begins his trek of winning back-to-back playoff series for the first time with a second-round matchup against the Denver Nuggets on the horizon.
