Phoenix Suns: Jason Richardson Showing Why He's the Postseason Key

With Portland swarming Amare down low and out-muscling Steve Nash on the perimeter, Phoenix needed Jason Richardson in the worst way this series.

Man, has he delivered.

J-Rich cashed in for 29 points in Game Two, then upped the ante with a 42-point onslaught in Game Three. Suddenly the guy Phoenix treated like over-expensive trade bait is the indispensable teammate the Suns need to succeed.

That's not to disparage guys like Grant Hill, Goran Dragic, and Jared Dudley, who have all stepped up in the postseason spotlight. But Richardson is the one guy who has the unquestioned talent to take over when Stoudemire and/or Nash falter, or are at least contained.

Game Three was a J-Rich highlight reel that would have made any Warriors fan wish for the good old days. On the break, on the post, or behind the arc, Richardson did it all. He showed that if Portland focuses its perimeter defense on Nash, Richardson will make them pay dearly for it.

That's the evolution the Suns hope will continue throughout their still-young playoff run.

If Richardson is on his game, how realistic is it to stop the Suns offense? Does any team in the west have enough defensive studs to contain both halves of Phoenix's backcourt?

• The Lakers have Bryant to stop/contain one, but Derek Fisher at the other spot. Put in Farmar or Shannon Brown, and they lose Fisher's crunch time composure/offense. 
• Dallas has a slowing-but-effective Jason Kidd, but too-slow Caron Butler or too-small Jason Terry at the other guard spot.
• San Antonio has Tony Parker, who was let off the hook with Nash in the past thanks to Bruce Bowen, who is no longer present.
• Oklahoma City has the pieces (Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden), but won't get a chance to prove it thanks to their first-round match with L.A.
• Denver could do the job with Billups and Aaron Afflalo, but hasn't shown the necessary discipline this season against Phoenix, who dominated the season series.
• Utah's Deron Williams gives Nash fits, but leaves a committee of Wes Matthews, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Price to cover Richardson. They present the biggest challenge to Phoenix's backcourt defensively, but would also need to beat the Lakers in order to do so.

The way Richardson has been playing, it's like he's realized that conundrum—with him on, no one can turn the Suns off.

On TNT, Barkley said the Suns will be a dangerous team to whichever team gets them (assuming the Suns win) in the second round.

If Richardson keeps playing like this (and Lopez returns from injury), that prediction might not be farsighted enough.