The 90’s Mixtape: Chuck vs Warriors (1994)

By 1994, the NBA had become accustomed to the post-Michael Jordan era. Players’ confidence continued to rise and a few believed they had a chance to be the new best face of the NBA. Charles Barkley was one of them. After winning the Most Valuable Player award the previous season, the Phoenix Suns’ superstar was ready for more success.

Barkley’s MVP season resulted in an NBA Finals appearance for the Suns. It was their first appearance in 17 seasons and they believed they had all the tools to end the series on top. Despite having home-court advantage, the Suns couldn’t stand in the way of Jordan and the Chicago Bulls from a three-peat. Phoenix had to deal with the pain of losing game six on their home floor and it lingered through the course of the 1993–94 season.

With heartbreaks, there’s always a chance for redemption. The Suns went into the 1994 NBA Playoffs focused and determined to pick up where they left off. In the first round, they faced a young Golden State Warriors team that featured rookie forward Chris Webber. Webber and the Warriors were happy to be in a playoff position. But the Suns were all about business as it showed through the first two games.

Game three was a chance for the Suns to close the series. The last thing they wanted to do was give a young Warriors team momentum and extend their season. Suns head coach Paul Westphal preached defense in the locker room. Through two games, the Warriors offense looked fluid as they shot 48 percent from the floor. Although they shot well, it didn’t result in wins. Phoenix had to elevate their defense in order to sweep the series and advance to the next round.

Game 3 Dominance

What did the Suns do early in the contest? Ran the offense through Charles Barkley. It didn’t matter if he caught the basketball on the high post or the low block, he was bound to score. Barkley’s versatility offensively got the Suns off to a great start as he finished the first quarter with 27 points. Both teams were on fire as they both scored 42 points in the opening quarter.

The Suns had to find a way to break the ice. The concern was giving Golden State momentum and they would find a way to come out on top. The key for Phoenix was continuing to ride the hot hand of Barkley. Living on the left block was his bread and butter. As the Warriors failed to make defensive adjustments, Barkley continued to go to work and put the Suns on his back.

The Suns held a one-point lead at halftime as Barkley led all scorers with 38 points. It was a masterful game offensively from both teams as nobody could miss. Certainly, defensive adjustments needed to be made. As the contest continued, Barkley was on a mission. His eyes showed that he was locked in and was ready to lead his team to the next round.

Things got weary as the contest continued. The Warriors finally found their groove and were in control of the game. It wasn’t because they were playing great defense but because the Suns went away from what was working. With that being said, they ran the offense through Barkley once again on the left block. Allowing him post-touches slowed the game down and allowed him to operate. Barkley’s patience, footwork, and physicality were too much for the Suns to handle. Even as he attracted double teams, he continued to find a way to score.

As the game was winding down, Barkley still dominated the same way he did in the first half. Everyone in the crowd was sensing a 50-piece playoff performance. Eventually, he got to 50 and didn’t stop from there. The fourth quarter displayed the Suns’ ability to close a game. They were able to get defensive stops which created more easy opportunities on offense. With time running out, Phoenix booked their ticket to the second round with a 140–133 victory over the Warriors in game three.

Conclusion

Barkley finished game three with 56 points along with 14 rebounds on 74 percent shooting. If you ask many fans, it’s one of the greatest playoff performances of the 1990s. Barkley was on a mission to will his team back to success and he wouldn’t let them down. Despite the Suns being eliminated in the next round, it was great to watch Charles Barkley continue to play at his best.