Chen Yu returned to Phoenix alone. The Phoenix Suns went straight to Portland to rest and wait for the Western Conference Finals to begin.
If the Phoenix Suns eliminating the Lakers in Game 7 was considered a minor upset, then on the other side of the bracket, the Pioneers eliminating the Mavericks 4-2 was definitely another. Before the series began, most media outlets had predicted that the Mavericks would advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks boasted a strong interior presence, anchored by the unstoppable O'Neal.
Meanwhile, the Pioneers' biggest glaring weakness was their paint defense. Randolph had plenty of offensive firepower, but his defense was a complete liability. This very issue was why their first-round matchup against the Grizzlies had dragged all the way to a Game 7.
