Tag: Phoenix Suns

Can the Phoenix Suns advance in the NBA Playoffs

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The Phoenix Suns are in the top of the Western Conference, they have shown the swagger and toughness of a true contender for a championship. But yet there is very little regard for them, there just seems to be zero buzz about the Suns. Sports guys on the idiot box talk about who the contenders are – they will say the usual’s, Brooklyn, LA Lakers, the Sixers, and the Clippers. It’s as if Phoenix Suns are just forgotten about – despite having a 50-21 record in the West. The Suns not only are winning – but they are winning big, as proven by their point differential – which is sitting at +5.9.
Better than the Nets, Sixers and even the 41 win Blazers – all of whom are talked about far more than Phoenix.

The Suns have put together a team, and it has been a real success what they have put on the floor. Especially when they traded for Chris Paul, grabbed Jae Crowder, with guys who are very quality pieces for depth, guys that could be relied on to score and fill in for 20 minutes if needed. It is incredible to think just how good the Paul trade was for the Suns. He has gotten them 16ppg, 9 dimes, and 49% shooting from the field for them – with experience and great court leadership. His adjustment to playing alongside Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton has barely seemed like an adjustment at all. They have gelled extremely well, since signing the 15 year vet. If Booker or Ayton get caught in some foul trouble – the grizzled veteran PG has been able to right the ship. He has been a huge and very important asset for the Suns.

Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker have completed the Suns as a very real threat, Booker has been a very serious problem for defenses, with 26 /game, and Ayton has been even better than expected with his timing and career best FG%. Granted Booker has been a stud for awhile – but the 22 year old bigman has played a huge role for the Suns.
Ayton has gotten them the boards and the big body down low to contain other bigs. Ayton has been one of the better defenders for Phoenix, and Head Coach Monty Williams has trusted him to guard the paint with ease. He can also stretch a bit, defending jump shots, he has gotten them solidified on defense, and has a defensive rating of 108
Booker has been just outstanding this season, knocking down 48% of his shots from the field, 34% from behind the arc, along with 4 bounds on around 34 minutes /game. He hasn’t been dependent on the pick and roll – he has been even better.

Phoenix are high in offensive efficiency, putting up 115 /game, and are also top 7 in defense, giving up 109 /game.
Phoenix is a ton of fun to watch. The Phoenix Suns success this year has been based on a much better defensive effort and hustle. They allow the 5th worst 3pt percentage in the NBA at 35%, as they close quickly when shooters are searching for a deep bomb, and if they do get it up, they are contested.

The Suns are shooting excellently as a team, at 49% and have been getting some great spacing on the floor. Everybody moves without the ball – which is always great, and that is not even their best asset as a unit.
Head Coach Monty Williams has changed the culture of this team, the Suns have been responding to everything he has been bringing, they have been executing on both defense and offense. Phoenix was able to enjoy former stud coaches, Cotton Fitzsimmons from back in the early 90s, and the 7 seconds or less years of D’Antoni. It appears now with Williams – they may have themselves a great coach again. I fully expect the winning to continue with this Phoenix Suns team.

The Suns have to have the mindset they can beat any team in the NBA, and win the championship.

3 Best Sporting Events To Watch This Week

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Klay Thompson

 

The coming week in the world of sports will involve some college basketball games of note, as the sport moves under six weeks until Selection Sunday, which is March 16th.

 

NCAA Basketball: Missouri Tigers @ Ole Miss Rebels (Saturday)

 

This is a game in which the two teams are very much on the bubble and need to get a win of appreciable quality. The thing to realize about the Southeastern Conference – and this is little different from last season – is that there aren’t many chances for good wins. The SEC has Florida, Kentucky, and not much else. Whenever two of the league’s bubble teams meet, losing is not much of an option. Ole Miss will get chances to beat Kentucky and Florida later in the season, so in many ways, the Rebels know that even if they lose here, they can still get season-making wins later on. Missouri doesn’t have that opportunity. The Tigers really need to win here.

 

NCAA Basketball: Florida State Seminoles @ Maryland Terrapins (Saturday)

 

This is another game in which both teams are very much on the bubble. Neither Florida State nor Maryland has done a whole lot within its own conference. Both teams have been much less than inspiring. Florida State has a win over Virginia Commonwealth to point to, but not too much else. Both teams have to get on a four-game winning streak at this point in the season to feel good about their chances of making the field of 68. This is the kind of game in which losing will carry a considerable cost.

 

NBA Basketball: Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns (Saturday)

 

This is a very attractive NBA game. Not many people expected this game to be a big one before the season began, but it has become a big game because the Suns are for real. Phoenix swept the two-game season series from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday in Indianapolis, showing the rest of the NBA that the Suns are as tough as their first 45 games suggested they were. This team isn’t going away, and Golden State will therefore have its work cut out for it against the Western Conference’s biggest surprise other than Portland.