PHOENIX — A three-game injury streak and the absence of Devin Booker (right groin pain) kept the Phoenix Suns from overcoming a December slump, but they are now consistently outperforming their opponents. It does not mean that
Head coach Monty Williams said of the Suns’ exhaustion, “It’s obvious. We can’t play at a normal NBA level. That’s not what we’re known for. was a team of five guys flying around, but they just play with pace and power, so it feels like they have eight guys.”
And playing hard is at the heart of the Memphis Grizzlies’ DNA. Stylistically and statistically, this is true. The Suns knew it was coming. And I knew they were on national television.
Losing 125-100 was no problem.
“Whether it’s in Boston or Memphis, whether there’s a big, physical team trying to reach out to us, our dominance in these games — we’ve had it here before the game. “We have to get back to chasing something. I don’t like the feeling.
The 39-20 first quarter was a blast as you know.
The Grizzlies lead the league in paint points per game at 57.9 and scored an impressive 26 points in 12 minutes. He tied for second place in offensive rebounds per game (12.9) and took 7 points in 10-second chance points. By the start of the second quarter, they had reached 14, almost close to their fifth-ranked season average of 16.4.
“They hit us first,” said Suns point guard Chris Paul. “Come out and jump on us early. We never recovered.”
Phoenix were already 15 down just over six minutes into the game, and were leading by 28 in the first half. The Suns did not come close to more than 15 points in the second half and the deficit was as high as his 34.
“We’re just recognizing how the team got here,” Williams said. “For me, that’s what it looks like. You have to understand, the team for some reason sees us as a more physical team and they try to set the tone from the jumps.”
This is one of those “could have been worse” games. Memphis didn’t shoot well from his threes (30.4%), and he went 8-27 with his backcourt stars Jamorant (12 points) and Desmond Bain (17 points) combined.
The Grizzlies continued to freak out. Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. each scored his 24 points to take the lead.
The team scored 72 points, 19 offensive rebounds, and 22 second-chance points in the paint. Phoenix rebounded his 53-for-35 and none of the Suns’ five-plus players had him.
The Suns’ points totals by quarter in the first half were 20 and 18.
Phoenix’s offensive rating without Booker on the court Friday is 107.8, a number that puts the Suns at 29th on the league leaderboard. Per NBA StatsThis is nothing new. Last year it was 107.5 and last year it was 109.6.
It was part of Booker’s MVP case last year. Given that the Suns’ defense and Paul’s play have gotten significantly worse this year, the Suns will be a bad team in his absence.
When bookers play, they are allowed to slip without completely filling the margins. But the lack of urgency in that part of basketball is unacceptable when he’s out.
The Grizzlies do so most of the time. And then, as we’ve explained, deconstruct them in these areas to put Sands’ attacks in rough spots, mostly against Set’s defenses all night long.
No one on the Phoenix side had a good game. Deandre Ayton led the way with his 18 points, while Landry Shamet scored his 15th in his second start of the season.
The Suns have lost seven of their last 10 games and are entering the toughest period of their schedule. Having unofficially started two weeks ago, Phoenix is now heading to Denver for the start of a six-game road trip, coming back for two, plus he’s traveling for four.
By then it will be January 19th and by then we will know a lot more about this team in terms of what parts of it (both good and bad) are real I think.
