Week 3: 4 January - 10 January 2021
Week Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 7-3. 2nd in Western Conference
Games Played and Results:
W - 123 - 115 Vs Toronto Raptors
L - 105 - 110 Vs Detroit Pistons
W - 125 - 117 Vs Indiana Pacers
The Suns end week 3 with the 2nd best record in the league at 7-3. This is the best 10 game start from the Suns since the 09-10 season, where we started 8-2 and we know how that season ended, Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, for now, let's enjoy the ride.
Also while writing, the NBA.com Power Rankings have been published and they have the Suns 2nd - even with that loss to the Pistons.
Superstar Watch:
Booker - 22.0 Points, 3.3 Rebounds, 4.7 Assists, 1.1 Steals, 48.1 FG%, 34.9 3PT FG%, 4.3 Turnovers
Chris Paul - 13.2 Points, 4.6 Rebounds, 8.5 Assists, 0.7 Steals 42.9 FG%, 29.6 3PT FG%, 1.7 Turnovers
Scorching Suns:
Deandre Ayton (again?!)- 11.0 Points, 14.0 Rebounds, 2.0 Assists, 0.6 Blocks, 63.3 FG%
Ayton isn't in this spot for offense this week, what has now become his staple - defense is what has got him here. The defense that Ayton plays doesn't show in the basic box score, as he had 0 blocks and only 2 blocks over the 3 games this week. What he does is stand his ground, jump vertically and is able to switch out on guards.
Though we lost against Detroit, Ayton still played well on the defensive end, adding 14 points on 7/8 shooting and pulling in 12 rebounds.
Against Toronto we saw him pull down a season high 16 rebounds.
In Deandre's biggest performance of the week, he guarded All-Star Domantas
Sabonis. In the minutes that Ayton took on this challenge, he held Sabonis to 8 points, 2/9 shooting and 3 turnovers.
Langston Galloway - He gets a spot here for his 3 point % so far this season. He is currently 13/25 from downtown, which is good for 4th in the league for 3PT FG% - 52.0%
Struggling Suns:
I've struggled to choose a Struggling Sun this week. It feels like that each player that hit the court did their job well, so I'm not going to have one.
The last 2 weeks I had Jevon Carter in this position, but I feel that'd be unfair. He played tenacious defense as always and his 3 is finally starting to fall.
Stat Line of the Week:
Mikal Bridges vs Indiana Pacers
34 Points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Assist, 1 Blocks, 12/18 FG - 66.7%, 6/8 3PT FG - 75%
We had to celebrate the shooting show that Mikal Bridges put on, en route to his career high 34 points.
Honourable mention: Langston Galloway vs Detroit Pistons
17 Points, 6/9 FG - 66.7%, 5/8 3PT FG - 62.5%, 11:54 mins.
In fact all these points were scored in his 9 first half minutes.
Rookie Watch:
Jalen Smith - 0 games this week.
Smith is still on the injured list recovering from the sprained ankle he suffered in the 2nd game of the season against Sacramento. Therefore his stats remain:
2 Games, 10 mpg, 2.0 Points, 2.5 Rebounds, 0.5 Assists, 0.5 Blocks, 40.0 FG%
Upcoming Games:
(Brackets show UK date and time)
This coming week we have 3 games
Monday @ Washington Wizards (12/01/21 12:00 AM)
Wednesday Vs Atlanta Hawks (14/01/21 2:00 AM)
Friday Vs Golden State Warriors (16/01/21 2:00 AM)
Saturday Vs Indiana Pacers (17/01/21 2:00 AM)
Any Other Business:
We didn't play well at all against Detroit, but we bounced back excellently against the Pacers.
In the game vs Pacers the team had a total of only 3 turnovers. 1 came from Paul, 1 from Cam Johnson and 1 from a shot clock violation. This is a new record for the Suns.
Please let me know if there's anything extra you'd like to see in these weekly reviews.
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