Around the Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 12
- Matt Elvy
- Jan 14, 2025
- 6 min read
Join us as we review the highs and lows of the last week, as well as previewing the week ahead.
Week 12: 6-12 January
Week Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 19-19. 10th in the Western Conference.
Games Played and Results:
W - 109 - 99 Vs Philadelphia 76ers
L - 104 - 115 Vs Charlotte Hornets
W - 123 - 115 Vs Atlanta Hawks
W - 114 - 106 Vs Utah Jazz
W - 120 - 113 Vs Charlotte Hornets
Centre of The Sun
It feels like so much has happened on Planet Orange (shout-out to the oldies that remember that marketing) since I sat down a week ago to write about the Suns.
Just before last week's post we received word via Chris Haynes that Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic would be moved to the bench, the Suns going with Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee in the starting lineup instead.
It's started well for Beal, who had 25 points in his 1st game off the bench in 9 years. Apart from a dud performance from the whole team in Charlotte, Beal has looked good off the bench. He's made a point of saying in interviews how it is a strange, new experience for him, but he's doing what the coaching staff is asking of him. Let's be honest, if it wasn't for his massive contract he may have been placed on the bench last season.
Ryan Dunn has taken the opportunity in the starting lineup to continue to grow. His hustle and energy is something the starters were missing and it's infectious for the rest of the guys. He's had some really impressive drives to the basket this week and has continued to shoot the 3, being able to make opposing defenses pay for leaving him open. Another benefit of having him in with the starters is it means he and Okogie share the floor less, which was often harming the 2nd unit's spacing, as they're seen as non-shooters by other teams.
Nurkic has not fared quite so well. He played 2 games off the bench, but then lost his place in the line-up, with Coach Bud going with Oso Ighodaro as his 1st and only big off the bench. When asked about Nurk's DNP - Coach's decisions, Bud has basically said there's no match-up reason for it and that everyone who is getting minutes has earned them. That essentially means Nurk has lost his place by not being good enough in the coach's eyes. This hasn't come without additional controversy, as Nurk has been coming up in trade rumours, with reports that the Suns are dangling him in trades and that one of those scenarios is with the Hornets for Nick Richards, he would be a nice upgrade for the Suns. On top of all this he's unfollowed Book and KD on Instagram (because we're 14 apparently) and is now away from the team due to illness.
Ignoring the Nurkic stuff, things went ok for the Suns on their most busy game week of the season with 5 games. They ended up winning 4 of those games and currently boast a 3-game win streak.
So, are we good again now?
In my opinion, no. The games were all ones we should have won and won handily, but the loss came against the Hornets and we didn't exactly blow out any of the other teams. We also only just beat the Hornets Sunday, using our veteran experience in the last 5 minutes of the 4th quarter.
Superstar Watch (Season stats):
Devin Booker - 24.9 Points, 3.9 Rebounds, 6.9 Assists, 1.2 Steals, 43.7 FG%, 33.7 3PT FG% & 2.3 Turnovers
Kevin Durant - 27.1 Points, 6.4 Rebounds, 4.2 Assists, 0.7 Steals, 1.3 Blocks, 51.9 FG%, 38.9 3PT FG% & 3.3 Turnovers
Bradley Beal - 17.7 Points, 3.6 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists, 1.1 Steals, 0.8 Blocks, 48.9 FG%, 38.8 3PT FG% & 2.0 Turnovers
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Scorching Suns:
Grayson Allen
After having to sit out for 4 separate stretches this season because of injury, Grayson seems to finally find his rhythm and has been lighting it up from 3. The highlight this week was his 23 points vs the Hawks, going 7 of 8 from the field and 5 of 6 from 3.
Some negativity though, he didn't play in the 2nd half of Sunday's win vs Charlotte due to a sore knee. There's been no update on him at the time of typing.
His stats for the week:
13.0 Points, 2.2 Rebounds, 1.0 Assist, 1.2 Steals, 58.3 FG% & 55.2 3PT FG%
Ryan Dunn
Ryan has excelled in the starting line-up all season, but this past week has seemed to have given him even more confidence than before. Defences allowed him to shoot open 3's and this week he made them pay.
His stats for the week:
9.6 Points, 5.2 Rebounds, 1.0 Assist, 54.1 FG% & 41.2 3PT FG%
Struggling Suns:
Tyus Jones
I'm not sure what's happened to Tyus recently. Maybe it's a change in the scheme, putting the ball in Book, KD or Beal's hands more or he's still feeling the effects of his illness at the end of last week. He's looked unsure of himself on the court and it's showing in his shooting numbers.
His stats for the week:
5.6 Points, 2.0 Rebounds, 4.2 Assists, 32.4 FG% & 30.0 3PT FG%
Stat Line(s) of the Week:
Kevin Durant vs Philadelphia 76ers
Game stat line:
23 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 1 Steal, 1 Block, 9/14 FGs (64.3%) & 3/4 3PT FGs (75.0%).
Bradley Beal vs Philadelphia 76ers
Game stat line:
25 Points, 3 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 1 Steal, 1 Block, 10/15 FGs (66.7%) & 3/6 3PT FGs (50.0%).
Grayson Allen vs Atlanta Hawks
Game stat line:
23 Points, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 7/8 FGs (87.5%) & 5/6 3PT FGs (83.3%).
Honourable Mention
Book's 1st half vs Utah Jazz
1st half stat line:
22 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 7/8 FGs (87.5%) & 4/5 3PT FGs (80.0%).
Rookie Watch (Season stats):
Ryan Dunn - 34 games, 18 starts
7.0 Points, 3.3 Rebounds, 0.9 Assists, 0.5 Steals, 0.7 Blocks, 45.2 FG%, 31.7 3PT FG% & 0.4 Turnovers
Oso Igodharo - 31 games, 2 starts
4.2 Points, 3.8 Rebounds, 1.0 Assists, 0.5 Steals, 0.4 Blocks, 59.4 FG%, 0.0 3PT FG% (0 attempts) & 0.6 Turnovers
Jalen Bridges - 2 games
0.5 Points, 0.5 Rebounds, 0.0 Assists, 0.0 Steals, 0.0 Blocks, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3PT FG% & 1.0 Turnovers
Upcoming Games:
Here are the UK tip-off times:
(Since this X post, the Pistons game has been moved forward by a. Hour to 9pm).
It's the kick off of our longest road trip of the season, with 5 games in 8 nights. This week though has another set winnable games for the Suns.
We beat the Hawks last week at home and there's a possibility that the Hawks will be without Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic, both showing as questionable on the injury report.
The Wizards are the worst team in the league with a 6-32 record. They also just so happen to be Bradley Beal's former team. Looking back to last year's visit to Washington, Brad had his best game as a Sun, dropping 43 points on them. Here's hoping we have a similar outcome this year and we don't play down to the competition.
Detroit are a much improved team this season and are currently on a roll, winning 8 of their last 10 games (as of writing). Cade Cunningham is playing like the star he was projected to be when he was drafted, oh, and we lost to them in Phoenix before they'd hit this stride. We were without Book and he always likes playing in Detroit, being a Michigan lad.
Prediction:
Although it hasn't all been perfect, I'm liking some of what I'm seeing from the new rotations, so I'm going to be positive and go for 3 wins.
Predictions League:
Other Suns Stuff:
Trade Rumours
I've already touched on the Suns trying to trade Nurkic and that they're looking at Nick Richards, but who else?
A name that is also doing the rounds on social media is Duop Reath. Reath is a back-up center for the Portland Trail Blazers, who rarely plays, but is a big hustle guy.
Of course, there's still the Jimmy rumours. He's officially asked for a trade from the Heat and according to Marc Stein, the Suns want him "bad".
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