Around the Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 14

Join us as we review the highs and lows of the last week, as well as previewing the week ahead.

Week 14: 22-28 January 2024

Week Record: 2-2

Overall Record: 26-20. 7th in the Western Conference.

Games Played and Results:

W - 115 - 113 Vs Chicago Bulls

W - 132 - 109 Vs Dallas Mavericks

L - 131 - 133 Vs Indiana Pacers

L - 98 - 113 Vs Orlando Magic

Centre of The Sun

The week was defined by huge scoring outbursts and (don't shoot the messenger) failing in the 4th quarter.

For 6 games in a row (including week 13's wins over the Pelicans and Pacers) the Suns have had a +40 point performance from a player. Those players are of course Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Durant had 43 against the Bulls, the most he's scored as a Sun, Booker then followed this with 46 in Dallas, 62 vs the Pacers and 44 at Disney World.

The wins this week looked great, especially the one in Dallas, which is quickly becoming our key rival, but the losses looked terribly familiar.

Now, it wasn't all the Suns' fault for the losses. Against the Pacers we lost Nurkic to injury at the end of the 3rd quarter and Indiana went on to grab 5 offensive rebounds, 2 of which led to their winning basket.

The Magic had similar tactics in terms of pressing and being physical. They hounded the Suns on defence and forced us into 22 turnovers. Orlando had just 7. These turnovers helped them get 19 more shots than us, including 22 more 3's. We only took 14. It doesn't take a maths wiz to see the writing on the wall there.

Superstar Watch (Season stats):

Devin Booker - 28.6 Points, 4.9 Rebounds, 7.3 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 50.5 FG%, 38.9 3PT FG% & 2.8 Turnovers

Kevin Durant - 28.5 Points, 6.4 Rebounds, 5.7 Assists, 0.8 Steals, 1.2 Blocks, 53.1 FG%, 45.4 3PT FG% & 3.2 Turnovers

Bradley Beal - 17.4 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, 4.2 Assists, 0.8 Steals, 49.8 FG%, 36.0 3PT FG% & 2.4 Turnovers

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Scorching Suns:

Devin Booker

It had to be the Western Conference Player of the Week.

16, 46, 62, 44. Those are Book's point totals in games this week and have a look below at his brilliant shooting numbers. He is, without question one of the elite scorers in the league.

His stats for the week:

42.0 Points, 5.0 Rebounds, 3.8 Assists, 1.3 Steals, 1.0 Block, 63.9 FG% & 50.0 3PT FG%.

Grayson Allen

Grayson continues to be one our most consistent outside of the "Big 3" and his shooting has also stayed at a ridiculous level as well.

He still leads the league in 3-point shooting at 49.8%.

His stats for the week:

10.8 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, 2.3 Assists, 68.2 FG% & 69.2 3PT FG%.

Struggling Suns:

Suns in 4th Quarters

Sorry - no one really stood out as a problem this week, but boy did we struggle in the 4th in our 2 losses.

Stat Line(s) of the Week:

Devin Booker vs Indiana Pacers

What a performance, it's just a shame we couldn't convert it into a win. Still, it was an incredible performance, especially that 1st quarter. 29 points 🤯

Game stat line:

62 Points, 5 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 22/37 FGs (59.5%) & 6/12 3PT FGs (50.0%).

Devin Booker vs Dallas Mavericks

This match up has become a real rivalry and on this occasion Book won the duel with fellow young superstar, Luka Doncic, outscoring him and taking the win.

Game stat line:

46 Points, 7 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Steals, 17/23 FGs (73.9%) & 6/10 3PT FGs (60.0%).

Upcoming Games:

There are 4 games this week, as our longest road trip of the season continues.

The Heat on Monday is on the 2nd night of a back-to-back and following that loss to Orlando.

Miami, however are on a 6-game losing streak and have been blown out in most of those. Sounds like a classic trap game for the Suns, with Beal playing with a broken nose and Nurkic questionable thanks to a sprained thumb.

Next we visit former Suns Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson on their home floor in Brooklyn. The Nets also find themselves in a funk at the moment, having lost 7 of their last 10. In fact, since defeating us back in December, they've posted a 5-17 record.

Atlanta are next and they too haven't fared well recently, losing 6 of their last 10. The team is a bit of a glass cannon, with a high paced offense, but terrible defence. There are rumblings that Murray will be traded shortly, but they remain dangerous, with Trae Young able to get hot at the drop of a hat.

Our last game of the week is a brilliant 8.30pm UK Time tip-off 🥳

It's also against the Wizards, who hold the 2nd worst record in the league, just 2 wins ahead of Detroit, so we're all of course hoping for a big win. Last time we played them, we let let get back into the game, despite the talent gap. We're a much better team than that, now the "Big 3" have had time together.

Beal missed that last game, so it'll be the 1st time he faces his former team. I imagine he'll get a great reception from his former home fans.

Prediction:

All of these teams are struggling at the moment, so on paper it should be a clean sweep. I said that the Heat could be a trap, but I don't think the players will be happy with the 2nd half performance against Orlando, so will come out focused.

I'm going with 4 wins this week.

Predictions League:

Any Other Business:

Western Conference Player of the Week

After missing out on the award the previous 2 weeks, Book finally gets it on an incredible week.

It's his 2nd WCPOTY award this season and the 9th of his career.

Booker's 62

Book scored 29 points in the 1st quarter of that performance, which breaks his record by 4 points and (re)setting the franchise record.

The 62 points are also a Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena scoring record.

Book holds the scoring record in 4 NBA arenas. I've given you 1, but do you know the other 3? Message me on my socials with your answers.

Another Durant Milestone

Congratulations to KD for reaching 28,000 career points.

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