Around the Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 18

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

Week 18: 19-25 February 2024

Week Record: 1-2

Overall Record: 33-22. 6th in the Western Conference.

Games Played and Results:

L - 113 - 123 Vs Dallas Mavericks

L - 110 - 114 Vs Houston Rockets

W - 123 - 113 Vs Los Angeles Lakers

Centre of The Sun

That felt like a disappointing week of basketball. The All-Star break brings unwarranted optimism, I guess?

Two losses to kick the week off is not a great way to start, especially considering all the tough teams we need to face the rest of the season. The Suns did struggle with some injuries, as Beal missed the whole week, Nurk missed the Rockets game and Gordon sat out against the Lakers.

The Dallas game, despite the loss, was still a fun game to watch. It started with the stars on each team slugging it out, Book was especially switched on with 12 in the 1st quarter. Unfortunately, we forgot how to defend in the 2nd half. The beginning of the 3rd quarter was especially bad, as we couldn't get any stops, while Dallas couldn't miss from 3. Book once again tried keeping us afloat with 13 in the quarter, but no one else contributed.

It made a nice change coming out of the game not having to talk about a skirmish between the teams.

The Houston loss was frustrating. Yes, we were still without Beal and Nurkic was also on the shelf, but the effort in this one was not good enough. Book and KD's shots were off all game, and there was a real lack of energy throughout the team.

Bol Bol was the exception of course. He had a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds, his 1st double-double as a Sun.

We have 2 more chances against Houston this coming week and we need to win them, as they're our easiest opponents, apart from Toronto, till the end of March.

Sunday was a great palette cleanser. The game was at 8.30pm UK time and a win over the Lakers makes most any basketball fan feel good. LA have been playing some of their best basketball recently as well, so it wasn't a game you could automatically call a win. They've beaten us 3 other times this season, after all.

Nurkic was back for this one, but Eric Gordon was out. This meant Royce O'Neale made his 1st start as a Sun. In stretches throughout the game, he was our best player. This was highlighted in the 4th when he hit a couple of perfectly timed 3's to stave off some Lakers momentum.

Nurkic was also brilliant in this one. He used his size and strength advantage all game and was a nightmare for the Lakers on the offensive glass, finishing with 22 rebounds along with 18 points.

It was overall, a great team effort, with 4 starters scoring 20 points and Nurk just missing that with the aforementioned 18.

Superstar Watch (Season stats):

Devin Booker - 27.5 Points, 4.6 Rebounds, 7.0 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 49.6 FG%, 37.1 3PT FG% & 2.6 Turnovers

Kevin Durant - 28.0 Points, 6.7 Rebounds, 5.6 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 1.3 Blocks, 53.0 FG%, 42.3 3PT FG% & 3.2 Turnovers

Bradley Beal - 18.2 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, 4.5 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 49.5 FG%, 36.3 3PT FG% & 2.4 Turnovers

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Scorching Suns:

Bol Bol

It had to be, right? Bol appeared in 2 games this week, one being his breakout game in the loss to Houston, followed by another solid outing against the Lakers.

His stats for the week:

18.0 Points, 9.0 Rebounds, 1.5 Blocks, 61.5 FG% & 42.9 3PT FG%.

Struggling Suns:

This feels like sacrilege, but the 2 guys that struggled with their shooting this week was Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

The points, rebounds and assist numbers were where they'd usually be, but they were ice cold shooting, especially from 3.

Devin Booker

His stats for the week:

27.0 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, 6.3 Assists, 1.0 Steal, 44.4 FG% & 21.4 3PT FG%.

Kevin Durant

His stats for the week:

24.3 Points, 7.3 Rebounds, 5.3 Assists, 1.7 Blocks, 40.6 FG% & 21.7 3PT FG%.

Stat Line(s) of the Week:

Bol Bol vs Houston Rockets

Bol had the breakout game the internet has been waiting for. Although it came in a loss, Bol showed that he can contribute to this team off the bench. His place in the rotation was already pretty solid, but this will have raised his stock even more.

Game stat line:

25 Points, 14 Rebounds, 1 Steal, 1 Block, 11/17 FGs (64.7%) & 2/3 3PT FGs (66.7%).

Jusuf Nurkic vs Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers had no answer for Nurk's size and he used this to great affect, putting pressure on the offensive glass all game.

Game stat line:

18 Points, 22 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 1 Steal, 1 Block, & 7/12 FGs (58.3%).

Royce O'Neale vs Los Angeles Lakers

This was Royce's best showing as a Sun so far. He was on fire from 3, and hit some key ones in the final stretch of the game.

The box scores originally showed him has getting 10 rebounds, which would have meant the first 20-10 game of his career, but after the usual NBA checks overnight, they deemed him to have 9 rebounds, rather than 10.

Game stat line:

20 Points, 9 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block, 7/12 FGs (58.3%) & 6/10 3PT FGs (60.0%).

Upcoming Games:

We have 2 games against Houston this week after only facing them last week. They took the game from us, as the Suns didn't really look like they wanted to be there, so let's hope for a better showing in these 2 games at home.

The Thunder are one of the best teams in the league and currently sit 2nd in the West, but have the same record as the number 1 Timberwolves. It goes without saying, it'll be our toughest game this week.

OKC took the W in our first meeting back in November. The Suns are in a much better place than they were back then, but still go in as the underdogs.

Prediction:

It's always tough playing the same teams so close together, as it turns into almost a mini playoff round. I'm hoping last week's lacklustre performance and the fact we're at home will boost us.

I don't fancy our chances against the Thunder, unfortunately.

I think we'll win the 2 Rockets game, but lost to the Thunder.

Predictions League:

Other Suns Stuff:

NBA All-Star is Coming to Phoenix

According to Shams Charania the Suns will host the 2027 NBA All-Star game. This was apparently one of Mat Ishbia's ambitions when he took on the team and he's done it in his first year.

Phoenix last hosted the game in 2009 and had Amar'e Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal representing the Suns. Shaq took co-MVP honours alongside Kobe Bryant, with 17 points.

Amar'e was a starter and finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds.

Durant Continues to Rise

In the loss to the Rockets, KD passed Carmelo Anthony for the 9th spot on the NBA's All-Time scoring list.

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