Around the Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 21

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

Week 21: 10-16 March

Week Record: 1-3

Overall Record: 31-37. 11th in the Western Conference.

Games Played and Results:

L - 118 - 120 Vs Memphis Grizzlies

L - 104 - 111 Vs Houston Rockets

W - 122 - 106 Vs Sacramento Kings

L - 96 - 107 Vs Los Angeles Lakers

Centre of The Sun

I really thought we had a chance this week and the Grizzlies game gave me a ton of hope, then a strong win against the Kings, but the Lakers loss has left a terrible taste in my mouth.

Yes, the refs were horrid in LA, but we couldn't get a shot to fall (9/41 from 3 & only 37 1st half points) and our defence was woeful. I'm running out of words to describe the same issues this team is having over and over again. The coaching staff either have no clue what they're doing, or they've lost the locker room to the point where the players don't care. There's a massive argument for both, but the coaching staff have been making line-up adjustments, albeit many games too late and they can't physically make Durant, Beal & Book sprint to close-out a shooter on defensive rotations 🤷‍♂️

Speaking of adjustments and defensive rotations, Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro started getting minutes again this week 🙌 and their energy led to probably the Suns best game of the season and why was that in my opinion? Energy.

In team sports, especially basketball, it's infectious. Dunn was everywhere in the game and I got so hyped when we began the 2nd quarter picking up the Kings full court. Oso used this energy for some big dunks, continuing his jolt off the bench from his previous outing in Houston.

It wasn't just the energy, the Suns shooting was excellent as well (which makes the Lakers game even more frustrating), as they hit a season high 24 3-pointers, only 1 from matching the franchise high of 25.

Other Suns Stuff

ESPN Story

Tim McMahon of ESPN released an article all about the Suns and the turmoil this season. It's a good piece, with quotes from the likes of Mat Ishbia, KD and Beal. It doesn't paint the prettiest of pictures, but it's nothing we haven't all seen from this team, it's just getting national attention.

Mat Ishbia's quotes still make him sound like he's playing NBA2K and Bradley Beal, once again, took the opportunity to remind the front office that he has a no-trade clause. He did suggest that moving teams is easier in the off-season though, so there is a glimmer of hope.

It's well worth a read and you can do that here.

Oliver Miller Passes

Eddie Johnson confirmed on 12th March via X, that former Suns big man "Big O" Oliver Miller passed away.

Miller was drafted by the Suns in 1992 with the 22nd pick and played his 1st 2 NBA seasons with us. He then returned to the team for another season 5 years later.

Our thoughts are with Miller's family and friends at this time.

Superstar Watch (Season stats):

Devin Booker - 25.7 Points, 4.1 Rebounds, 7.0 Assists, 1.0 Steals, 45.6 FG%, 34.5 3PT FG% & 2.8 Turnovers

Kevin Durant - 26.6 Points, 6.2 Rebounds, 4.3 Assists, 0.8 Steals, 1.3 Blocks, 52.5 FG%, 41.4 3PT FG% & 3.1 Turnovers

Bradley Beal - 17.3 Points, 3.4 Rebounds, 3.6 Assists, 1.0 Steals, 0.5 Blocks, 50.5 FG%, 39.5 3PT FG% & 1.9 Turnovers

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Scorching Suns:

Kevin Durant

Apart from his struggles against the Lakers, KD was on fire from 3 all week. Before that game he was 13 of 17 from downtown 🤯

His stats for the week:

24.3 Points, 6.3 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists, 1 Block, 47.1 FG% & 62.5 3PT FG%

Oso Ighodaro

His stats for the week:

7.7 Points, 5.3 Rebounds, 1.0 Assist, 1.7 Blocks & 83.3 FG%

Struggling Suns:

Collin Gillespie

Collin earned the minutes he got this week, after being a spark for us in a few games, but that momentum unfortunately hasn't continued in his shooting.

His stats for the week:

2.5 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 3.0 Assists, 14.3 FG% & 20.0 3PT FG%

Stat Line(s) of the Week:

Kevin Durant Vs Memphis Grizzlies

Game stat line:

35 Points, 5 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 1 Block, 11/24 FGs (45.8%) & 7/9 3PT FGs (77.8%)

Tyus Jones vs Sacramento Kings

Game stat line:

20 Points, 2 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 6/7 FGs (85.7%) & 6/6 3PT FGs (100%).

Rookie Watch (Season stats):

Ryan and Oso found themselves back in the rotation this week, with Ryan even getting 2 starts. Their performance and energy were key to our victory over Sacramento.

Ryan matched a career high 4 steals against the Kings and Oso set a career high against Houston, with 4 blocks.

Ryan Dunn - 60 games, 30 starts

6.0 Points, 3.1 Rebounds, 0.8 Assists, 0.5 Steals, 0.6 Blocks, 42.7 FG%, 29.7 3PT FG% & 0.4 Turnovers

Oso Igodharo - 47 games, 2 starts

3.5 Points, 3.2 Rebounds, 0.9 Assists, 0.4 Steals, 0.4 Blocks, 60.0 FG%, 0.0 3PT FG% (1 attempt) & 0.6 Turnovers

Jalen Bridges - 5 games

0.8 Points, 0.6 Rebounds, 0.0 Assists, 0.0 Steals, 0.0 Blocks, 25.0 FG%, 25.0 3PT FG% & 0.8 Turnovers

Upcoming Games:

Here are the UK tip-off times:

Games vs Toronto and Chicago are games we should be winning, however we lost in our last game against the Raptors and the Bulls didn't make it easy for us.

Let's be honest and just mark the Cavs game as a loss, unless we've got to the point where the good teams are happy to res players against us.

Prediction:

I'm hoping for wins against the Raptors and Bulls, but a loss against the Cavs.

Predictions League:

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