Around the Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 25

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

Week 25: 8-14 April 2024

Week Record: 3-1

Overall Record: 49-33. 6th in the Western Conference.

Games Played and Results:

L - 92 - 105 Vs LA Clippers

W - 124 - 108 Vs LA Clippers

W - 108 - 107 Vs Sacramento Kings

W - 125 - 106 Vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Centre of The Sun

We made it difficult for ourselves, but IT's Time! We avoided the Play-In, secured the 6th seed and got our most favourable 1st round match-up.

The Suns did virtually everything they could to get the Play-off spot, but we were still reliant on the Pelicans messing it up for themselves, which they did when they lost to the Lakers.

The week started with a bad loss to the Clippers in our last home game. The Clippers were missing Leonard and Harden, but we were terrible shooting just 22% from 3 and 33% overall. Book had one of his worst games of the season missing 10 of his 11 shots and KD only hit on 8 of his 22 attempts.

Luckily for the Suns, LA decided to rest Paul George and Westbrook on the 2nd night of our back-to-back games. The Suns played much better overall as well, with the Big 3 combining for 87 points, 37 of them coming from Book.

Next up was the Kings, who like us, were fighting right till the end for a Play-In / Play-off position. It was looking bad in the 1st half, with us going into halftime down 9, then as much as 16 in the 3rd. Then, heading into the 4th Bradly Beal decided the Suns were going to win. He sparked the comeback, scoring 10 straight for the Suns to begin the quarter, tied the game twice, the key bucket with 1 minute to go, then stole the ball from Fox on the final play of the game.

Our final one against Minnesota was a must win for us if we were to secure the 6th seed. The Suns won in a blowout. The Timberwolves looked like the Suns this season, with loads of unforced turnovers, which allowed us to go into the 2nd quarter up by 22! Minny did reduce our lead to 10 in the 3rd, but we built the lead back up to over 20 when Beal decided to takeover in the 4th again.

We looked Play-off ready.

A bit of housekeeping:

This article will move to a series review throughout the Playoffs, rather than weekly.

Superstar Watch (Season stats):

Devin Booker - 27.1 Points, 4.5 Rebounds, 6.9 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 49.2 FG%, 36.4 3PT FG% & 2.6 Turnovers

Kevin Durant - 27.1 Points, 6.6 Rebounds, 5.0 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 1.2 Blocks, 52.3 FG%, 41.3 3PT FG% & 3.3 Turnovers

Bradley Beal - 18.2 Points, 4.4 Rebounds, 5.0 Assists, 1.0 Steal, 51.3 FG%, 43.0 3PT FG% & 2.5 Turnovers

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Scorching Suns:

Bradley Beal

For the second week in a row Brad has been on fire and been the engine for the team. Not just on offense, but his overall activity and leadership have been excellent, and sorely needed as we head into the Playoffs.

His stats for the week:

25.3 Points, 6.8 Rebounds, 4.0 Assists, 1.3 Steals, 1.8 Blocks, 59.4 FG% & 66.7 3PT FG%.

Struggling Suns:

Let's be positive to end the regular season and agree that everyone had a good week (even though Drew Eubanks was still getting minutes 🤭)

Stat Line(s) of the Week:

Bradley Beal vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Brad wasn't going to let us lose this one. As discussed he was great all week, but he left his best till last.

Game stat line:

36 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block, 14/21 FGs (66.7%) & 6/6 3PT FGs (100%).

Grayson Allen vs Minnesota Timberwolves

It was fitting that the league's leading 3-point shooter ended the season with a 100% shooting game.

Game stat line:

20 Points, 6 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 2 Steals, 8/11 FGs (72.7%) & 3/3 3PT FGs (100%).

Honourable Mention:

Devin Booker vs LA Clippers (Game 2)

Game stat line:

37 Points, 1 Rebound, 4 Assists, 1 Steal, 1 Block, 13/24 FGs (54.2%) & 5/12 3PT FGs (41.7%).

Upcoming Games:

In securing the 6th seed, we also locked the Timberwolves into 3rd, which means we face them in the 1st round of the Playoffs.

Here are the UK tip-off times:

Looking at who we could have been facing - OKC or Denver - the Timberwolves are our favoured match-up. We've played excellent against them this season, practically neutralising Anthony Edwards. I don't expect that to happen every game in the series, but the blueprint for us is there.

We also have the advantage in most other match-ups. KAT can't guard KD on a good day, let alone while he's working to get his fitness back. He was out till the last 2 games of the season.

Although he isn't a "better" player, Nurkic is a great counter for Gobert. Nurk has used his weight advantage against the Frenchman and his activity in our offense is something that pulls Gobert away from the rim, where he's still the premier defender in the league..

Prediction:

As I said, we have a good match-up here. I think Minnesota win a couple, you don't accidentally win 56 games in the NBA, but ultimately, Suns in 6!

Predictions League:

And Neeeeewww, Go On My Suns Prediction League Champion....

I managed to block the Luke Godfrey 3-peat. This was the toughest season since we begun the league.

I hope all the participants enjoyed it and everyone else enjoyed seeing it all unfold each week.

Other Suns Stuff:

Grayson Extension

What would have been one of the most important pieces of business this off-season, has already been taken care of. Allen would have been an unrestricted free agent this Summer, which means he could have just walked away from the Suns if he chose to. However he wants to continue playing with this group and has signed a 4-year $70 million extension, with a player option on the 4th year.

Absolute bargain in my opinion!

Kevin Young

This is good news and bad news. Kevin Young, the team's Associate Head Coach has agreed to become Brigham Young University's new Head Coach. Great for him, but he's believed to be the one in charge of our offensive sets.

Witnessed History Lions

Me and my family got to witness history, as we headed to the Copper Box to see the London Lions Women become the EuroCup champions. They are the 1st British team in history to become European champions.

It was a wire to wire game, possibly the best I've ever seen live and to top it off I got to see Megan Gustafson and Shey Peddy, who are both former Mercury players, both be big reasons that the Lions won.

Here's the moment the buzzer sounded:

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