Phoenix Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 17
- Matt Elvy
- Feb 14, 2022
- 6 min read
Join us as we review the highs and lows of the last week, as well as previewing the week ahead.
Week 17: 7-13 February 2022
Week Record: 4-0
Overall Record: 46-10. 1st in Western Conference & NBA.
Games Played and Results:
W - 127 - 124 Vs Chicago Bulls
W - 114 - 109 Vs Philadelphia 76ers
W - 131 - 107 Vs Milwaukee Bucks
W - 132 - 105 Vs Orlando Magic
The road trip continued this past week with games in Chicago and Philadelphia.
It was a battle of the All-Star back courts as Book & CP3 faced off with DeMar DeRozan & Zach LaVine. Both Bulls scored over 30 points, but they had no back up from the rest of their team. The Suns on the other hand had Booker 38 with all starters plus McGee off the bench scoring in double figures. The score-line is not a indication of of the game, as the Suns led by 27 in the 3rd and the comeback effort from the Bulls came way too late, with starters all sat on the bench.
I thought Philadelphia would be our single loss of the week, being the 2nd of a back-to-back, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the win here.
The game was a lot more back and forth than the Bulls game and the Sixers looked to be taking the W as they built a 14 point 3rd quarter lead. Booker was having none of it though. He had 10 points in the 4th, creating contact to get to the free throw line, making 8 of 9. Mikal Bridges had a great game, back in his home town, with 23 points - 8 of them coming in the 4th as part of the comeback.
We retuned home mid-week and awaited the arrival of the team that defeated us in the NBA Finals - the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Suns definitely went out with something to prove in this one. Straight off the bat we took advantage of the Bucks lack of big men and fed the ball down low to Ayton, and he feasted all game, making 12 of his 14 attempts. This one especially had to feel good for DA:
The whole team shined in this one, as we had 7 players score in double digits. The balanced attack was just too much for the Bucks and the Suns were able to exact a little bit of revenge for the Finals.
Chis Paul had 19 assists for the 2nd time this season. He holds the season record for most assists in a game with that figure.
Lastly we had the Magic role in to town. Not a lot to talk about with this one, as the Suns are simply on another level compared to that young group. 9 players scored in double figures and no one had to play over 30 minutes, allowing the team to get some rest. Notable are Booker's 26 points in 29 minutes and CP3's 15 assists in only 26 minutes.
Oh and the game served as the debuts of our latest acquisitions - more on that below.
Superstar Watch (Season stats):
Booker - 25.5 Points, 5.3 Rebounds, 4.4 Assists, 1.0 Steal, 44.7 FG%, 36.9 3PT FG%, 2.3 Turnovers
Chris Paul - 15.0 Points, 4.5 Rebounds, 10.7 Assists, 1.9 Steals 48.6 FG%, 33.5 3PT FG%, 2.4 Turnovers
Scorching Suns:
Mikal Bridges
Another great week for Mikal. With his cutting and fast breaks, he's scored with ease. He was excellent against 76ers (his hometown team) and was the 2nd leading scorer in 2 of the 4 games this week.
His stats for the week:
17.5 Points, 3.3 Rebounds, 2.3 Assist, 1.0 Steal, 62.2 FG% & 35.0 3PT FG%.
Devin Booker
Booker's shooting numbers aren't through the roof, but you can't deny the amount of points he's been putting up.
38 vs Bulls
35 vs 76ers
17 vs Bucks
26 vs Magic
His stats for the week:
29.0 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, 5.0 Assists, 46.1 FG% & 37.1 3PT FG%.
Struggling Suns:
No one
Going by shooting percentage I could have put Crowder here, but the way he's been able to impact the game in other ways this week has been incredible, averaging 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
His stats for the week:
N/A
Stat Line(s) of the Week:
Devin Booker Vs Chicago Bulls
Game stat line:
38 Points, 5 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 1 Steal, 14/23 FGs (60.9%) & 5/10 3PT FG (50.0%).
Deandre Ayton Vs Milwaukee Bucks
Game stat line:
27 Points, 7 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 1 Block & 12/14 FGs (85.7%).
Deandre Ayton Vs Milwaukee Bucks
Game stat line:
17 Points, 7 Rebounds, 19 Assists, 2 Steals & 5/11 FGs (45.5%).
Honourable mentions:
Mikal Bridges Vs Philadelphia 76ers
Game stat line:
23 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists & 9/14 FGs (64.3%).
Upcoming Games:
We only have 2 games this week.
Only 2 games this week with All-Star weekend coming up. Both are at home and are on a back-to-back.
The Clippers after their small roster overhaul before the trade deadline have been playing well, but that hasn't been translating to many wins recently. They sit in 8th at the time of writing and will face the Warriors on Monday.
The Rockets are the worst team in the West record-wise and haven't had any success against us this season. Like this week's Magic game we are on another level above the young team. It'll be interesting to see the reception Eric Gordon receives at Footprint Center as many Suns fans, myself included, wanted James Jones to chase him at the trade deadline.
Predictions:
Easy 2-0 this week. That'll give us a 7-game win streak heading in to All-Star Weekend.
Predictions League:
Any Other Business:
Trade Deadline
Heading in to the 2022 NBA trade deadline, most expected the Suns to make some moves to solidify this already strong roster.
There were a few names that had been floating around Suns Twitter all season.
Thaddeus Young, who had been rumoured since last season. Sources have been claiming for a while that the Suns and Young were both interested in a union.
Eric Gordon was another target, though his large contract could have meant losing a core bench piece. The excitement was there, as he fills the need of an additional creator and scorer, behind Book and CP3.
Lastly, we've seen a lot of "filling the Torrey Craig role" a reference to the small ball 5, energy player we've missed since Craig signed with the Pacers this past Summer.
Only one of these options came to fruition, as James Jones traded Jalen Smith and this year's 2nd round pick to bring back Torrey Craig, to fill in that "Torrey Craig role". As we've seen James Jones likes roster continuity and this trade is the epitome of that ethos.
The second trade Jones made came so far out of left field that most speakers on the Suns Trade Deadline Twitter Space were expecting this acquisition to lead to another trade. Jones acquired Aaron Holiday (the youngest of the Holiday brothers) for cash. Without it being announced the Suns had been granted a Disabled Player Exception for Dario Saric. This allowed the Suns to trade for a player making less than 50% of the disabled player's salary and be in the last year of their contract. Aaron Holiday fits the bill. The Suns had to make a roster spot to complete this trade and waived Abdel Nader.
Cam Johnson Snubbed
Yes, that's correct, the player with the 4th highest 3-point % on the best team in the league was snubbed from the All-Star 3-Point contest.
It isn't just the % that's great either, he has also made/attempted more than anyone else in the top-10 in 3-point % with 131/304. The next closest is Luke Kennard with 126/293.
What idiots make these decisions?!
500
Following his 17 Point, 19 Assist game against the Bucks, CP3 reached 500 career double-doubles. He is the 4th guard behind, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson & John Stockton to reach that accolade.
5,000
Congratulations to Elfrid Payton for reaching 5,000 career points, during his 10 Point game against the Magic!
Go On My Suns!
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