Phoenix Suns - Weekly Roundup - Week 20
- Matt Elvy
- Mar 7, 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 20: 28 February - 6 March 2022
Week Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 51-13. 1st in Western Conference & NBA.
Games Played and Results:
W - 120 - 90 Vs Portland Trail Blazers
W - 115 - 114 Vs New York Knicks
L - 122 - 132 Vs Milwaukee Bucks
Booker Placed in Health & Safety Protocols
The week started with some bad news as it was announced on Wednesday, some hours before the our 1st game of the week vs Portland, that Devin Booker had been placed in the NBA's Health & Safety protocols. With the Suns already missing CP3 with a broken thumb this week looked to be rather bleak.
Luckily the visiting Trail Blazers are also missing all their key players and they were coming off the back of 2 30-points losses. Cam Payne was also making is return from injury, so Monty switched up the starting line-up starting Payne and Shamet, allowing Johnson to come off the bench, for the scoring punch from there that we were missing last week. The strategy worked as Johnson came off the bench to score 20 points on 6 of 8 shooting, included 4 of 5 from 3. Ayton had 18 points and Bridges & Crowder added 15 each.
The Suns added to the Blazers' woes, giving them their 3rd 30-point loss in a row.
Next we had New York come to town and wow was this one for the ages. Things remained close in the 1st half, the Suns going in to the break up 3. The 3rd quarter was all Knicks, as they shot 8 of 10 from 3 and took the quarter 30-23. One key thing did happen though. Randle tried roughing up Cam Johnson a bit, but Cam didn't back down causing Randle to lose his temper, pushing Cam and getting ejected. This altercation lit a fire under Johnson, as he turned a normal game in to a career night for himself.
Cam took over the 4th quarter, scoring 21 points on 7 of 8 from the field and 6 of 7 from 3, including the buzzer beating 3 to give the Suns the win.
Johnson wasn't the only Cam with a great game. In his 2nd game back from injury Payne scored 17 points and dished out a career high 16 assists.
The day after this incredible performance we found out that Johnson would be out for our next game against the Bucks, which meant we were without our 2 top players and our leading bench scorer. Monty stuck with the same starters as the Knicks game and had Craig and Holiday leading the bench.
This game was way closer than it had any right to be when you look at the teams on paper - Bucks had all 3 of their All-Stars in this game. Ayton was the focal point of the Suns attack and finished with a season high 30 points. He was great all game and didn't try to force the offense, but let it all flow through him as part of the offensive system. He showed real confidence and was assertive, something that was missing against the Knicks for example. He also did his usual great job on defence, only committing 2 fouls.
The Suns showed their patented balanced attack throughout the game with all 5 starters having double figures. Cam Payne netted a season high of 23 points. Crowder tied a season high with 19 points and dished out a season high 7 assists.
Overall, despite the loss it was a fantastic performance, one we should be proud of and also one the Bucks should be a bit ashamed of. On the face of it, they should have blown us out. This team of ours is amazing.
Superstar Watch (Season stats):
Booker (Out this past week - H&S Protocols) - 25.6 Points, 5.2 Rebounds, 4.6 Assists, 1.1 Steal, 44.8 FG%, 36.8 3PT FG% 2.4 Turnovers
Chris Paul (Out with Injury) - 14.9 Points, 4.5 Rebounds, 10.7 Assists, 1.9 Steals 48.7 FG%, 33.0 3PT FG%, 2.4 Turnovers
Scorching Suns:
Cam Johnson
Another fantastic week for Cam. Not only did he have a game that will go down as one of the greats in Suns history, but even before that against Portland, he was excellent, only missing 2 shots and led all scorers with 20.
His stats for the week:
29.0 Points, 3.0 Rebounds, 2.0 Assists, 1.0 Steal, 70.8 FG% & 76.5 3PT FG%.
Deandre Ayton
Despite not showing any energy in the New York game and struggling with rebounds, DA was impressive on offense against Portland and brilliant against Milwaukee, with a season high 30 points.
His stats for the week:
18.7 Points, 6.3 Rebounds, 1.3 Assists, 65.9 FG% & 50.0 3PT FG%.
Struggling Suns:
Torrey Craig
Torrey has continued to struggle since joining the Suns. Though not as bad as last week, we're still not seeing him hit the shots we got used to seeing in last year's Playoff run. I thought his increased role off the bench this week would help him find a rhythm, but that hasn't been the case.
His stats for the week:
6.0 Points, 3.7 Rebounds, 0.7 Assists, 27.8 FG% & 21.4 3PT FG%.
Stat Line(s) of the Week:
Cameron Johnson Vs New York Knicks
Game stat line:
38 Points (Career High), 21 Points in 4th quarter including the game winner, 11/16 FGs (68.8%) & 9/12 3PT FG (75.0%).
Honourable mentions:
Cam Payne Vs New York Knicks
Game stat line:
17 Points, 3 Rebounds, 16 Assists.
Upcoming Games:
We have 4 games this week.
We start the week on the road down in Florida, our 1st stop being Orlando. The Magic have the worst record in the league and are basically fielding a team of G-Leaguers. They've won 3 of their last 5 games, but I don't see them being a problem, especially if we play like we did against the Bucks. Cam Johnson did not travel on this road trip and I don't expect the team to fly him cross -country to face the Magic.
The to Miami to face the Eastern Conference leading Heat. They have won 8 of their last 10 and hold a 3 game lead over 2nd place Philadelphia. They're also getting another weapon this week with the debut of Victor Oladipo. They beat us in the season's 1st encounter and that was with them missing some key players. This is going to be a tough one.
We then head home to face the Raptors, who as of writing (Monday) are on a 3-game losing streak, thanks mainly to them missing All-Star Fred VanVleet. I'm optimistic that Booker could be back for this game, although there has been no word on that yet. If he didn't travel for the Miami game, this could also be Johnson's return from injury.
Our last game of the week is against "that team from Southern California" Shout out to Charles Barkley for that one.
As has been well documented, things aren't well in Lakerland. They are currently 9th in the Western Conference and have lost 4 of their last 5 games. LeBron James is still great, but the roster just doesn't mesh, especially without Anthony Davis. The Suns have won the previous 2 meetings this season.
Predictions:
This week all depends on when Johnson and Booker returns. I'm going to say we beat the Magic, lose to the Heat, then win both games at home, so 3-1 this week.
Predictions League:
Any Other Business:
Cam Johnson's Career Night
Let's have a look at how Cam's night stacks up in the Suns history books
38 Points - Career high
6/9 on 3's - Career high in 3's made
9 3's - Tied Suns record for 3's in a game
38 Points off the bench - 2nd most in Suns history
Rebounding Woes
Across the Knicks and Bucks games, the Suns have been out rebounded 97-60. Ayton is our leading rebounder on the season, but has only averaged 6.3 this week and 6.7 the week before. He's actually averaging a career low 9.7 per game.
This was a big problem in both of those games as both the Knicks and Bucks we're able to get 2nd chance points from offensive rebounds. Without going deep in to advanced stats, we just don't seem to do a great job of boxing out the other team's players.
Go On My Suns!
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