Suns Handle their Biz Against the Grizz
- Matt Elvy
- Mar 16, 2021
- 3 min read
Suns blowout Memphis in 122 - 99 victory.
The Suns were all smiles and hugs after this one. One game removed from a loss to Indiana, thanks to all around poor effort, Phoenix got back to winning ways. This is a trait that we've become used to with this Suns team. Thanks to the professional, veteran presence of guys like CP3 & Jae Crowder, they are able to move on quickly from the disappointing performances.
Phoenix were determined to put this one away, however Memphis weren't going to just lay down for us, winning the 1st quarter by 1 point and keeping things close for most of the 2nd quarter. Then the Suns flipped the switch, outscoring the Grizzlies by 9 in the 2nd quarter. After Jae Crowder's 3 to break a 37-37 tie with 7 minutes left in the half, the Suns never trailed again. The Grizzlies were able to tie the game a few minutes later at 46 apiece, but Phoenix ended the 2nd on a 14-4 run to go in to half time up by 8.
Devin Booker was the high man with 27 points on 10 of 19 shooting in only 3 quarters. He did the majority of his damage in the 1st and 3rd, netting 11 points in each period. He wasn't needed in the 4th quarter at all as Coach Monty allowed Book to get some rest. The All-Star guard also added 4 rebounds and 5 assists.
Both Book and CP3 were great in this one, following sub-par performances from both guys in Saturday's loss to Indiana. They absolutely dominated the 3rd quarter and to demonstrate, here's a quote from Kellan Olsen,
"Paul and Devin Booker scored or assisted 32 of Phoenix’s 36 points in the third quarter. That did not include two free throws by Mikal Bridges that Paul set up."
Chris Paul was locked in. He had 18 points, 7 assists and a game-leading 4 steals. He shot a crazy 9 of 11 from the field, only missing 1 shot over the last 3 quarters (his other miss was his only attempt in the 1st quarter).
Deandre Ayton was also brilliant in this game, playing with confidence and getting involved on both ends of the floor. He had an impressive sequence in the 4th quarter, posting up to draw a foul, blocked Memphis' next shot & then caught a pass from Jevon Carter to get the and-1 on the next possession. All of this was on Grizzlies' big man Jonas Valanciunas. This is the sort of play that we love to see from DA.
He ended the game with 15 points (6/9 FGs), 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks, which doesn't leap off the page at you, but it shows that his impact on this team can't be seen just by looking at the box score.
His play didn't go unnoticed with Monty Williams, after the game saying, "“I just thought his presence in the paint was a bit more forceful and demonstrative tonight … That’s how we want him to play,”
“I’m always telling him, ‘You can’t go backwards. Once you show me that you can do something, that’s what I’m going to hold you to. You set a standard and it’s on me and the staff, but me to hold you to that.”
Monty had to change his rotation in this game. With both Cam Johnson (health and safety protocols) and Abdel Nader (sore knee) out, he went to Langston Galloway, who hadn't seen any playing time since our win against Portland back on 22nd February. He played 21 minutes in this one, contributing 6 points on 3 of 4 shooting, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Jevon Carter also stepped up and contributed 18 minutes, the most he's had in over a month. He shot 2 of 3 from 3 to finish with 8 points. This is simply a demonstration of how deep this team is - what a luxury!
Overall the Suns shot 56% in the game, along with 40% from 3 and 28 assists, so basically back to what we're used to.
Up next is a back-to-back against Minnesota, 2 must win games in my opinion, as we chase the top spot in the West.
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