Nationally televised games this week
Monday: Memphis @ Brooklyn 7:30 PM EST NBATv, Portland @ L.A. Lakers 10:00 PM EST NBATv
Tuesday: Milwaukee @ Miami 7:30 PM EST TNT, New Orleans @ Phoenix 10:00 PM EST TNT
Wednesday: Milwaukee @ Miami 7:30 PM EST NBATv, Portland @ L.A. Clippers 10:00 PM EST NBATv
Thursday: Philadelphia @ Orlando 6:30 PM ESTNBATv, Phoenix @ Utah 9:00 PM EST NBATv
Friday: L.A. Lakers @ San Antonio 8:00 PM EST NBATv, Portland @ Golden State 10:30 PM EST NBATv
Saturday: Sacramento @ Houston 5:00 PM EST NBATv, Toronto @ New Orleans 7:30 PM EST NBATv
Sunday: Boston @ Detroit 3:00 PM EST NBATv, Washington @ Brooklyn 6:00 PM EST NBATv, Portland @ Golden State 8:30 PM EST NBATv
NBA News
Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie to have surgery for partially torn ACL - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/306 ... y-torn-acl
Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns to miss games with dislocated left wrist - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/306 ... left-wrist
NBA.com Power Rankings week 2 - https://www.nba.com/news/powerrankings-2020-21-week-2
Ringer power rankings by the face melter KOC - https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/12/2 ... servations#8 Phoenix Suns
Record: 2-1
Pace: 101.7 (19) OffRtg: 106.2 (19) DefRtg: 101.3 (4) NetRtg: +4.9 (10)
The sustainability of Chris Paul’s clutchness was tested early this season, with each of the Suns’ first two games going down to the wire. Both Paul (he got to his spot) and Devin Booker (same spot) hit big jumpers to beat the Mavs on Wednesday, but three nights later, the Suns were one stop shy of giving themselves a real chance in a game in which they were outscored, 85-56, in the paint or at the free throw line.
It’s early, but so far, this has been a jump-shooting team. The Suns rank 28th both in the percentage of their shots that have come in the restricted area (24%) and in free throw rate (18.8 attempts per 100 shots from the field). Only one of their 17 clutch field goal attempts has come in the restricted area. They didn’t need clutch time against the Kings on Sunday, because their second unit did get a bunch of layups late in the third quarter.
Week 2: vs. NOP, @ UTA, @ DEN, vs. LAC
#8 Phoenix Suns | PR: 10
Mikal Bridges, turning up the scoring
The internal development of young guys like Deandre Ayton, Cam Johnson, and Bridges can take the Suns from a fun playoff team to a serious contender. The latter is playing the best basketball of his career. He’s still defending with ferocity and Gumby length, just as he did all of last season. But he’s also looking slick off the dribble, showing more advanced elements to his game.
The Suns will go only as far as Devin Booker and Chris Paul take them. But their ceiling could be even higher if Bridges routinely has games where he’s dropping over 20 points, like he did on Sunday.