Phx-Suns.Net

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 04, 2024 1:51 pm

Suns move up to #4 in the latest power rankings:

https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-3

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 04, 2024 1:51 pm

Suns move up to #4 in the latest power rankings:

https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-3

#4 Phoenix Suns
Last Week:7↑
Record: 5-1

OffRtg: 111.6 (16) DefRtg: 107.9 (6) NetRtg: +3.7 (8) Pace: 100.2 (16)

After splitting their first two games in L.A., the Suns have won four straight and are one of five teams with fewer than two losses.

Three takeaways

It really looked like the Suns were putting last season’s fourth-quarter issues behind them. They came back from seven down in the fourth to beat the Lakers on Monday (getting 10 straight points from Kevin Durant) and completed another big comeback against the Clippers with a 34-26 fourth quarter (featuring a pretty screen, roll and kick from Devin Booker) three nights later.

But after a 44-18 third quarter against the Blazers on Saturday, they let the visitors cut a 26-point, fourth-quarter lead down to two, with Dalano Banton’s 3-pointer for the lead spinning in and out with about 30 seconds left. Overall, the Suns are in the middle of the pack (minus 0.1 points per 100 possessions) in the fourth quarter, and if they’re inconsistent in the final 12 minutes of regulation, that’s still much better than what they were last season.

That Booker assist against the Clippers was to Royce O’Neale, who continues to be a closer for the Suns. Phoenix is 4-0 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes. Sometimes that’s in place of Jusuf Nurkić, though the numbers have been great (plus-28 per 100 possessions) in 88 total minutes with Durant and O’Neale on the floor with either Nurkić or Mason Plumlee.

The Suns tip off the Eastern Conference portion of their schedule with games against Philadelphia and Miami. They were 12-3 in home games against the Eastern Conference last season, though they lost the first two.

Week 3: vs. PHI, vs. MIA, @ DAL, vs. SAC

Suns #4
X-Factor: Ryan Dunn

It’s easy to pick new coach Mike Budenholzer as the X-Factor here, and he’s done a solid job of putting the stars into better positions to succeed by moving off the ball more often (even if they haven’t been able to hit shots yet). However, there will be plenty of time to celebrate Bud if the Suns keep up their winning ways.

I’d rather take a minute to discuss Ryan Dunn, Phoenix’s 6-foot-8, 210-pound rookie. Dunn has been an elite defender his entire life, and he became Phoenix’s best wing-stopper on Day 1. That’s what got him into the league. But his ability to punish defenses with his outside shot – he’s making 39 percent of his threes on prodigious per-minute three-point volume after being a non-shooter in college – will keep him on the court when it matters.

I was skeptical that Phoenix could maintain last year’s shockingly average defensive rating, but they’re sixth through six games. The offense will catch up, so if the defense remains legitimate, the Suns are a bonafide threat in the West.

Split T wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 04, 2024 3:43 pm

Maybe week 1 before the games started

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 04, 2024 6:29 pm

I was just wondering what ever happened to Josh Jackson. Looked it up and he's out of the league. Here's the last think mentioned on his Wikipedia page:

On January 24, 2023, Jackson signed with the Stockton Kings.[41] He was waived four days later.[42]

There's a Jackson on the Bucks which is what made me think of him. What a waste of a high draft pick. Other than Booker, the McD drafts were not good.

rhylek wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 10, 2024 3:00 pm

Unleash the Bol !