With three wins in four games, the Suns have started the season well. While the schedule was not the most difficult to tackle (Dallas, twice Sacramento, New Orleans), but Phoenix got the job done.
Especially in one area: defense. The Suns indeed have the best defense in the league in points conceded (98.5 per game) and the third in efficiency (100.2 conceded for 100 possessions). For a franchise that has been struggling on this side of the field for a few years, it’s a saving change.
“It’s still too early to brag about our defensive ranking, but we’re happy to be in this position”says Monty Williams to Arizona Sports. “We have the feeling of being able to rely on it. Some of our players have talked about that, about our identity which must be defensive. We want to stay in these places as the season progresses. ”
The Suns turn off the light at 3-point
The coach particularly welcomes the “Repeated efforts” of his troops. With specialists like Jevon Carter and Jae Crowder or a player as smart and intelligent as Chris Paul, the Suns now have more weapons to contain the opposing attackers. Even Devin Booker is now more active and generous in providing defensive assists.
“Everyone does the job, each one communicates with the other, there is trust”, ensures the rear. “We know, during rotations, that our teammates ensure our rear. This is what we are doing now. The game against the Pelicans was a perfect example. “
New Orleans had managed to register only 86 points with an ugly 3/24 (12% success) at 3-pts! Since the start of the season, no team has allowed so few award-winning shots attempted (27 per game) and such low efficiency (25%) at 3-points as the Suns. Assists, rotations and races are continuously performed in Arizona.
“The first effort is to come back in transition”, describes in particular Monty Williams. “If we can come back and form a wall, that allows us to be in a position to know what efforts are needed. Then, we must close the access to our racket. ”
The next meetings against the Jazz, the Nuggets, the Clippers and the Raptors will be perfect to test these first and beautiful defensive promises.
| Tirs | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Fte | Pts |
| Devin Booker | 4 | 33.3 | 45.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 0.2 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 19.0 |
| Mikal Bridges | 4 | 32.3 | 53.7 | 45.5 | 100.0 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 15.5 |
| Cameron Johnson | 4 | 23.5 | 51.2 | 40.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 15.5 |
| Chris Paul | 4 | 27.7 | 40.5 | 25.0 | 90.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 11.8 |
| Deandre Ayton | 4 | 27.5 | 52.8 | 50.0 | 58.3 | 3.2 | 8.5 | 11.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 11.5 |
| Jae Crowder | 4 | 26.4 | 41.7 | 36.0 | 83.3 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 11.0 |
| Dario Saric | 1 | 14.3 | 75.0 | 66.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| Cameron Payne | 4 | 19.6 | 53.3 | 45.5 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 9.8 |
| Langston Galloway | 4 | 11.1 | 50.0 | 45.5 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| Frank Kaminsky | 3 | 9.5 | 40.0 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 4.7 |
| Jalen Smith | 2 | 10.2 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Jevon Carter | 4 | 12.5 | 16.7 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Damian Jones | 4 | 7.6 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 |
| Ty-shon Alexander | 2 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| E’twaun Moore | 1 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
