Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Suns have won 5 in a row.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Camporeale/USA Today.)
So, uhhhh, I don’t know if people are noticing that the Phoenix Suns have won their last 5 games. Actually, they’ve won 8 of 9 games. In that 9-game stretch, they beat Dallas twice, New Orleans, Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. They’re currently on a 7-game home stand and they have won their first five of that with Orlando coming up on Valentine’s night and the tough Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
For the first time in a month, they had everyone available on the roster. But that makes Phoenix even more dangerous because they have won games without their full squad. As mentioned earlier, they beat the Sixers and Devin Booker had a hell of a game.
Booker is finding his offense the last three games as he has averaged 34 points in that span. He has also made 9 of 18 threes as he tries to rise above that average three-point percentage of his. Booker has always been an offensive power and it’s getting love now because his team is winning.
The Suns are just a more methodical team on both ends. I don’t know what’s more surprising: that they’re a slow-paced team (hi, Chris Paul; they are the second slowest team in the league) or that they’re in the Top 10 in defensive rating.
Having players out because of the pandemic gave opportunities to guys like E’Twaun Moore, Frank Kaminsky, Abdel Nader, and Langston Galloway. And once they got Dario Saric and Cameron Payne back, it just made the bench more potent. They have more varied line-ups since they have a lot of players that can produce. They have used Frank Kaminsky as a starter. Jae Crowder has been willing to come off the bench. Moore has started a few games. This team just seems more together than in recent years. Obviously, it helps to have Chris Paul in the mix. And Paul continues to be incredible in the twilight of his career.
The West has been competitive as hell, with new blood in the top tier with the Jazz at #1 and the Suns at #4. Portland could be something when CJ McCollum comes back. The Spurs are silently playing well at #6 and we’re waiting for West finalist Denver to get hot; they’re surprisingly in 7th place.
But Phoenix, man. There could be something there. They have an outstanding scorer in Booker, a wiley CP3, and an emerging two-way big man in Deandre Ayton. Just something to watch out for.
Bullet Passes
We mentioned the Jazz. Winners of 7 straight and 18 of 19 overall. Even when they shot poorly from three, the Jazz’s defense was just overwhelming.
The Rockets have fallen in 5 games in a row. They really really miss Christian Wood.
How about those Knicks, though?!
Wait. Trae Young did not attempt a three against the Pacers?!
So Kevin Durant returned to San Francisco to face his old team, the Golden State Warriors, for the first time since becoming a Net. But the game wasn’t competitive in the second half. Brooklyn led by as many as 28 points.
Only 5 teams in the East are over .500? Yikes.
NBA Scoreboard
Feb. 13, 2021
Watch This Play
Cam Reddish gets brutish with the rim.
OK Cam Reddish 😯 pic.twitter.com/BZeTXBVKev
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) February 14, 2021
That was stylish.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.