Suns roll Pacers for 5th straight win.

FAN BOTS

Thank you for watching the video     Link:https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-5th-straight-win/3602196/     Important warning⚠️⚠️   My friend, please check the accuracy of the information. The information I provide may be  incorrect, late, or outdated.   #SunsBasketball#PacersGame#NBA#Streak#Victory#Arizona

Transcript

00:00Are we finally witnessing the true awakening of the Phoenix Suns this season?

00:05As their winning streak continues to build momentum, the Phoenix Suns have found their

00:09rhythm, just in time to reveal what this season has to offer. With a record of 8-5,

00:14they are currently on a 5-game winning streak, and have secured victories in 7 of their last

00:198 games, showcasing their ability to play high-quality basketball, as their schedule

00:24intensifies, their recent 133-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers, served as a strong final

00:31preparation for the challenges ahead. Of the Suns' 8 wins, 7 have come against teams that already have

00:38at least 8 losses, this is not a point of criticism, they have competed against the teams available to

00:43them and have begun to dominate, as evidenced by their 5-game streak, where they led by 18 points

00:49or more in each match. Looking ahead, they will face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, followed by

00:54a game, against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Both of these teams are considered

00:58decent competition, before the Suns enter a challenging stretch against Western Conference

01:02teams, starting the following Friday, and continuing through, Christmas. The next 5 weeks will be

01:08crucial for understanding the true nature of this team, and determining whether their current

01:13success is sustainable. The Suns have proven to be exactly what was expected of them, after 3 weeks

01:18of play, they exhibit a tough cohesive style of basketball, that enhances the performance of

01:24their players. We are aware of the flaws in their game, there's no need to highlight them.

01:28The key question is how well, this team can maintain their synchronization despite facing challenges,

01:34if they can keep up the consistency and the aspects they can control, it will significantly

01:39compensate for any shortcomings, in talent and team composition. This dynamic illustrates the beauty

01:45of basketball, which can also turn sour if not managed correctly, as has been seen in the past.

01:50So far it seems that Phoenix has assembled the right team, to address these issues effectively.

01:56On Thursday, they faced a challenging back-to-back game, even though the Pacers currently have a

02:01record of 1-11, and were missing their star player Tyrese Halliburton, the Suns an opportunity,

02:07to capitalize on the situation. Despite the absence of key players like Jaron Jackson Jr.,

02:12left knee soreness, Benedict Matherin, right toe sprain, and Obi Toppin, right foot fracture,

02:19the Suns displayed a diminished version of their former selves. While, still showcasing the potential,

02:25that led them to the NBA Finals last year, there was no indication of a trap game. As Dylan Brooks

02:30delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 24 points in the first half,

02:35which allowed the Suns to establish an 18-point lead by halftime. Although the game had a peculiar

02:40atmosphere, reminiscent of Wednesday's win, it never escalated into chaos. The Suns experienced

02:46occasional defensive lapses, but timely contributions from players other than Devin Booker on offense,

02:52helped maintain a rhythm. This created a scenario, where the Suns appeared to be clearly superior to

02:57their opponent, which they were, yet they remained vulnerable to losing their substantial lead.

03:03At the start of the second half, the Suns increased their advantage to a maximum of 20 points.

03:08However, the dynamics shifted, when Aaron Nesmith, a standout 3-and-D player for the Pacers,

03:13sustained a left leg injury. After his right foot inadvertently landed on a teammate's foot,

03:18he received no assistance, as his body twisted in the opposite direction of that leg. Despite his

03:24brave attempts to rise and shake it off, he was unable to do so, and required help to reach the

03:30locker room. This incident occurred, while Indiana was trailing by 16 points, but they managed to narrow

03:36the gap to 10, just a few minutes into the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, Devin Booker played a

03:42pivotal role, scoring or assisting on 16 of the Suns' points, during an impressive 18-4 run that

03:47lasted less than 3 minutes, extending their lead to 25 points. At that moment, it felt as though the

03:53game was effectively over, and indeed, it was. However, the Suns were not finished yet. They opened

04:00the final quarter with a remarkable 20-point streak, in just 6 minutes and 11 seconds, pushing their lead to

04:0742 points, and eventually to 46. Brooks finished the game with 32 points, shooting 12 out of 18 in just

04:1428 minutes. He consistently displayed remarkable confidence with the ball, when it came to scoring,

04:20one might assume, as I did, when I inquired about his confidence, that he has always possessed this

04:26trait. However, that is not the case. Even the most self-assured players can be affected by their

04:32surroundings. Brooks recalls his past struggles. During the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers

04:39two years ago, a key aspect of his game seemed to vanish. He experienced a shooting slump, and

04:46mentioned that the general manager of the Memphis team advised him to limit himself to just six shots

04:51per game. He expressed that this approach did not instill the confidence he required, noting,

04:56you can feel that energy coming from the front office and coaches. This raises the question,

05:02is having a supportive environment as crucial as having confidence itself? Brooks affirmed this

05:07notion, stating, this game is all about confidence. Regardless of the level, you need to believe in

05:12your abilities. Once you have a solid supporting cast, a strong team, an excellent front office, and

05:19capable coaches, that positivity is evident. You can see it reflected in every game, played by successful

05:24teams and organizations. This season, Brooks may encounter several games where his confidence could

05:30appear counterproductive, especially when his shots do not go in as they did on Thursday. However,

05:36he maintains that confidence is the most vital skill to possess in basketball. At his level of

05:41performance, his influence extends to his teammates, significantly enhancing their overall

05:45effectiveness. This is particularly crucial for the Phoenix Suns at this moment, especially since

05:50Grayson Allen exited the game due to a right quad contusion and did not return. With Jalen Green out

05:57for at least a month due to a right hamstring strain, the Suns are in dire need of contributions.

06:02From all available players, Devin Booker had an impressive game, scoring 33 points on 12 of 22

06:08shooting, along with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and just 1 turnover in 29 minutes of play. Notably, Booker

06:16acknowledged that he felt low on energy for Thursday's game, which is a rare admission.

06:21The Suns have faced a challenging schedule at the start of the season, with a chaotic mix of home

06:25and away games, and a lack of the extra rest days, that are often afforded to the league's top teams,

06:31which typically benefit from a national television schedule. He expressed gratitude towards his

06:36teammates for their energy, which helped him find his rhythm. I looked around the locker room,

06:40everybody was ready to go, and, it kind of revived me. This sentiment is influenced by individuals who

06:47drive the culture such as Brooks, Booker praised Brooks saying, he's one of the hardest workers I've

06:52been around. He noted that Brooks dedicates, countless hours, to his work, even during his

06:58recovery from a core injury, Booker recalled telling him, are you supposed to be going that hard?

07:03Mark Williams, the starting center, missed his second consecutive game, as part of Phoenix's

07:08long-term health strategy for him. The Suns have two more back-to-back games scheduled in November,

07:14on the 23rd, 24th, and the 28th, 29th. The next back-to-back set won't occur until after Christmas,

07:20which could serve as a significant milestone for Williams, if he continues to stay injury-free.

07:25While Williams is sidelined, the Suns have frequently faced challenges, although they recently

07:30saw their bench perform, at its best, this season, during, a game on Wednesday. Interestingly,

07:36Williams had a 5 rating in that victory against Dallas. The struggles of both Oso Iguodaro and

07:42Nick Richards have contributed to the team's difficulties during his absence.

07:50The recent changes in the team's rotation have sparked interest, particularly regarding how the

07:58absence of Williams might affect the lineup, including the potential role of Kaman Maluak,

08:03the number 1.10 overall pick. In the last two games, Coach Ott has altered the rotation for

08:08the backup center position, starting with Nick Richards, and later bringing in Oso Iguodaro.

08:13Although Richards is still receiving fewer minutes than Iguodaro, there has been a recent adjustment

08:18where Iguodaro has been utilized at the power forward position, after the two played together

08:23in the front court for a total of 28 minutes, during the first eight games of the season.

08:27In the game on Thursday, Richards was given the starting position, providing him an opportunity

08:32to build on his limited playing time and address some of the errors that have affected his performance

08:37on both offense and defense. However, he struggled to make an impact, often arriving late to his spots,

08:44and generally falling behind in his play. This created a significant opportunity for Iguodaro,

08:50who stepped up impressively, finishing the game with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.

08:56In just 26 minutes of play, Iguodaro achieved an impressive plus under 52 plus minus rating,

09:03marking the highest in the history of the Suns during the play-by-play era.

09:07According to StatHead, I was really focused on winning, Iguodaro explained.

09:12For the past four to five games, my main concern has been about making a positive impact on the game,

09:18rather than worrying about statistics or anything else. He displayed a great deal of emotion on the

09:23court, and when he left the game for the final time, he received an outpouring of support from

09:28his teammates on the bench, who recognized how much this performance meant to him.

09:33Unlike some earlier games this season, where the Suns clearly dominated in possession,

09:38Thursday's game illustrated the importance of maintaining control and not letting opportunities

09:42slip away. Despite Indiana holding a 16-10 edge in offensive rebounds, and a slight 12-11 lead in

09:49turnovers, the Pacers were unable to capitalize on these advantages. This allowed Phoenix to perform

09:54as expected, shooting over 20% better than their opponents. Win big, it's easy to talk about it

10:00before the game and during practice, but it really requires more focus to implement it during the game,

10:05and we have all our players committed to that, Booker remarked, referring to how every team

10:10emphasizes the importance of possession. On the other hand, when you defend well but then,

10:14allow an offensive rebound, that's when the basketball gods intervene. It often leads

10:20to an open three-pointer or a put-back layup, Booker continued. In another impressive outing

10:25from the bench, Jordan Goodwin also contributed significantly, scoring 10 points, grabbing 9

10:31rebounds, and providing 5 assists. If his shooting continues to be effective, he will remain a key

10:36player. So, what's your take? Does sustaining this incredible momentum for the Suns hinge more on

10:42individual player confidence or the strength of the supportive system around them?

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended