Seeing Devin Booker shoot a 3-pointer in transition, on a restart from Kevin Durant, from the first minute of play, we suspected that the young Blazers were going to have a long evening in Phoenix. It didn’t fail.
If the visitors, deprived of several executives (Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon and Deandre Ayton, received very little warmly by his former audience…), remained in contact for part of the first quarter, they were unable to further resist the offensive strike force of the Suns.
With a Devin Booker much too hot behind the arc and a Kevin Durant as elegant as ever at mid-distance, the Suns had in fact distanced themselves after 12 minutes (36-23). And even more so at the end of the following period (76-54), where Bradley Beal was more enterprising in his attacks from the circle. In particular by signing a marvelous offering to Chimezie Metu under the circle.
The job was done, the trio from hell could take off their jerseys and shorts to watch the second half on the bench, in civilian clothes. A second half which will see the Blazers, carried by Shaedon Sharpe (19 points), while Scoot Henderson suffered in skill (8 points on 3/11 on shots), reduce the gap.
Work on habits
Obviously the Suns’ attack didn’t have much to show for it: 41 points scored after the break, after having scored… 40 in the second quarter alone.
At the end of the meetingFrank Vogel, who had started Drew Eubanks (Jusuf Nurkic on rest, just like Yuta Watanabe) and Grayson Allen (Josh Okogie on the bench), assured that it was difficult to draw conclusions from this match, due to the absences at the Blazers.
“ The important thing for us is to work on our execution habits. And also to keep in mind that during a season of more than 82 games, there will be evenings like that, where the team opposite will be diminished, with guys who will give everything to find their place. Most of the time, these matches are traps », recalled the coach.
He appreciated the approach of his Suns in the first period. “ In the second quarter, our defense could have been better. When things start to go well in attack, and the gap starts to increase, can we keep our cruising speed on this side of the field? », asks Frank Vogel, thinking about what comes next.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
