Christian Braun thought his relaxation would make the difference in transition. But when flying towards the circle, the Nuggets guard hit an unexpected wall: Bradley Beal. This one, in the middle of the third quarter of this Suns-Nuggets, brought him back to earth. Enough to be slightly pushed back by your victim when returning to defense.
“ The coach was on our back in terms of defensive stops, on our defense in transition during the last match. He's really targeting me for that. So I took it personally. I accepted the challenge and am happy to be better at it. It was an action that was needed “, sums up the back of the Sunswhen Kevin Durant speaks of a “ key role » played by his teammate in these actions which shift the dynamic.
After the previous defeat against the same opponents, Mike Budenhozler emphasized the importance of being aggressive on defense. So as not to let Nikola Jokic and his gang unroll their basketball like the other night.
“ I don't really want to report what he told us, we understood the message. He challenged us individually and collectively to be better », Continues Bradley Beal.
In good form on both ends of the pitch
Message heard because last night the Suns limited the Nuggets to 100 points (compared to 117 in the previous match), one of their best performances of the year.
And the rear, author of 27 points (11/21 on shots) but also 4 interceptions, contributed his contribution.
“ In attack, playing match after match, after match… He will reach his best level that way. Defensively, in the second half in particular, he made transmissions and pick-and-rolls miss. We need more things like this “, congratulates his coach.
Kevin Durant speaks of a “ complete match » from him. “ He played hard, did what he had to do to win. He's been doing it since he arrived, after being put in a situation where you're looking for your role, what player you want to be, where you have days where it doesn't look good. But when you play freely like he did tonight, it's incredible to see. We played on him in the fourth quarter, he made the difference », notes “KD”.
Over his last three matches, his preferred scoring partner in the absence of Devin Booker, averages 25 points (53% including 55% from distance).
| Bradley Beal | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | W.A.S. | 56 | 31 | 41.0 | 38.6 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
| 2013-14 | W.A.S. | 73 | 35 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 78.8 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 17.1 |
| 2014-15 | W.A.S. | 63 | 34 | 42.7 | 40.9 | 78.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2015-16 | W.A.S. | 55 | 31 | 44.9 | 38.7 | 76.7 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 17.4 |
| 2016-17 | W.A.S. | 77 | 35 | 48.2 | 40.4 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 23.1 |
| 2017-18 | W.A.S. | 82 | 36 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 79.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 22.6 |
| 2018-19 | W.A.S. | 82 | 37 | 47.5 | 35.1 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | W.A.S. | 57 | 36 | 45.5 | 35.3 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 30.5 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 60 | 36 | 48.5 | 34.9 | 88.9 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 31.3 |
| 2021-22 | W.A.S. | 40 | 36 | 45.1 | 30.0 | 83.3 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | W.A.S. | 50 | 34 | 50.6 | 36.5 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 23.2 |
| 2023-24 | PHX | 53 | 33 | 51.3 | 43.0 | 81.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| 2024-25 | PHX | 19 | 34 | 50.7 | 40.0 | 77.1 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 18.9 |
| Total | 767 | 35 | 46.4 | 37.6 | 82.1 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 21.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
