The “small ball” experience was rather conclusive for the Suns. At the start of the fourth quarter, his team trailing by three possessions (76-83), Mike Budenholzer decided to release Kevin Durant and Mason Plumlee, to bring in Tyus Jones and Bradley Beal.
Joining them are Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn and Royce O'Neal to round out the five. This small alignment, without a pivot, while Jaxson Hayes was still in place opposite, before being replaced by Anthony Davis, hampered the Lakers last night.
The visitors struggled to keep up with the pace set by Arizona's army of backs. Above all, the Lakers did not really take advantage of their size in the paint. Result: the Suns came back to score, even before sending the Durant – Plumlee duo back to the floor.
Kevin Durant's centimeters
This sequence illustrates what Mike Budenholzer saw at the end of this meeting : his training can rely on his defense. “ The toughness, the competitive side… When you can take a blow like that in the first quarter (editor’s note: 25-34 for the Lakers), rely on our defense to come back… We really relied on it all evening », congratulates the coach.
The latter assures that he can afford to lower the general size of his five by relying on the centimeters of Kevin Durant, the “ physical hardness » by Royce O'Neale or the energy brought by rookie Ryan Dunn, the very embodiment of what they are trying to establish.
“ If we can develop a defensive identity, defensive toughness, we will continue to work and progress on the other side of the field. But having that edge, that competitiveness, tonight really stood out », continues the coach.
The same defensive start as last year
He adds: “ It's only four games, there were sequences where the defense was at a very high level. The difficulty is to stick with it for 48 minutes. This will be the challenge we will talk about during the season. » This defensive dynamic allows them to display the current 6th defense in the league with 108 points conceded on 100 possessions.
The Suns were in the exact same position (104 points) after four games last year, but could not keep up the pace all season to finish in 13th position (114 points).
“ Yes, we have a big offensive strike force, no doubt about it, with a lot of talent. But these guys know that to win, they have to be good on defense. Some nights our offense will carry us, but I hope every night we show our defense », Stares Mike Budenholzer.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Kevin Durant | 4 | 39.9 | 53.3 | 45.5 | 81.3 | 0.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 29.0 |
| Devin Booker | 4 | 36.0 | 44.6 | 41.9 | 87.5 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 23.0 |
| Bradley Beal | 3 | 36.4 | 50.0 | 42.1 | 85.7 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 |
| Tyus Jones | 4 | 32.2 | 48.5 | 37.5 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 10.0 |
| Jusuf Nurkic | 4 | 21.6 | 39.3 | 9.1 | 63.2 | 1.3 | 7.3 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 8.8 |
| Royce O'Neale | 4 | 25.9 | 40.0 | 33.3 | 100.0 | 1.3 | 5.5 | 6.8 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 7.8 |
| Ryan Dunn | 4 | 14.7 | 52.2 | 43.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 7.8 |
| Grayson Allen | 2 | 16.8 | 33.3 | 37.5 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 5.5 |
| Monte Morris | 4 | 11.2 | 40.0 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| Mason Plumlee | 4 | 17.4 | 85.7 | 0.0 | 62.5 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 4.3 |
| Colin Gillespie | 1 | 3.5 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| Damion Lee | 1 | 17.7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 3 | 8.5 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
