With six games – including two “back-to-back” – in nine days, the Suns have not been spoiled by their schedule lately. We don't know to what extent this sequence played a role in their failed start to the game last night against the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson set the tone from the opening seconds with two game-winning baskets to start. With him, the Knicks went 14-3 with a perfect 4/4 from a distance. “ They fired back and put our heads under water. In the end, we were never able to recover from this departure “, laments Mike Budenholzer.
“ I think it came down a lot in transition after loose balls, so it's linked to not sprinting in defense », Remarks Devin Booker. A lack of commitment then, or simply fatigue?
The team coach ensures, despite the major absences, that he has a group that is still competitive. But having clearly displayed his defensive limits last night. 44 points conceded in the first quarter, 66 in total over the next two, skill levels far too high on the Knicks side…
“ We have to be better on defense “, summarizes the coach, also mentioning “ gaps » in transition or in controlling opposing cuts in the game without the ball. The Suns' offense didn't always respond either before facing the Knicks. Logical in the absence of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Five full days without playing
Without them, the Suns have just lost five games in a row, and even six of their last seven games without “KD”. The good news is that “ optimism » is required internally for the return of the two stars during the Suns' next meeting, against the Lakers in the “NBA Cup”, or during the following match against the Nets.
A “back-to-back” which only takes place next week (Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27). The Arizona men have a five-day break without playing. A rare occurrence in an NBA calendar and welcome in the case of the Suns.
“ When the schedule comes out, it doesn't seem like it's something anyone would ask for, but maybe there's a silver lining to a five-day break. We can go to the gym, look at things and figure out how to be better. We must take advantage of such a break in different ways », notes Mike Budenholzer.
Comparable feeling for Devin Booker who sees in this sequence “ an important time for guys to come back healthy and to regroup. We have to come back with the same energy as at the start of the season and get back in the saddle. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Kevin Durant | 9 | 38.8 | 55.3 | 42.9 | 83.6 | 0.2 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 27.6 |
| Devin Booker | 15 | 36.7 | 43.0 | 34.2 | 88.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 23.5 |
| Bradley Beal | 9 | 34.8 | 47.5 | 38.3 | 80.8 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 17.8 |
| Tyus Jones | 15 | 32.5 | 44.1 | 37.0 | 80.0 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 11.1 |
| Josh Okogie | 7 | 18.9 | 55.1 | 50.0 | 66.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 10.6 |
| Grayson Allen | 11 | 21.9 | 39.1 | 37.5 | 73.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 10.5 |
| Royce O'neale | 15 | 24.8 | 39.7 | 38.9 | 80.0 | 1.5 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 9.1 |
| Jusuf Nurkic | 13 | 23.7 | 38.5 | 26.3 | 66.0 | 1.9 | 7.9 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 8.5 |
| Ryan Dunn | 14 | 18.6 | 42.2 | 32.2 | 16.7 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 6.9 |
| Mason Plumlee | 14 | 18.6 | 58.0 | 0.0 | 53.3 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 5.3 |
| Monte Morris | 11 | 11.5 | 42.9 | 35.0 | 85.7 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 10 | 16.2 | 64.5 | 0.0 | 80.0 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 4.8 |
| Tyty Washington, Jr. | 2 | 11.5 | 50.0 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Damion Lee | 3 | 11.3 | 33.3 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| Bowl Bowl | 3 | 5.6 | 42.9 | 25.0 | 66.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| 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 |
| Jalen Bridges | 2 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
