There were still nine minutes to play but the Kia Center was already vibrating very loudly. Jonathan Isaac had just driven Kevin Durant crazy, at the halfway line, with a simple ball lift. After this lost ball from the Suns, Bradley Beal crashed in front of Anthony Black on an attempt near the circle that was far too naive. All that was missing was for Moe Wagner to succeed in his dunk in transition for the Magic's lair to explode.
A symbolic sequence of the physical battle during which the Suns were jostled. “ We did not know how to manage their physical dimension “, also agrees Frank Vogel. Seven minutes from the end (94-92), after another ball lost on a poorly assured transmission (due to defensive pressure) by Bradley Beal to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker in turn set off on an adventure: he Jonathan Isaac did not cross the rampart.
He countered it with his two arms in opposition, before doing the same in front of Udoka Azubuike who had recovered the leather to try to dunk. “ They played physical throughout the match. After the start we made, they returned to a very physical game hoping that the referees wouldn't be able to whistle everything “, believes the Suns leaderauthor of 44 points (17/26 on shots and 9/11 on free throws).
After being rejected by Jonathan Isaac, he will obtain a passage on the line after an even more physical counter from the opposing interior, finally sanctioned. “ They are clearly bigger than us in many positions. The referees let them play physical, pressing basketball. We couldn't handle it “, continues Frank Vogel, whose team had a first-rate first quarter (26-37).
Recurring problems with the Suns
But the fourth quarters are definitely a recurring problem among Arizona players. According to Devin Booker, they are still struggling to take care of the ball and continue to play in rhythm. “ These are the same problems we have every fourth quarter », notes the leader, caught by the Wagner brothers in the corner five minutes from the end for another lost ball. So much so that he will end up with the “headband” crooked…
Frank Vogel speaks of a final period “ frustrating “. His team was contained to 13 points scored, 5/18 on shots, with 7 lost balls. The size of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac clearly weighed in the balance. “ Few teams are built like this. It's a massive team. We can attack them if we do it the right way. We didn't do it well enough and we didn't manage their pressure well enough tonight », Regrets the Suns coach.
In the camp opposite, Jamahl Mosley speaks logically of a fourth quarter “ elite “, boosted in particular by the presence of Jonathan Isaac ” gigantic » according to his coach.
“ I don't think any team has put them through that this year. », formulates the interior. His coach finishes: “ I found it very physical. The positive in that is that our guys have integrated it. It has to correspond to who we are. We have to be physical and defend the right way. »
