The Suns have been a surprise in the playoffs.ĭuring the regular season, they were a better defensive team (7th in DRtg) than an offensive team (15th in DRtg). He’s come up big for the Nuggets, leading the way in the first round. Jamal Murray is making up for lost playoff time by resuming where he left off before his ACL injury. Their offensive rating is up to 118.9 while still keeping their efficiency numbers high. In the playoffs, the Nuggets have been even better. He’s the one that makes sure that the team can get buckets easily and efficiently. That comes as no surprise as they’ve been developing this offensive machine for a couple of seasons now. ![]() Nuggets are exactly who we thought they are.Ĭoming into the playoffs, they owned the fifth-best offensive rating in the league, scoring 117.6 points per possession while topping the league in terms of their effective field goal percentage. Can the Nuggets avenge their 2021 loss or will the Suns make a return to the NBA Finals like they did that season? The Suns also didn’t have a huge piece in Kevin Durant, who they acquired at the trade deadline for their championship push this season.īoth these teams have championship aspirations. Back then, the Nuggets didn’t have Jamal Murray and several key players who have propelled them to the top of the conference. The cast of characters are different as well. The Suns had an injury-plagued season and finished in the muddled middle of their conference. This time around, it’s Denver that’s at the top of the West, still led by their MVP, Nikola Jokic. But a lot has changed since their playoff series two years ago. These two teams are facing off in the semifinals once again. The Nuggets ended their season back then with a whimper as Nikola Jokic was ejected in Game 4 after a frustrated swipe at Cam Payne. These two teams ended up facing each other in the semifinals, where the Suns swept the Nuggets out of the playoffs. The unfortunate news that his father passed away was released this morning.Back in 2021, the Phoenix Suns were the best team in the West while the Denver Nuggets were in the middle of the pack. ![]() I am assuming the Nugget’s head coach Michael Malone will not be present for the game. Perhaps Keita Bates-Diop will find comfortability on the court that was not present in the last game. Grayson Allen was the big winner in game one, but he doesn’t need to be the big winner in game two. We will continue to watch and see what kind of chemistry is developing with the second team team. They played a combined 42 minutes in Sunday’s preseason opener, and that sounds about par for the course in this one. Their chemistry was nearly flawless on Sunday against the Pistons and we should see around the same usage between the Booker/Durant/Beal trio. What win be fun to watch, again, is the Suns starter five. This is the Nuggets preseason opener, so if you’re hoping for extended minutes from their Big Four, I suggest you wait until these two teams square off for the first time on December 3. Ish Wainright (right calf strain) is OUT.Jordan Goodwin (right hamstring tightness) is OUT.Damion Lee (right knee meniscus) is OUT.Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal rest) are OUT.#Suns /iXoDmXVPVn- Duane Rankin October 10, 2023 UPDATE: NO BEAL, BOOKER OR DURANT TONIGHTĭevin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal not playing tonight. We’ll see more of those repetitions tonight in Downtown Phoenix. The depth and chemistry need to continue to develop, and the only way to do that is with repetitions. But I doubt that, when the regular season rolls around, Yuta Watanabe, Saben Lee, and Nassir Little will we playing 20+ minutes like they did in preseason game one. We witnessed the Suns’ depth in their 132-126 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday afternoon. Their depth is the question mark as they enter the season. Bruce Brown, Thomas Bryant, Jeff Green, Davon Reed, and Ish Smith are all no longer with the team. Phoenix may have 13 new players on the roster this season, but the Nuggets saw a post-championship exodus. The Suns are in the process of learning who and what they are. ![]() Time to see what the ‘NON BIG THREE’ has got in them! We just got an update that Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are all out for tonight’s game. Who are “they” anyways? The peanut gallery? The silent majority? It’s a dish best served cold, at least that’s what “they” say. Watch: Suns Live, TNT, AZ Family 3TV, AZ Family Sports Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
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