PHOENIX — The NBA season is formally underway – and the Phoenix Suns are competing the second half of a back-to-back within the 2024-25 residence debut in opposition to a well-recognized rival within the Dallas Mavericks.
The Suns are coming off of a disappointing second half collapse in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers final evening and have been rewarded with the 2024 Western Convention champions tonight.
The Mavericks will undoubtedly pose a considerable problem – however victory continues to be attainable, particularly if Phoenix can capitalize on even two of the three keys to the sport that we are going to discover under.
That is an occasion the place Phoenix nearly definitely has to outdo Dallas at their very own sport so as to come out on prime after 48 minutes in comparison with attemtping to distinction.
Dallas obtained 102 photographs up – together with 44 three-point seems to be – of their victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
The trio of Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, and Klay Thompson accounted for 28 of these 44 makes an attempt – the three are positive to proceed the aggressive strategy tonight in opposition to a squad that has proven to be prone in sure moments throughout video games thus far.
Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal should try round 25 threes between the three of them. Royce O’Neale, Tyus Jones, and Grayson Allen (if he performs) should complement the star-studded trio.
Whereas the Suns’ offense seems to be far more linked and flows extra naturally this season, there have been factors in video games the place turnovers run abound. The Suns should run an intentional, fast-paced assault with out steering into reckless tonight.
The Suns have been across the center of the pack in lots of fundamental rebounding stats and superior metrics final season.
They’ve been close to the underside via two video games this yr – rating twenty ninth in offensive rebound % and twenty seventh in second-chance factors per John Voita of Vivid Facet of the Solar.
The frontcourt trio of Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee, and Oso Ighodaro merely have not been adequate on that entrance up to now. They should be tonight when going through Dereck Vigorous II, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.
The supplementary staff rebounding merely needs to be higher as properly – Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale, and even Ryan Dunn have been respectable sufficient, however others want to face out on this sport as properly in an effort to forestall second-chance alternatives from Dallas whereas additionally trying to generate those self same possibilities for themselves.
The UVA product clearly had some anxious moments in his league debut on Wednesday, however managed to settle in final evening in solely 14 minutes.
Dunn posted 9 factors on 3-for-5 from behind the arc whereas posting a +8 and taking part in fearless protection in opposition to a revamped Lakers’ offense.
Dunn has to issue into the rotation in an much more sizable function tonight – particularly with the Doncic/Irving dynamic in play.
Dunn’s stunning means to house the ground has made taking part in him all of the extra palpable when mixed together with his dynamic athleticism, relentless POA attacking, off-ball anticipation, and talent to create turnovers.
Dunn will not be afraid to tackle the Doncic project tonight – and it is very attainable that Phoenix will want him to just do that.