PHOENIX — After a tenuous 53 minute run of extreme physicality, sloppy – even unforced – errors, and a dramatic end, the Phoenix Suns have formally began 1-0 for the third consecutive season following a 116-113 extra time victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Suns acquired off to a quite gradual begin within the recreation that was predicated by beauty that merely resulted in misses – earlier than taking off roughly midway into the second quarter.

By halftime, it appeared as if the Suns had discovered their rhythm and would cruise to a victory. That they had tried solely 2 pictures within the mid-range recreation and had been considerably environment friendly from behind the arc whereas additionally making an emphasis on elevated paint touches.

Tyronn Lue – and James Harden for that matter – had been each instrumental in a Clippers’ flurry that resulted within the Suns trailing 98-90 with simply over 4 minutes remaining within the recreation – after main 47-39 after 24 minutes.

The in-between part is the place lots of the points throughout this recreation had been magnified. Lue merely is aware of his squad higher than Mike Budenholzer at the moment.

The turnover difficulty that plagued the group final season reared it is ugly head within the second half – with three of the first ball-handlers in Jusuf Nurkic, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant combining for 15 turnovers on their very own.

Booker was typically passive earlier than late within the recreation earlier than some premature fouls compelled him out of the sport forward of the OT body. The rebounding was a real concern, as Phoenix ceded 51 complete rebounds – together with 13 on the offensive aspect of the ball – to the Clippers.

It might be argued that rookie Oso Ighodaro was the steadiest rebounder for Phoenix in his measley 12 minutes of motion.

For all of the factors of issues, there have been main positives to take from the victory.

Initially, Bradley Beal placed on a efficiency within the clutch that reminded followers throughout the league that he nonetheless has high-level play within the tank after turning into an afterthought by means of a lot of the low season.

The second-year Solar doubled up on shot makes an attempt, scoring 24 factors on 12 seems from the sphere whereas additionally contributing on protection to the purpose of recording one steal and block apiece.

That is the Beal that coach Budenholzer can really feel nice about rolling out in late-game conditions.

Secondly, the additions of Monte Morris and Tyus Jones left a noticeable impression when the 2 had been in motion. Neither recorded a single turnover and really a lot acted as stabilizers of an offense that was compelled to work for buckets towards a tactical grasp similar to Lue.

Jones did solely go 1-of-5 from three, however acquired high quality seems and it’s affordable to imagine that development to the imply will occur.

Lastly, this can be a recreation that final 12 months’s squad simply would not have had the gumption to struggle again in.

Save for the 22-point comeback shocker over the Sacramento Kings in January, factors of rallying callas and comeback efforts had been seldom.

Durant and Beal taking up the sport sans-Booker was an assertion that the high-end expertise can carry this group on demand – and so they can improve the function gamers round them.

This group has a special mindset below Budenholzer. This group has extra confirmed veterans which are prepared to do no matter is requested of them. This group is already blatantly extra related regardless of just one recreation of pattern to work with. The increase in athleticism was obvious throughout stretches.

The outdated adage of “there’s just one likelihood at a primary impression” may be very resonant because the Suns go straight to a different check towards the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow night time.

Whereas they did not go away a very convincing exhibiting that will lead followers to imagine an elite model of Suns’ hoops could be ubiquitous by means of the course of an 82-game grind, they did present simply sufficient to offer those self same followers hope that perhaps – simply perhaps – this season will likely be totally different.

And hope is all some want.

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