Phoenix taking NBA’s best record on the road
LOS ANGELES — Chris Paul often sports a scowl during games, but he continues to find joy playing for the Suns.
“It’s such a luxury,” Paul said. “It’s something I don’t take for granted. I was watching our game (Friday night) over there on the bench and I still watch the game as a fan, too. Cam Johnson hit a 3 that was just tough in the corner and I was like, dang, this is fun. It’s nice having those guys as teammates. They take so much pressure off you.”
The talent and depth has come into play even more recently for Phoenix.
The Suns have been without Devin Booker since he strained his left hamstring Nov. 30 against Golden State while Deandre Ayton missed Friday’s win over Boston with a non-COVID-19 illness, but the Suns just keep on winning.
They had the NBA’s best record going into Monday’s road game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first meeting between the two teams since Phoenix won Game 6 of the Western Conference finals at STAPLES Center to advance to the NBA finals.
So The Republic continues its weekly “Suns Pulse” as Phoenix (21-4) has a road back-to-back that concludes Tuesday at Portland where they lost by 29 points in October.
Here’s a recap through Sunday and a look at what’s ahead for the defending Western Conference champions.
Wins/losses
Overall record: 21-4 through Sunday. Last week: 2-0 (Beat San Antonio, 108-104, and Boston, 111-90).
Best win: The Suns limited the Celtics to 4-of-16 shooting from 3 in a convincing win as they led by as many as 27 points.
Another close call: San Antonio pushed the Suns for a second time this season in coming back from a 16-point deficit late in third to tie the game before losing by four.
Takeaways
Best performance: JaVale McGee posted a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds to go with two blocks against Boston. Already a fan favorite early in his first season in Phoenix, McGee even hit a 3 that had the Footprint Center crowd going crazy.
Head scratcher: Cameron Payne continues to have an uneven season with Friday’s effort a latest example. He scored 17, but took 16 shots (made 7) and also committed four turnovers, an alarming number for a guy who is averaging just 1.1 in his career.
Opportunity: With Ayton out, Jalen Smith saw his first significant minutes in a game this season and went for seven points and nine rebounds Friday. Six of his eight FGAs were from 3 (1-of-6), but had two blocks and a steal. Will this lead to more minutes for the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft who has hardly played in Phoenix?
Plus/Minus
Top plus total for the week – Jae Crowder (Plus-31). The veteran forward hit 8-of-18 shots from 3 in Phoenix’s last two games. With Booker out, Crowder has picked up the scoring slack as he went for a season-high 19 versus the Spurs and 16 against the Celtics.
Worst minus total for the week – Cameron Payne, Ish Wainright and Chandler Hutchison (Minus-3). Wainright continues to get opportunities as the Suns battle injuries while Hutchison spent time in the G-League in Santa Cruz before returning.
Quotable: ‘If I got traded here instead of Denver, we probably would’ve won’
Three-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist JaVale McGee after his 21 and 15 effort against the Celtics. The 7-footer is making reference to when Cleveland traded him to Denver last season as McGee believes Phoenix would’ve won the franchise’s first NBA title last season with him on the team. He has been Phoenix’s top addition this season as he’s averaging 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Upcoming matchups
Next games: Monday at Los Angeles Clippers (15-12) NBATV, Tuesday at Portland (11-15) ESPN, Thursday vs. Washington (15-12) and Sunday vs. Charlotte (15-13).
Toughest – Clippers This looked like the easiest game last week, but with Booker still nursing the hamstring and Ayton feeling under the weather, this will be a challenging game even if those two are back. If one, or both, are out, even more challenging. Plus the Clippers are playing well as they’re fifth in the West without Kawhi Leonard (knee).
Easiest – Wizards. This will come after a road back-to-back followed by a likely off day. Washington has been struggling in going 4-6 in its last 10 games.
Prediction (3-1)
Much will depend on the status of Booker and Ayton, but the Blazers are 10-4 at home.
Facing Portland on a second of a back-to-back after an expected tough one against the Clippers will make that one even tougher to win.
The most anticipated game for Suns fans should be Dec. 19 against the Hornets.
Not only did Charlotte win in Phoenix last season with LaMelo Ball putting on a show as a rookie, but the Hornets will have Kelly Oubre Jr. with them this time.
It’s been two years since the trade that brought Paul to Phoenix. The Suns got the better end of the deal as they reached the finals, but Oubre was loved here.
And he’s playing well.
Averaging 16.9 points, the explosive Oubre is shooting a career-best 38.6% from 3. He’ll be jacked up to play well after struggling in his first return with Golden State.
Last week’s prediction (2-1)
Results: Suns went 2-0 as they faced the Clippers on Monday (The prediction included the Clippers game).
What to watch for this week
When Booker will return is at the top of the list, but when he does come back, how will the rest of the teammates respond?
Monty Williams made a point how the Suns learned in the playoffs the importance of everyone else playing their game when Booker and Paul are trapped or blitzed.
Crowder, Payne, Cameron Johnson and Landry Shamet have been more aggressive looking for their shots. Does that continue with Booker and Ayton back on the floor?
While every game is important, these next four aren’t marquee ones like, say, when the Suns play the Lakers, Jazz, Warriors, Nets or Bucks.
So Phoenix’s challenge is to play at a high level even when the matchup isn’t as big nationally. Combine that with every team they play looking to make a statement against them, that’s a tricky head game coach Monty Williams has to monitor.
Technical difficulties
Three Suns were hit with technical fouls Friday: Crowder, Paul and Mikal Bridges.
Jae Crowder and Paul had their share over the years, but that was the first career technical foul for Bridges.
In reaction, Bridges tweeted a photo of Booker rocking the shades during a postgame press conference looking rather hard and very ‘90ish.
“Mood after getting my first tech,” Bridges tweeted.
Between that and the dislocated right pinky finger that hindered his “Call of Duty” gaming, Bridges has had some issues of late, but he does have that $6million home in Paradise Valley after receiving a $90-million rookie extension to relax him a little.