Suns’ defense struggles as team awaits Paul’s return
Phoenix Suns aren’t revealing the full context of Chris Paul’s injury, but it’s clearly more than just a sore right heel that will sideline him for a sixth straight game Sunday afternoon against New York.
“Probably taken a bit longer than what people thought it would because we just haven’t shared what it is,” Suns coach Monty Williams said after
Saturday’s practice. “It’s just how we operate. It’s his foot so you’ve got to be careful with that. We certainly don’t want it to creep back up.”
The Suns said Saturday that Paul will be re-evaluated next week, but Cameron Payne said the All-Star veteran point guard “will be back very soon” from the injury he suffered in the first half of a Nov. 7 loss at Philadelphia.
Whatever is keeping Paul out is only part of Phoenix’s 9-6 start to the season.
Landry Shamet will miss his fifth consecutive game in concussion protocols after scoring 16 points in win at Minnesota.
Cam Johnson will be out at least one to two months after having a procedure done on his torn right meniscus and depending on what one says, the Suns are close to finally moving Jae Crowder, who hasn’t played all season.
That’s all off the court.
On it, the Suns are 3-5 since winning five in a row with a defense that’s allowed an average of 119.4 points in its last five games.
Utah gutted them in Friday night’s 134-133 win. Giving up 42 points in the first quarter, Phoenix allowed season highs in points, field goal percentage (56%) and 3-point percentage (51.6%).
“Those dudes played hard as hell,” Suns big Deandre Ayton said about the Jazz (11-6). “It’s a thing that we do sometimes. I won’t say we play to the level of competition, but we definitely came out like that and it bit us right in the butt. They stepped on the gas heavy.”
Giving props aside, Ayton said Phoenix’s start to Friday’s game was “very unacceptable.” What’s next?
The Republic looks at Phoenix’s next five games capped with a prediction of how the Suns will fare.
Last five: 2-3
Prediction: Overall record: Best win:
3-2.
9-6.
130-119 vs. Golden State. Cameron Payne scored a career-high 29 points in leading the Suns past the defending NBA champions.
Worst loss: 134-133 at Utah. The Suns rallied back from 19 points down to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter, but they lost as their defense was horrible.
Best performance: Devin Booker putting on a show in Utah with a season-high 49 points (16 coming in the third quarter), 10 assists to just one turnover and eight rebounds in 41 minutes.
Not good: As bad as losing by 17 points at Orlando without first overall pick Paolo Banchero, Phoenix squandering a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter of its 113-112 loss at Miami to end a four-game road trip 1-3 was worse.
Quote: “I’ve never been a part of a game like that.” —Booker after the Suns attempted just four free throws against the Heat. That’s the second-lowest number of attempts in a game in franchise history.
Next 5
Sunday vs. New York Knicks
Record: 8-8.
Record vs. Suns last season: 0-2.
Outlook: Jalen Brunson has been an instant difference maker after establishing himself as a special player in last season’s playoffs for Dallas. The Knicks have gone from being next to last in pace last season to ninth this season.
Matchup with Suns: This is the start of a fourgame homestand. With the way Phoenix defended Friday night, a better defensive effort is expected and should result in a win for the Suns.
Tuesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 4-10.
Record vs. Suns last season: 0-4.
Outlook: The Lakers are next to last in West. If that’s not enough, LeBron James has missed three straight games with a left abductor strain. However,
Anthony Davis has averaged 37.5 points and 17 rebounds in their last two games that ended in wins over Brooklyn and Detroit
Matchup with Suns: Los Angeles is 0-5 on the road. So they’re due for a win right? If Davis continues to ball the way he has — and James returns from injury — this could be fun.
Friday vs. Detroit Pistons
Record:
Record vs. Suns last season: 0-2.
Outlook. Young team with the NBA’s worst record. That’s not easy even in rebuild mode, but Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham are talented guys. Bojan Bogdanovic has been a nice addition.
Matchup with Suns: Yes, Phoenix lost at Orlando, a young squad that has only five wins. That should be used a point of reference to the Suns going into this one.
3-14. Nov. 26 vs. Utah Jazz
Record: 11-6.
Record vs. Suns this season: 1-0.
Outlook: Playing far better than projected after trading away All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. First-year coach Will Hardy has a diverse offensive attack that is player friendly.
Matchup with Suns: Lauri Markkanen just gave the Suns the business with a career-high 38 points. The Jazz shot 16-of-31 from 3 with Malik Beasley going 7-of-13. That can’t happen again can it?
Nov. 28 at Sacramento Kings
Record:
Record vs. Suns last season: 2-2.
Outlook: New coach Mike Brown has brought a winning culture to the Kings, who have the longest playoff drought in NBA history. They haven’t made it since 2006. Seventh in the West, Sacramento is second in the league in offensively rating. If the Kings start playing Brown defense, watch out?
Matchup vs. Suns: The Suns want to play fast. The Kings do. Game on.
8-6. Next 5 prediction: 3-2.
The Suns should beat the Pistons and Lakers, who are playing better, but still a mess.
They have incentive to play some defense against the Knicks and Jazz, who just had their way with Phoenix, but they’re going to lose it least one of these four games.
The question is can they run with Sacramento? The next question? Paul’s status.
He’ll probably miss these next two games for sure, but with two days between the Lakers and Pistons, Paul should be closer to returning.
Even if he makes it back during this stretch, there’s still a matter of conditioning and if he’s going to remain the setup guy or look for his shot more.
Paul is averaging career lows in points (9.5), field goal percentage (36.8%) and 3-point shooting (27.3%).
So how the 37-year-old veteran is utilized moving forward is just as big as question as his injury itself.