Sports coverage is an interesting beast. In general, we tend to focus on teams potentially on the rise or experiencing unexpected failures. In terms of star players, we write about the ones garnering attention for more reasons than their talent and success on the court, field, or ice. Maybe that is why we hear so little about the Phoenix Suns these days.
Possessing the NBA’s best record by a respectable margin, Phoenix serves as the league’s most dominant and well-round team this season. At 48-10, the Suns have only lost consecutive games twice this season. The team hasn’t suffered more than two-straight losses in a row at all. Whether at home or on the road, Phoenix continues to roll. Playing four more home games than away, their ten losses are divided equally.
Still, away from their local market, the Suns are rarely discussed. The time to change that is now.
Suns Sizzling Offense
Success in the NBA comes from effective play on both ends of the court. Though defense is vital, teams need to score at a high rate to win consistently. Luckily the Suns do just that.
Averaging 113.7 points per game, Phoenix ranks in the top five among NBA teams. In reality, they sit just .01 behind the league-leading Hornets and Grizzlies. To the surprise of no one, the Suns are also one of the more efficient scoring teams, connecting on 48.2% of their shots. Ranking second in team Field Goal Percentage, Phoenix sits just inside the top-ten in three-point efficiency. However, they do not rely on the three-ball as heavily as other organizations, registering the fourth-fewest attempts from beyond the arc.
Devin Booker sprinted from 90ft away almost knowing that alley was coming his way. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/moK5Q9bSY9
— David (@theIVpointplay) February 16, 2022
Away from scoring, the Suns also distribute the ball well. They average 27 assists a contest. One assist away from tying the league-high. Of course, spreading the wealth and passing the ball is easier when your team boasts a decent amount of scoring depth. With Devin Booker leading the way, Phoenix has seven players averaging over ten points per contest. Booker typically provides the primary scoring, averaging 25.5 PPG. However, between Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges, Phoenix possesses a plethora of secondary options.
Defensively Sound as Well
As previously mentioned, the key to prolonged success is a team’s well-roundedness. For as effective as the Suns are on offense, the same rings true defensively.
With a 105.4 defensive rating, Phoenix is currently the third-strongest defensive squad in the NBA. They rebound the ball at a high rate, averaging 36.1 defensive boards a game and rolling at a 73% efficiency rate in that category. Ironically, the Suns are still a “middle of the road” team allowing second-chance points. Currently, they allow 13.1 second-chance points a game, ranking 15th in the league. Although the Suns appear average in allowing second-chance points, they sit among the elite in preventing triumphant fast breaks. Opposing teams cash in on just over ten fast-break opportunities a game, making Phoenix the fourth most potent team in that realm. Finally, the Suns do a decent job protecting the paint, allowing the ninth-fewest points in that area of the court.
Two Quiet MVP Candidates
In what seems like a crowded race, two worthy MVP candidates reside on the Phoenix Suns roster. Rightfully so, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo dominate a great deal of the Most Valuable Player chatter. However, there are still a handful of “dark horse” candidates, including Booker and Paul.
? Chris Paul showing off his handles on TNT! pic.twitter.com/Bvp2E1hUZF
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2022
Phoenix’s leader on and off the court, Paul’s entry to the roster completely changed the narrative for this franchise. Now in his second season with the Suns, the 36-year-old point guard looks like an ageless wonder. It is challenging to find a player more precious to his team than Paul when you think of value. Even though he’s averaging a double-double, the stats might not jump off the page the way they do for others in the conversation. That should not keep him out of the conversation.
In terms of Devin Booker, we never hear his name in the MVP conversation. However, shouldn’t there be room for the highest-scoring player on the league’s most dominant team? Maybe the success of the entire unit takes away from the individual performance in this case. But, as well all know, that really should not hold true.
Finals Favorites
Yes, we do not talk about the Suns enough. For some reason, the NBA’s best team eludes many of our conversations.
Maybe it’s because of the market. Perhaps it’s because the team goes out each game and plays quality basketball without any other noise. Regardless, the Phoenix Suns sit alone as the league’s elite team and a favorite to win the 2022 NBA Championship.
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