Cheers, Suns fans! The longest year in history comes to an end in a few hours, and the Phoenix Suns ended it with a roller coaster that reflected the year it was played.
Phoenix played its first game against Utah Jazz on Thursday night. It was the first time this season that the Suns played for a live audience, as fans are allowed at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
Defense was the name of the game, as they held an opponent with less than 100 points for the second straight game, knocking Jazz down 106-95.
The record for the Suns in the calendar year 2020, from January 1 to December 31, was 25-20.
Game flow
The game started in true 2020 style: a delay due to a broken table cable. As if we hadn’t waited long enough for basketball this year.
After a night when it looked like the Suns couldn’t go wrong against the Pelicans, it was a hectic start in Salt Lake.
Ayton found himself in trouble at first, getting 2 relationships in the first. Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky, who did not play both pre-season games against Utah, proved their worth in Ayton’s absence. His ability to box, rebound and shoot inland overruled the internal attack Utah tried to deploy.
Although Booker had a rough start at 0-4, he started exploring the talent we used at the end of the first, when he blew through Jordan Clarkson for the slam.
It’s great to see Booker attack the basket. Devin had a different start to the season than Booker, averaging just 19 points per game so far this season 30.8% of the bottom. Okay, Suns didn’t need their 27-point performances. The team’s ball triumphed for Suns and the defensive attention Booker receives benefited Suns pitchers. The Suns went 17-33 behind the 3-point line.
He followed with a signature racing jumper on the right.
The Suns lost by 1 at the end of the first, 22-21.
Phoenix stepped up their defense in the second while they bothered Jazz, jumped overtakes and cut the drives. It is really impressive to experience a team that is consistently active in the defensive area. The length and commitment of the Suns to this side of the floor is equivalent to sewers, quick breaks and easy baskets.
Jevon Carter, Cameron Payne and, of course, Mikal Bridges lead the team in the “let’s make you work for every ball possession” minutes.
Much like the game against the Pelicans, the Suns used the second quarter to create an advantage. At the break, Suns had 13 points, beating Utah by 14 in the second quarter. The Suns hit 47.7% of the field and 7-18 of the bottom.
Let’s all take a moment to appreciate Cameron Payne’s efforts. One game is Zion, the next is Golbert:
The ability to finish around the rim quickly, combined with the unique angles and the degree of difficulty with which he shoots, is something we have not seen since Leandro Barbosa was a member of the Suns.
Utah started the third with an 11-2 run, closing the gap and making a game again.
Ayton remained a mystery to the Suns. 4 points ?! Several times he found himself under the basket with the ball in his hands. The defense was collapsing around him. Instead of taking the ball hard and putting pressure on the opponent, perhaps even receiving an evasive foul, he passed the ball out. Even so, your defense remains great. His delicate style bodes well for the deterrence of shooting.
We will continue to try to solve the puzzle that is Deandre Ayton until 2021.
Three consecutive Mikal Bridges pushed the lead to 9.5. Utah reduced to 5, Mikal 3-ball. The smoothness of his shot and the confidence with which he shoots is becoming dangerous.
As lethal as a point without looking at Dario’s passage? Possibly.
The defense of the Suns disrupted Utah in the final stages of the third, once again creating the attack. In a period that at times he felt confused, in which the Suns yielded 30 points, scored 30 and entered the 4th position with 13, 83-70.
Bridges is always in charge of the opposition’s most potent offensive force. For Utah, this is the All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. The Headmaster was running the asylum tonight, keeping Mitchell under control. He finished with 23. Each point was won. Each possession was challenged.
Phoenix’s lead rose to 19 on the 4th, but Utah continued to advance, not allowing the Suns to feel comfortable until the end. Devin Booker had some late turns that led to Jazz three’s and the score was reduced to 5 with less than 2 minutes remaining.
Book’s two consecutive trios, however, sealed the victory.
Next
The Suns fly to Denver tonight and face the Nuggets tomorrow night at 7pm. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets will rest after a 10-point loss to the Sacramento Kings last Tuesday. They enter the game with a 1-3 record.
Greetings at the end of 2020. It is ironic that a year full of turbulence is potentially the year that the Suns hit the ship. We will take with us many memories of 2020 and its many sides. And the Suns were the bright side. Of the sun. Zing.
Happy New Year, Suns fans.