Phoenix Suns striker Mikal Bridges (25) rebounds alongside Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, January 30, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo / Richard W. Rodriguez)
Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams sometimes finds himself laughing before saying that an injured player is progressing and improving every day.
It is probably funny to him because it is the honest truth of what is going on, but obviously it can get a little repetitive like the usual update on the health of someone on the margins.
It is the last time that we heard of his All-Star point guard Devin Booker, who has suffered a left tendon strain in the last four games.
“He’s been doing more and more every day,” said Williams on Sunday. “In his shooting and practice today, he looked very well. What that means in relation to the game, I can’t talk about it, because this is something for our training team and for them. “
Now Williams has gone on to say that Booker is a guy who says he is ready and is good at playing, even when that is not the case. Williams emphasized that if there is any rest in the percentage and Booker is not at 100%, they will remain patient.
“We have to be very careful with him,” said Williams.
The coach also said on Thursday that Booker had not yet moved dynamically and that would be something that would come soon.
The Suns, however, did not get a full workout on Sunday during the day’s games against the Dallas Mavericks on the road, so there is no chance that Booker will do that yet. The compact elements of programming make it important to choose wisely when to do this.
After the 111 to 105 victory over the Mavs on Saturday, the Suns expect Dallas’ big man Kristaps Porzingis to play in Monday’s rematch after Porzingis missed out on Saturday. Porzingis played Dallas’ first consecutive game on Friday and the Mavs are limiting him when they feel the need, after some leg injuries throughout his young career.
The Mavericks are in a five game skid, reaching the worst percentage of three league points. After Friday’s defeat, All-NBA playmaker Luka Doncic said it sometimes seems that the team doesn’t care.
The Suns are not going to let that affect their mentality.
“Our guys know that we focus on the team with a lot of respect for what they can do and their potential,” said Williams. “We understand that this is a team that is not only dangerous, but very good. We are playing in the West. The West is a beast.
IN THE ZONE
In Saturday’s victory, a run in the second half of the third quarter through the Suns reserves was a key part of a disputed victory. A group led by E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and Abdel Nader put the game back in the hands of the starters and then Chris Paul and company resolved from there.
During part of that, it was a 9-2 race in which the Suns implemented a defensive look zone.
The use of zone defense has expanded a lot in recent years, being used in small spurts of games by a good majority of teams now. It offers a change of pace and a new look for the opponent to solve, usually making the game slower and a little uglier. If a team stays in the zone for a long time, it will end up burning, but it is good for a few minutes here and there.
It was effective for the Suns on Saturday. Check out Galloway and Moore working on the snake’s head here, before the Suns match the man to close possession.
Doncic takes the bait (if you want to call it that) and heads straight for the heart of the area, where Deandre Ayton is residing. From there, the shot clock is in seven seconds and the work is practically completed.
Mavericks winger James Johnson tried to dribble for him later, which did not go well for him.
Moore is an experienced player and this is a good job of not letting that weak choice do much to stop him.
Williams deployed the zone last season and continued to do so this year. Here are your thoughts on this:
“We adjusted a little. I thought it helped us last night, ”he said. “Langston and E’Twaun did a great job locating the ball, but maintaining their position and recognizing where the pitchers were. The key to that, for me, is whether you can force a mistake, (to) get the rebound. Because you are often not attached to your man because you are watching an area.
“If we can continue to stop and hit it and throw it at the right time, I think it could be a weapon for us.”
It’s a fun little wrinkle to keep an eye on while you watch. When will Williams go with this? Why? It was successful?
Sometimes it can be very important to change momentum, like on Saturday.