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The Suns are 1-3 having defeated the 3-3 Lakers and lost to the 3-2 Nuggets, the 3-2 Trailblazers, and 1-4 Spurs.
In their Power Rankings cbssports.com ranks the Suns 24th (the Cavs are 11th before losing to the Lakers). Their comment:
So much for continuity. Despite having virtually the same roster that went to the Finals, the Suns have lost to the Nuggets, Blazers and Kings, with their only win coming against the Lakers, who aren't exactly a juggernaut at this point in the season. There's no way to sugarcoat it -- things have been ugly for Phoenix. It has the league's fourth-worst net rating at minus-9.5 and the 28th-ranked defense. Chris Paul and Devin Booker have both struggled from the field, while Mikal Bridges has been a bright spot with 16.5 points per game on 47 percent 3-point shooting. It's hard to believe the Suns won't turn it around soon, but it's surely not the start they wanted or expected.
This game is what they call a scheduled loss for the Cavs. They will be playing their third game in four nights, all on the road, and their second game of a back-to-back after flying in from L.A. late last night. Meanwhile, the Suns have played one game in the last six days and that was at home on Wednesday.
Phoenix is ranked 19th in scoring and 7th in points in the paint. They are 25th in 3-point rate; they prefer to score from inside. The Cavs are 28th in 3-point rate so neither of these teams like the long ball very much.
The Suns are 24th in fast break points so they don’t run much, either. It looks like they get into a half-court offense and pound it inside. This might be to the Cavs’ advantage with all their height on the front line.
The Suns rank 11th in 2-point percentage and 11th in free throws per offensive play so they like to take it inside and make the bucket or draw contact. They’re 3rd in assists per possession so they move the ball well and get high percentage shots in the paint. But they don’t get many points off fast breaks or 3-point shots so they’re still below average in scoring.
They rank 24th in scoring defense, allowing 114.8 ppg. They are 28th in block percentage and 22nd in steal percentage. They are last in opponents’ effective shooting percentage and opponents’ 3-point percentage. They allow a higher percentage of points on 3’s than any team. For some reason they are the worst team in the NBA in defending the perimeter. Good thing they're playing a team that doesn't shoot 3's often (28th) or well (29th).
This could be frustrating game of watching the Cavs brick tons of wide open 3's. They're not good at this to begin with and with their schedule their legs must be getting tired.
The Suns are better at defending the 2-point shot, but still below average. They do a great job on the defensive glass, ranking 4th in that category. You better make your first shot.
The Suns are basically a small-ball team. Center Deandre Ayton is 6’11”, but the other starters are 6’6”, 6’6”, 6’5”, and 6’0”. If the Cavs play their jumbo lineup they will have a huge height advantage at both forward positions. Since the Suns only average 3.0 blocks per game, it seems logical to pound it inside as much as possible.
However, nobody is worse at defending the 3-pointer so that is also a great option. But the Cavs will be tired playing their third game in four nights and the legs might not be there from long range.
Ayton is averaging 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds in 31 minutes. Their leading scorer is Devin Booker at 21.5 ppg, but Booker is only shooting 40.7% from the field and 33.3% on 3’s. He's over 45% from the field for his career.
SF Mikal Bridges has a line of 16.5/4.3/5.0 and is shooting 56.3% and 47.4%. He only takes 12 shots per game but should shoot more. The Cavs can’t leave him alone on the weak side for open 3’s like they did with Carmelo last night.
The power forward is 6’6”, 235-pound, Jae Crowder, who is averaging 8.0 ppg on 32.4% shooting and 18.2% on 3’s. Crowder is 31 and in his 13th season. Obviously he's in for his defense. He’ll definitely be trying to get as physical as possible with Mobley and Markkanen. It will be interesting to see how much the refs let him get away with away from the ball.
The point guard is 36-year-old Chris Paul, averaging 12.0 ppg and 10.8 assists. He’s shooting only 39.5% and 30.0%, well below his career numbers. His assists are higher than his career average. He’s become more of a facilitator than a scorer.
Tall, skinny SF Cameron Johnson leads the Suns in minutes off the bench. He’s 6’8”, 210, and is shooting only 34.6% from the field.
JaVale McGee has landed in Phoenix this year and is his usual active self with 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in only 13.5 minutes. He’s hitting only 25% of his free throws, so no dunks or layups for this guy. When he gets his shot off he's hitting 72%.
The Cavs will have a big height advantage at both forward positions and should try to capitalize on that. The Suns don’t have the height other than Ayton and McGee to defend the rim and they’re awful at defending 3-point shots. The Cavs should dominate the glass. If they can contain Booker and Bridges the Suns don’t have a lot of offense.
In the last game between these teams late last season the Suns won in OT 134-118 in Cleveland. Booker, Paul, and Bridges scored 31, 23, and 22. Sexton had 29 for the Cavs. Cedi played 45 minutes, Okoro 47, Love 34, Wade 31, and Dotson 26, so it was a much different Cavaliers team. Garland was out and we didn’t have Mobley, Markkanen, or Rubio. Still took them and their 46-18 record to OT.
All things being equal I like the Cavs’ chances, but the Suns have had five days off in the last six while the Cavs are playing back-to-back with a plane flight, so this one could go either way. The Cavs had a tough one in L.A. last night with the game not being decided until about 3 minutes were remaining.
Also, the Suns have the same starting lineup that had a 2-0 lead on Milwaukee in the Finals last year. They have started slow but I expect them to find their mojo soon, maybe tonight against a tired Cavs team.
In their Power Rankings cbssports.com ranks the Suns 24th (the Cavs are 11th before losing to the Lakers). Their comment:
So much for continuity. Despite having virtually the same roster that went to the Finals, the Suns have lost to the Nuggets, Blazers and Kings, with their only win coming against the Lakers, who aren't exactly a juggernaut at this point in the season. There's no way to sugarcoat it -- things have been ugly for Phoenix. It has the league's fourth-worst net rating at minus-9.5 and the 28th-ranked defense. Chris Paul and Devin Booker have both struggled from the field, while Mikal Bridges has been a bright spot with 16.5 points per game on 47 percent 3-point shooting. It's hard to believe the Suns won't turn it around soon, but it's surely not the start they wanted or expected.
This game is what they call a scheduled loss for the Cavs. They will be playing their third game in four nights, all on the road, and their second game of a back-to-back after flying in from L.A. late last night. Meanwhile, the Suns have played one game in the last six days and that was at home on Wednesday.
Phoenix is ranked 19th in scoring and 7th in points in the paint. They are 25th in 3-point rate; they prefer to score from inside. The Cavs are 28th in 3-point rate so neither of these teams like the long ball very much.
The Suns are 24th in fast break points so they don’t run much, either. It looks like they get into a half-court offense and pound it inside. This might be to the Cavs’ advantage with all their height on the front line.
The Suns rank 11th in 2-point percentage and 11th in free throws per offensive play so they like to take it inside and make the bucket or draw contact. They’re 3rd in assists per possession so they move the ball well and get high percentage shots in the paint. But they don’t get many points off fast breaks or 3-point shots so they’re still below average in scoring.
They rank 24th in scoring defense, allowing 114.8 ppg. They are 28th in block percentage and 22nd in steal percentage. They are last in opponents’ effective shooting percentage and opponents’ 3-point percentage. They allow a higher percentage of points on 3’s than any team. For some reason they are the worst team in the NBA in defending the perimeter. Good thing they're playing a team that doesn't shoot 3's often (28th) or well (29th).
This could be frustrating game of watching the Cavs brick tons of wide open 3's. They're not good at this to begin with and with their schedule their legs must be getting tired.
The Suns are better at defending the 2-point shot, but still below average. They do a great job on the defensive glass, ranking 4th in that category. You better make your first shot.
The Suns are basically a small-ball team. Center Deandre Ayton is 6’11”, but the other starters are 6’6”, 6’6”, 6’5”, and 6’0”. If the Cavs play their jumbo lineup they will have a huge height advantage at both forward positions. Since the Suns only average 3.0 blocks per game, it seems logical to pound it inside as much as possible.
However, nobody is worse at defending the 3-pointer so that is also a great option. But the Cavs will be tired playing their third game in four nights and the legs might not be there from long range.
Ayton is averaging 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds in 31 minutes. Their leading scorer is Devin Booker at 21.5 ppg, but Booker is only shooting 40.7% from the field and 33.3% on 3’s. He's over 45% from the field for his career.
SF Mikal Bridges has a line of 16.5/4.3/5.0 and is shooting 56.3% and 47.4%. He only takes 12 shots per game but should shoot more. The Cavs can’t leave him alone on the weak side for open 3’s like they did with Carmelo last night.
The power forward is 6’6”, 235-pound, Jae Crowder, who is averaging 8.0 ppg on 32.4% shooting and 18.2% on 3’s. Crowder is 31 and in his 13th season. Obviously he's in for his defense. He’ll definitely be trying to get as physical as possible with Mobley and Markkanen. It will be interesting to see how much the refs let him get away with away from the ball.
The point guard is 36-year-old Chris Paul, averaging 12.0 ppg and 10.8 assists. He’s shooting only 39.5% and 30.0%, well below his career numbers. His assists are higher than his career average. He’s become more of a facilitator than a scorer.
Tall, skinny SF Cameron Johnson leads the Suns in minutes off the bench. He’s 6’8”, 210, and is shooting only 34.6% from the field.
JaVale McGee has landed in Phoenix this year and is his usual active self with 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in only 13.5 minutes. He’s hitting only 25% of his free throws, so no dunks or layups for this guy. When he gets his shot off he's hitting 72%.
The Cavs will have a big height advantage at both forward positions and should try to capitalize on that. The Suns don’t have the height other than Ayton and McGee to defend the rim and they’re awful at defending 3-point shots. The Cavs should dominate the glass. If they can contain Booker and Bridges the Suns don’t have a lot of offense.
In the last game between these teams late last season the Suns won in OT 134-118 in Cleveland. Booker, Paul, and Bridges scored 31, 23, and 22. Sexton had 29 for the Cavs. Cedi played 45 minutes, Okoro 47, Love 34, Wade 31, and Dotson 26, so it was a much different Cavaliers team. Garland was out and we didn’t have Mobley, Markkanen, or Rubio. Still took them and their 46-18 record to OT.
All things being equal I like the Cavs’ chances, but the Suns have had five days off in the last six while the Cavs are playing back-to-back with a plane flight, so this one could go either way. The Cavs had a tough one in L.A. last night with the game not being decided until about 3 minutes were remaining.
Also, the Suns have the same starting lineup that had a 2-0 lead on Milwaukee in the Finals last year. They have started slow but I expect them to find their mojo soon, maybe tonight against a tired Cavs team.
