The Suns currently topped the league with a record of 40 wins and 9 losses, and their record over the past week has been 3-0.
January 27 Sun 105-97 Jazz
Jan. 29 Timberwolves 124-134 Sun
Jan. 31 Spurs 110-115 Sun
Last week, the Suns continued their winning streak. After beating the Spurs at home, the Suns have won 10 consecutive games, with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss in January, and for the second time this season, they have reached a single-month winning rate of more than 90%. It is worth mentioning that, with the exception of the Suns, no other team in the league this season has achieved a feat of more than 90% win rate in a single month. Next, let's explore why the Suns are in such good shape:
The point guard god has a strong output
The injury of substitute point guard Cameron Payne has forced the old gun to do his best, and in the past 5 games, Paul has averaged nearly 40 minutes per game, but he has not shown any fatigue, and he can contribute 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 13.4 assists per game, which is quite heroic.
Against the Timberwolves, Paul gave six assists in the first quarter of 0 shots to help the Suns gain an early advantage, and his stable control avoided the team's dilemma of racing against a young team like the Timberwolves. Against the equally energetic Spurs, the Suns were passive in the first three quarters, with Paul playing the final quarter and delivering eight assists in a single quarter to lead the team to a 36-19 comeback to win. At the end of the game, Paul delivered a total of 19 assists, a new season high.
At the age of 36, the point guard god is enjoying the most wonderful basketball of his career.
Killer Booker remained cold-blooded
Booker is the Suns' offensive arrow, but the Suns have many attack points and a skilled tactical system, and they don't need him to always be on the offensive end. But when the team needed it, Booker always came forward.
Against the Jazz, Booker scored 21 points in the first quarter to help the Suns establish their lead early and overpower their opponents along the way. In the game, Booker blasted the second-highest single-game 43 points so far in the season. At home against the Spurs, Booker shot from a distance in the first three quarters felt average, hitting only two of his seven three-point shots. At the crucial moment of the final quarter, he hit two consecutive three-pointers to help the team complete the reversal at the last moment of the game.
In the last three games, Booker has averaged 33.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game, and he is using practical actions to solicit votes for his all-star selection.
Five small lineups of tigers and tigers
Against the Spurs, the Suns trailed by 12 points in the third quarter, and the Spurs' quick transfer of the ball made them feel tired of running on the defensive end. In the final quarter, Paul called on the team to make changes, and Monty ordered the flag to send the 1.98-meter-tall Isis Wayne Wright to stand in the fifth position, and the Suns' five small lineup was formed.
Wayne Wright was a losing draft in 2017 and was only signed by the Raptors on a two-way contract at the end of October last year, finally fulfilling his dream of playing in the NBA. Although Wayne Wright played the No. 5 position, he was physically strong, weighing 113kg, and was jokingly called "fitness brother" by fans. In the Suns, the fitness brother is the most ideal candidate for the fifth position in the small ball lineup. He moves fast, has strong confrontation ability, excellent sense of assisting defense and reinforcement, and has a certain long-range shooting ability. Against the Spurs, it was he who started the final quarter with a three-pointer to help the Suns blow the horn of counterattack.
Relying on a five-small lineup, the Suns beat the Spurs by 17 points in the final quarter, avoiding being broken by opponents to win streaks. Although the Suns already have three interior generals in the Suns, Ayton, McGee and Biyombo, the presence of Wayne Wright has given coach Monti more options in the deployment of the lineup, and the five small lineups have become a new weapon for the Suns to defeat the enemy.
Suns Fixtures for the coming week:
Feb. 2 Nets vs Suns
February 4 Suns vs Eagles
February 6 Suns vs Wizards
(NBA official website)