The first place in the league assured and the advantage of the field validated, would the Suns already have their eyes turned towards the playoffs? Still, there remains major interest in the final days of the regular season, with a franchise record up for grabs.
Nevertheless, Phoenix has just lost two matches in a row, which is a rarity this season (third occurrence). But it is above all the form that bothers Monty Williams, since the Grizzlies and the Thunder evolved with very, very diminished teams.
“The level of intensity, the competitive spirit were not there, and it never happened two games in a row”regrets the coach for AZ Central.
In the loss to Oklahoma City, the league leaders also decided to leave executives in the fridge: Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder did not play. But that doesn’t excuse everything.
“We missed a lot of open shots, especially at 3-pts”notes the coach, facing 7/38 behind the arc of his troops. “We weren’t good defensively”adds Chris Paul. “We had good shots all game, we didn’t put anything. That’s not us. Usually, we impose our defense. We have to talk about OKC, they turned the ball well. »
“We must not project ourselves, or even think about the playoffs. We need to get back to our standards.”
Do the Suns have their legs trembling at the idea of winning this 63rd game of the season, synonymous with a franchise record, or rather already head for the playoffs? Whatever the answer, the coach wants to return to a level of play more in line with that of recent months.
“Everyone is talking about the 63rd victory, the record. Not me “says Monty Williams. “Because I know how important preparation is, and the next game too. We must not project ourselves, or even think about the playoffs. We must find our standards, those that we normally display on the floors. »
We can also imagine sufficiency among the 2021 finalists, against the Grizzlies who played without Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, Desmond Bane, Steven Adams or even Tyus Jones, then against a Thunder with several absentees: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Darius Bazley, Lu Dort, Derrick Favors, Mike Muscala, Ty Jerome.
“It should not be taken into account too much, nor taken lightly either”analyzes Chris Paul in the face of these two defeats in a row. “We do not want to arrive in the playoffs in difficulty. We want the team to evolve with the right energy, the right dynamic. We never play to lose. I tell you. We will be better. »
Rebound expected Tuesday night against the Lakers.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Devin Booker | 66 | 34.5 | 46.4 | 37.7 | 86.5 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 26.6 |
| Deandre Ayton | 56 | 29.5 | 63.6 | 35.3 | 74.3 | 2.5 | 7.7 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 17.1 |
| Chris Paul | 62 | 33.0 | 49.2 | 32.6 | 83.8 | 0.3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 10.7 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 14.9 |
| Mikal Bridges | 77 | 35.5 | 53.5 | 37.7 | 82.4 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 14.4 |
| Cameron Johnson | 61 | 26.2 | 47.1 | 44.4 | 86.5 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 12.6 |
| Cameron Payne | 55 | 22.1 | 41.4 | 33.8 | 84.3 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 11.0 |
| Frank Kaminsky | 9 | 20.1 | 54.5 | 33.3 | 90.0 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 10.6 |
| Jae Crowder | 65 | 28.3 | 40.3 | 35.1 | 79.8 | 0.4 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 9.5 |
| Javale Mcgee | 69 | 15.6 | 63.8 | 25.0 | 71.1 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 9.3 |
| Landry Shamet | 64 | 20.5 | 39.5 | 38.1 | 83.8 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 8.1 |
| Aaron Holiday | 17 | 17.0 | 46.8 | 54.2 | 95.7 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 7.2 |
| Torrey Craig | 22 | 21.0 | 44.0 | 29.2 | 70.6 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 6.5 |
| Jalen Smith | 29 | 13.2 | 46.0 | 23.1 | 76.9 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 6.0 |
| Bismack Biyombo | 32 | 13.2 | 58.1 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 5.5 |
| Paris Bass | 2 | 3.7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| Elfrid Payton | 47 | 10.9 | 38.4 | 25.0 | 40.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.9 |
| Abdel Nader | 14 | 10.4 | 34.3 | 28.6 | 60.0 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| justin jackson | 6 | 5.8 | 35.7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| Ishmail Wainright | 41 | 7.0 | 34.2 | 26.2 | 50.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 |
| Chandler Hutchison | 6 | 3.7 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.7 |
| Emmanuel Terry | 3 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| MJ Walker | 2 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |