Kevin Durant thinks they’ve one other large downside in addition to the Phoenix Suns” recurrent accidents.
After their 120-111 house defeat in opposition to Indiana Pacers On Thursday, Durant (game-high 37 factors) mentioned the Suns are likely to wrestle in opposition to groups just like the Pacers who’ve versatile gamers on the courtroom and loads of size in varied positions.
“Yeah, I believe the video games we misplaced this yr have been in opposition to lengthy, athletic groups,” Durant mentioned.
He added extra context in his reply concerning the Suns’ failure in a majority of these matchups.
“However whenever you take a look at our losses, a variety of it got here from giving up 3-pointers and turning the ball over,” Durant mentioned. “I believe a variety of these items are inside our management. Sure, we play larger groups, however I believe we additionally play larger size-wise, as a bunch.
“We’ve some undersized gamers who can play a number of positions, even down low, however for essentially the most half I believe we struggled and I believe we might be higher if we did a greater job of preserving the ball between our fingers and boxers, simply the little issues.
Kevin Durant says the Suns’ loss to the Pacers provides to their tendency to wrestle in opposition to groups with versatile gamers and loads of size, however to a sure extent:
“If you take a look at our losses, a variety of it has been about giving up 3s and turning the ball over. I believe a variety of these items are inside our management. pic.twitter.com/EQ0ZEXff4e
-DANA (@iam_DanaScott) December 20, 2024
Phoenix did not care for the ball in opposition to Indiana. They usually have been uncovered as a result of they have been undersized, as Durant talked about.
The Suns are twenty second in defensive ranking and nineteenth in opponent 3s made.
They dedicated 16 turnovers in opposition to the Pacers, who scored them 29 factors. It was the Suns’ second-most factors allowed from giveaways this season since permitting 32 of their 19 giveaways of their 120-117 loss to Minnesota on Nov. 17.
The Pacers, led by their 6-8 energy ahead and two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam, took over within the second half. After a reasonably shut first half through which each groups’ largest lead was eight, Siakam, who has a 7-3 wingspan, scored 16 of his crew’s 25 factors. He shot 3 of seven from deep, added a game-high 18 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
“Pascal confirmed his versatility tonight in a giant means,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “Protection, rebounds, scoring, there’s a variety of play there as effectively. He had a giant shot block on the finish. He has so many instruments and he is having a very good yr. So, he was nice this night.
Siakam wasn’t the one one. Indiana middle Myles Turner, the fourth-best shot blocker within the NBA, contributed 19 factors, six rebounds, made three triples and returned two shot makes an attempt. Their 6-5 All-Star facilitator, Tyrese Haliburton, whose wingspan is 6-8, had 13 factors, made 4 3s and a game-high 12 assists. Moreover, Indiana’s 6-9 rim runner Obi Toppin scored 13 factors coming off the bench, made 2 of 5 from 3, added eight rebounds, a steal and a block.
The Pacers led 25-19 in quick break factors in opposition to the Suns, who’re ranked twenty first in factors allowed in that class.
One other defensive deficiency is their inside play on each ends of the courtroom. The Suns are twentieth in factors allowed within the paint and twenty seventh in factors scored within the paint.
Phoenix’s 12 losses have been in opposition to Indiana, Minnesota, Orlando (which swept its two-game sequence in opposition to Phoenix), Brooklyn, Miami, Oklahoma Metropolis, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York, Sacramento and New York. Orleans. Six of them are ranked second to fifteenth for buckets manufactured within the restricted space. The Suns are twenty first on this stat, and Orlando, Miami, Sacramento and Oklahoma Metropolis are on the backside.
Jusuf Nurkic (12 factors, tied with Durant and Grayson Allen on a team-high 10 factors) disagrees with the concept that the Suns are likely to lose to groups with lineups extra necessary.
“No, I don’t suppose so,” Nurkic mentioned. “I really feel like we have now an ideal crew, for those who take a look at the paper I don’t suppose we might be afraid of anybody.”
Nurkic added: “For us it is nearly discovering the steadiness between the isos and enjoying the correct means. Clearly we did not share the ball effectively. It places you in perspective with all the pieces the world that talks about greater than three, extra no matter when you do not make pictures you need to make stops, we did not try this job.
Bradley Beal additionally would not purchase the idea that the Suns do not match up effectively in opposition to large groups.
“Not likely as a result of we’re in all these video games,” Beal (16 factors vs. Indiana) mentioned through the Suns’ penalty shootout Friday. “It isn’t like they’re blowing us out. So it is nearly not turning the ball over, particularly (Thursday) evening, to get pictures. I believe the Orlando sport, that was a bit the identical factor, flip the ball over late within the fourth and compete tougher that is all it’s, man It is about who’s obtained the larger one. coronary heart, who desires to compete the toughest and go get it. »
The NBA is filled with groups with multi-faceted gamers who can current themselves as threats alongside the perimeter or within the paint, and run effectively or deal with the ball effectively within the open courtroom. Some groups like Indiana, New York, Orlando, Oklahoma Metropolis, Minnesota, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and Brooklyn have greater than others.
However when Phoenix has misplaced to those groups, its largest common deficit in these video games is eighteen factors. It is a large problem to return again and win these video games.
This text was initially revealed on Arizona Republic: Durant talks concerning the Suns’ shedding streak in opposition to groups stuffed with athletic, versatile gamers
