The Phoenix Suns are one of the most legendary teams in NBA history, they have had superstars such as Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and once played an amazing "seven seconds or less" fast-break strategy, but they have never lifted a championship trophy, which makes their fans regret.
This summer, the Suns made a big move on the free agency market, signing Paul George, Chris Paul and DeMar DeRozan to form the league's strongest championship triumvirate. Their goal is to break the championship curse and bring glory to the Suns and the city.
The Suns' Big Three combined debut was on December 16, Beijing time, and they challenged the Brooklyn Nets, a powerhouse in the East. The Nets are also a team with superstars, with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, who are hailed as the strongest offensive trident in the NBA.
The match was supposed to be a battle for the league's supremacy, but something unexpected happened. The Suns' Big Three didn't show the expected firepower and tacit understanding, and they encountered stubborn resistance from the Nets in the game, so much so that they couldn't win the game in the end. The Suns lost the game 112-120, casting a shadow over their combined debut.
The Suns' combined debut loss to the Nets cast doubt on their championship prowess. Obviously, the Suns' Big Three are not as tough as they imagined, and they still need to be further honed and improved. They exposed some problems in the game, such as:
The ball is unevenly distributed on the offensive end. The Suns' Big Three are all players who need the ball, and when they are on the court, they often compete for the ball, resulting in a decrease in offensive fluency and affecting the performance of other teammates. The Suns' Big Three need to find a reasonable offensive system that allows everyone to play to their own characteristics and not go it alone.
Defensive support is not in place. Although the Suns' Big Three are strong on the offensive end, they are not so good on the defensive end, and when they play against the Nets, they often make mistakes such as leaks, mispositions, and fouls, allowing opponents to score easily. The Suns' Big Three need to strengthen defensive awareness and communication to form an effective defensive system to prevent opponents from playing efficient offense.
Lack of psychological quality. The Suns' Big Three are all players with Finals experience, but they did not show the stability and calmness they should have at critical moments, and they were hit by the Nets in the final quarter of the game with a wave of 17-2 attacks, which reversed the score and made the game lose suspense. The Suns' Big Three need to improve their mental quality, not to collapse under pressure, but to play at their level in key moments.
The Suns' combined debut loss to the Nets took a toll on their morale and dropped them to 10th place in the Western Conference standings, still some way from the playoff threshold. They need to adjust their form as soon as possible, regain their confidence and get back on winning track.
And their next opponent is the dark horse New York Knicks in the East. The Knicks have been one of the most surprising teams of the season, and they have played a tenacious defensive style under coach Tom Thibodeau, which has made many strong teams suffer. The Knicks currently have a 16-9 record and are fourth in the East, and their goal is to return to the playoffs and bring joy to their fans.
The Knicks' centerpiece is Julius Randle, who is one of the most likely players to win the Most Progressive award this season, averaging 234 points, 105 rebounds and 61 assist, the backbone of the Knicks' offense and defense. In addition to Randle, the Knicks also have a number of young and promising players, such as Rj Barrett, Emmanuel Gibson, and Obi Topin, who are all future stars of the Knicks who have shown good potential and energy in the game.
The Knicks' challenge to the Suns will be a close contest, with both sides having their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as their own goals and motivations. The Suns need to prove their championship prowess, and the Knicks need to prove their playoff credentials, and the outcome of this game will have a significant impact on the season trend of both sides.