On March 4, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued to compete fiercely, and the Suns lost to the Thunder 110-118 in this game, suffering a setback of two consecutive defeats. The game's seemingly unexpected 17-4 attack wave refreshed the Suns, but in the subsequent reversal of the game, the team fell into frustration. In the third quarter, the Suns fought back from a 24-point deficit, notably in a no-fly zone they had established on the defensive end. However, even with the counterattack to tie the score, the Suns failed to stabilize the momentum and ultimately lost the chance to win. In this game, the team clearly felt the impact of the lack of key players, especially when Booker was out due to injury, Durant's helplessness in key moments, and Beal's excellent performance became the focus of attention. What is it that causes the sun to lose its advantage? Through in-depth data analysis, we may be able to find the answer.
In the course of the game, the Suns' excellent offensive display in the early stage gave hope of victory. They went on a stunning 17-4 run in the first quarter to show off their offensive prowess, but then suddenly reversed their form on both ends of the floor. Nearly halfway through the third quarter, the Suns even trailed by 24 points at one point, and the team was in trouble.
At this point, Durant felt isolated in Booker's absence. In the face of the opponent's double bag, Durant looked powerless in the final quarter of the offense. His passing created opportunities for role players, but at critical moments, he repeatedly missed shots from the open spot, leaving the team at a stalemate. Durant was a decent game, shooting 6-of-15 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, and despite reaching a certain level of stats, his all-round performance failed to lead the team to catch up.
In contrast, Beal became the Suns' number one threat in this game. With Booker sidelined due to injury, Beal stepped up and played very well throughout the game. Beal shot 10-of-14 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line to finish with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. He played well in almost every stage of the game, whether it was the opening, the transition, or when the Suns began to fight back and the team fell into a slump in the final quarter. In the face of the Suns' predicament, Beal not only remained efficient, but also showed a strong desire to attack, frequently rushing into the restricted area to fight for scoring opportunities for the team.
Nurkic became the inside patron saint of the Suns in this game. His presence is crucial to the Suns' defense and offense. The data shows that Nurkic shot 7 of 16 and 0 of 2 three-pointers in the game, and scored 14 points, 31 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block. During the time the crossbow machine is present, the sun's plus/minus reaches +10, which shows that his role on the field is irreplaceable. In the first quarter, Nurkic's strong performance set the stage for the Suns to take the lead, but after he went off, the team's interior began to collapse, and the overall shooting feel dropped significantly. The Suns have a mediocre three-point shot, and if it weren't for Nurkic's repeated appearances in the rebounding scramble to create a second offensive opportunity for the team, the Suns might not have been able to launch an effective ** at the end of the third quarter.
The veteran Gordon played steadily in the game and was worthy of the base salary. Despite his poor first quarter, Gordon then found his offensive touch in the game, shooting 6-of-15 from the field and 3-of-8 from three-point range, finishing with 15 points, three assists and one turnover. Given Booker's absence, Gordon has been relatively good on the offensive end, providing the team with additional scoring support.
However, Allen failed to regain his shooting touch in this game. He shot 3-of-9 from the field and 2-of-7 from three-point range, with average efficiency and just eight points. If Allen's three-point touch can be restored, perhaps his shooting can change the course of the game when the Suns come back in the final quarter.
Royce O'Neal has been good on the defensive end, but his efficiency on the offensive end leaves much to be desired. He shot 3-of-10 from the field and 3-of-8 from three-point range, and had nine points, three rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two turnovers. If O'Neal can be more consistent with his shooting from beyond the three-point line, perhaps he will be better suited to stay in the starting lineup when Booker returns.
Despite the impressive performances of the main players, the substitutes were relatively average in this game. Eubanks was completely blasted by his opponent on the inside, and there was a clear level gap compared to Nurkic. Sabine Lee and Bol Bol played mediocre in the game, and Roddy even faced the possibility of being dropped. Due to the Suns' injury troubles, the problem of the overall base salary players of the bench lineup has been revealed, and the gap between the strength of the starters and the starters is too large.
The result dropped the Suns' record to 35-26 and they moved into the play-in bracket. In this game, the Suns clearly felt the absence of key players, especially in the face of Durant's helplessness and Beal's all-around performance. Through in-depth data analysis, it may be possible to find the reason why the Suns lost their advantage and provide a reference for the team's future adjustments.
As the game reached its climax, tension permeated the entire stadium. The Suns launched a stunning comeback late in the third quarter, establishing a powerful no-fly zone, quickly recovering the score and taking the lead at one point. In the process, the team showed a strong sense of teamwork and combat effectiveness.
However, the Suns failed to carry the momentum on. Although Beal's scoring ability in key moments is strong, the Suns' overall offense and defense are still unstable. In the final quarter of the game, the team fell into a dumb fire, with frequent missed shots and more turnovers. The Suns failed to keep their cool at crucial moments and battled their opponents more fiercely.
Durant still felt the opposition's high pressure in the final quarter, and the team relied on his passing organization, but the Suns' role players failed to play effectively due to the opponent's defensive strategy. Durant's efforts are awe-inspiring, but the team's offensive system is too one-dimensional in crunch time.
Nurkic became the patron saint of the Suns' interior line, however, when he was off the court, the Suns' interior line gradually collapsed. Although Nurkic was excellent in the rebounding scramble, the Suns looked lackluster against the opposition's interior defense. The overall performance of the substitutes was mediocre, with Eubanks having a noticeable gap on the inside, while Bolbol and Sabin Lee were also unable to make a breakthrough in the game.
Beal's stellar performance in crunch time became a double-edged sword for the Suns. Despite his huge contribution throughout the game, the team relied too heavily on his individual abilities to form an effective teamwork. The Suns lacked team chemistry in key moments and missed the opportunity to keep the score under their control.
Overall, the Suns showed a strong desire and fighting power in this game, but teamwork and consistency on the defensive end are still areas that need to be strengthened. Booker's absence made the Suns look thin on the offensive end, and opponents took full advantage of that, quickly turning the tide of the game with strategies such as packing Durant.
In the end, the Suns failed to win against the Thunder in this game, and their record dropped to 35-26 and fell into the play-in range. The game revealed the team's shortcomings in key moments and also raised clear questions for future adjustments. In the next games, the Suns will need to strengthen their teamwork and find more offensive breakthroughs to better meet the next challenges.
Overall, the game exposed some issues for the Suns on the offensive end and teamwork. Although Beal excelled without Booker, the team's over-reliance on individual players, especially in key moments, failed to form an effective teamwork. Booker's absence left the Suns relatively vulnerable on the offensive end, and the opponent managed to turn the tide of the game with a targeted defensive strategy.
Nurkic's excellent performance on the interior provided some support for the Suns, however, the Suns' interior gradually collapsed after he went off, and the bench players failed to fill the void effectively. The Suns' problems with the bench lineup have also been highlighted, and the overall strength gap is too large, which has become a pain point for the team this season.
The slump has left the Suns in the play-in zone and will have to face more competition. In the next game, the Suns urgently need to strengthen teamwork, find more offensive breakthroughs, and improve consistency on the defensive end. In addition, the adjustment and strengthening of the substitute lineup is also a problem that the team needs to think about seriously. Booker's return may bring more variables to the Suns, but the overall team's performance and level of cooperation will still be an important factor in determining the outcome of the game.
From a personal point of view, the Suns' performance in this game was bright, but it also exposed some problems that plagued the team. The team needs to better adapt to the challenges posed by injuries and strengthen their overall tactical planning to better prepare for the upcoming games. The opponent successfully overtook the score through precise strikes on the Suns' weak points, which is also the direction that the Suns need to find solutions at the training and tactical level. Hopefully, the team can find a breakthrough in the predicament, stabilize the situation, and be fully prepared for the playoffs.