In today's game, the Suns faced the Houston Rockets at home, but suffered an unexpected loss. The focus was not only on the result, but also on Jalen Green's amazing performance. He showed a tough interior offense in this game, not only completing multiple 2+1s, but also hitting the winning three-pointer at critical moments. Such an excellent performance is jaw-dropping.
Jalen Green scored 34 points from the game, including six three-pointers, a kind of efficient scoring that has rarely been seen this season. At the same time, the Rockets' Van Fleet also showed excellent all-round ability in the game, especially in the playmaking side, diching out 11 assists. In contrast, the Suns are weak in playmaking and lack a key player who can effectively connect the team.
This article delves into every aspect of the game, taking a look at Beal's sluggish comeback, Durant and Booker's turnovers, and the standout performances of the bench players. Let's take a look at the challenges and problems this game poses for the Suns.
With Beal back, the Suns should have expected him to make a positive impact on the team, however, Beal's performance on the court was disappointing. After only 20 minutes of play, Beal scored just seven points and clashed with Jalen Green in a brainless and provocative manner during the game, resulting in two technical fouls being sent off the court. This series of events left the Suns with only the two giants of Durant and Booker in the subsequent games, and they fell into a clear disadvantage under the headwind.
Durant and Booker contributed a lot of points in the game, but they also faced turnover and efficiency problems. The two players had six and five turnovers, respectively, which is not surprising when there is no point guard organized. Lacking a proper playmaking point guard, they were forced to take on the dual responsibility of handling the ball and attacking, resulting in a noticeable drop in overall efficiency. Especially Durant, although he contributed 30 points in the game, his physical exertion increased dramatically due to his long-term ball-holding play, which is a problem that cannot be ignored for the team as a whole.
Comparatively speaking, the Rockets' Vanwich played a more well-rounded role in the game. Not only can you score, but you can also play well in tandem with your teammates. His 11 assists, in stark contrast to the Suns, highlighted the Suns' weaknesses on the playmaking end. A good playmaking point guard not only improves the overall level of the team, but also distributes the ball better, making the offense on the court more fluid and efficient.
In addition, the Rockets' bench players also performed quite well in this game. Royce O'Neill provided invaluable firepower for the team with an efficient performance when he came off the bench. He hit back-to-back three-pointers in the third quarter and showed great shooting ability. In contrast, the Suns' bench lineup did not show enough fighting power to make the team fall in the score.
Despite his short playing time, Thaddeus Young also contributed four points in just nine minutes, adding some scoring firepower to the team. However, that doesn't hide the Suns' overall lack of roster depth and tactics.
Overall, the Suns have exposed obvious problems in this game. The lack of a playmaking point guard, Beal's sluggish comeback, Durant and Booker's turnovers, and a relative lack of bench players have all been key factors restricting the team's further development. Under the pressure of the playoffs, the Suns will need to seriously reflect and adjust accordingly in order to achieve better results in the upcoming games.
As the game reached its climax, the Suns fell into heavy adversity. After Beal was sent off, the two superstars of Durant and Booker remained isolated on the offensive end. The Rockets took advantage of the opportunity to gradually pull away the score, while the Suns struggled with organization and scheduling.
After Beal left, the Suns tried to make up for the lost firepower with the individual abilities of Durant and Booker, but it also made them overly reliant on the individual performances of the two stars. Durant plays a dominant role on the court with the ball, playing a lot of one-on-one, and while his scoring efficiency is still remarkable, this style of play lacks variety for the team as a whole.
At the same time, the Rockets took advantage of the Suns' weak interior and quickly established control of the game through Jalen Green's tough offense and Van Fleet's playmaking. Jalen Green not only frequently completed 2+1 on the inside, but also showed excellent three-point touch on the outside, creating a huge threat to the Suns' defense. The Suns were passive on the defensive end and couldn't effectively contain the Rockets' offense.
Beal's departure not only limited the Suns' overall offense, but also made it easier for the Rockets to get to grips with the pace of the game. Van Fleet showed excellent control on the field, connecting the Arrows' attacking system with precise passing. Not only can he score, but he can also create more scoring opportunities for his teammates, forming a tacit cooperation for the Rockets as a whole.
The Suns' bench players were also unable to salvage the game at key moments. Royce O'Neale showed some brilliant shooting skills in the third quarter, but overall, the Suns' bench lineup couldn't catch up on the score. The lack of a lineup with enough depth made the Suns more passive in the second half of the game.
In the climax of the game, the teamwork of the Rockets and the outstanding performance of individual players, especially the emergence of Jalen Green and Vanwicht, highlighted their superiority in overall strength. In contrast, the Suns' internal problems and Beal's comeback slump have made it difficult for them to fight back in crunch time.
The result of this game was not just a win and a defeat, but also a revelation of the Suns' internal problems. With the playoffs just around the corner, the Suns need to learn from the lessons and strengthen the depth and playmaking of the roster in order to show a stronger competitiveness in future games.
Considering all aspects of this game, the Suns exposed a series of problems when facing the Houston Rockets. Beal's sluggish performance and brainless provocation on the court cost the Suns an important scoring point in key moments, while Durant and Booker's individual abilities were inadequate in the absence of playmaking point guards. In contrast, the Rockets fully demonstrated the team's tacit understanding and strength through Jalen Green's tough offense and Vanwilet's all-round performance.
The performance of the bench players also reflected the Suns' lack of roster depth, while the Rockets strengthened their overall fighting power through the excellent play of bench players such as Royce O'Neal in key moments. In the absence of a playmaking point guard, the Suns' tactical scheduling and ball distribution appeared to be chaotic, leaving Durant and Booker under tremendous defensive pressure when attacking with the ball.
This game is not only a loss, but also an opportunity for the Suns to reflect deeply. With the playoffs just around the corner, the Suns need to adjust their tactics and strengthen their internal organization and roster depth to improve their ability to respond in key moments. In my opinion, the Suns still have potential, but they need to fix their internal problems to ensure a better performance in the playoffs. This game has provided them with a valuable experience and hopefully they can learn from it and prepare for future competitions.