From Blemish to Glory: How the Suns Are Starting Their Path to Redemption After Loss to Clippers
The postseason revolves around the concept of making amends, a term that surprisingly lacks the letter “L”. However, the playoff history of the Suns cannot be described in the same way.
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Our quest for redemption started on Sunday night with a major setback – a defeat with a score of 115-110 to the Clippers which gave them the advantage of early momentum and home-court advantage.
Devin Booker’s Suns experienced their first Game 1 playoff series defeat, while Kevin Durant also suffered his first loss as a member of the Suns’ team. While there is no need for panic, considering previous experiences, it is reasonable to feel a slight concern.
Suns’ coach Monty Williams stated that they will review the footage, gather their thoughts, and prepare for their next game on Tuesday, emphasizing that it’s just one game.
The Suns had several opportunities to emerge victorious in a peculiar and disordered match. However, with increased intensity and resolute defense, they eventually managed to take command in the third quarter. Regrettably, they surrendered their lead alarmingly quickly.
Although they displayed remarkable defensive intensity and rim-guarding skills in the latter half, their offensive performance faltered towards the end. The team relied heavily on players other than Booker or Durant to take shots, leading to an imbalance in scoring. A particular possession drained the crowd’s enthusiasm and sapped the home team’s energy.
After calling a timeout with just over a minute left in the game, the Clippers kept the ball for the following 51 seconds. Despite missing three shots, they managed to gain possession of the ball through offensive rebounds. Although Russell Westbrook had a difficult night and missed 16 of his 19 shots, he stepped up and made some crucial plays, including a strong defensive stop on Booker, who attempted to drive to the basket while the Suns were down by three points.
The game at Footprint Center brought back memories of the Suns’ Game 7 loss against Dallas as their slow and difficult start led to another playoff disappointment.
“No excuses,” Booker said. “It’s that time of year, and if you’re not up and ready for these (games), you’re playing the wrong sport.”
Concerns arose that the Suns had not faced enough challenges toward the end of the season. Some believed that playing with Durant alone was insufficient to establish the unity and reliance needed to thrive in the postseason. However, Williams shocked everyone by deploying 11 of his players and choosing Torrey Craig instead of Josh Okogie as a starter.
Craig was one of the leading players, demonstrating his skills by earning 22 points during a game that lasted almost 27 minutes.
The Suns’ shortcomings were revealed in two major areas. Firstly, their reserve players were only able to score 10 points while the opposing team’s bench scored 34. Secondly, the Clippers were successful in making 10 out of 31 three-point shots, which included some crucial shots in the final quarter.
Throughout the regular season, it was a common occurrence for the Suns to make fewer three-pointers than their opponents. This was once again evident in the last game, as they made four less than their opponent.
It is crucial for Williams to align his offensive strategy and player rotation as tension is already escalating in the Valley. He must ensure that his two top-performing players take charge during the last five minutes of the game, similar to how Kawhi Leonard (who scored 38 points) led the Clippers to victory.
Although the Suns head coach is not facing any pressure as the postseason approaches, the team’s new owner Mat Ishbia has no emotional ties to the current coaching staff. He could be questioning why the Suns did not recognize the potential of Mikal Bridges and use him in the same way that he is being utilized in Brooklyn. Ishbia has set high standards for the team’s performance in the present and expects them to deliver.
Williams is facing increasing pressure, which will likely escalate following their loss at home in Game 1.
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