In one of the most anticipated games in the early 2021-2022 NBA season, the Phoenix Suns will collide with the league-leading Golden State Warriors.
After a perfect road trip and the second-best winning streak in franchise history, the Suns will host the Warriors for the team’s biggest test of the season. The Warriors have the best record in the NBA at 18-2 with guard Stephen Curry playing at an MVP level.
Golden State has flexed their offensive and defensive prowess with the second-most points scored and least points allowed per game in the NBA.
Curry continues to be the main focus on offense while teammate Klay Thompson remains out. Leading the race for MVP, Curry scores 28.6 points per game while shooting 46.6% from the field and 42.3% from beyond the arc. Aside from pure scoring, Curry helps to get his teammates involved with 6.8 assists each game. With all the attention focused on him, he can get easy shots for his teammates which contributes to the team’s high scoring rate.
Defense has been exceptional for Golden State in addition to its free-flowing offense. With the best defensive rating in the league, Golden State holds its opponents to 41.9% from the field and 32.1% from three for first and fourth-best in the league. Getting the stops they need allows them to possess the ball on offense and score at an efficient rate. They also steal the ball 10 times a game (best in the league) which creates even more opportunities to score the ball.
Another big positive for the Warriors this season is the improvement of guard Jordan Poole. Finding himself in a starting role with Thompson out, Poole is taking advantage. He scores 18 points a game as the third-leading scorer on the team. His ability to knock down shots is demonstrated by his four games with 20 or more points and three games scoring in the 30s.
As for Phoenix, their offense is nothing to sneeze at either. The defending Western Conference champions score the third most points and have the best field goal percentage as a team. The offense continues to be run through guard Devin Booker who seems to have found his shot.
After what some would consider a slow start by his standards, Booker has improved from game to game. Booker averages 23.9 points per game on 45.8% from the field and a career-best 41% from downtown. On the recent road trip, he came off three straight games with over 30 points. His hot and efficient shooting will be key against a team that holds opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the NBA.
For a team known to live in the midrange, Phoenix’s three-point shooting percentage of 36.2% is the eighth-best in the league and not far off the Warriors’ 36.8%. Granted, the Warriors shoot ten more threes but the Suns can be nearly as efficient with fewer shots.
Fresh off a new 4-year deal worth $120 million, Chris Paul continues to shine in the Valley. Putting up All-Star numbers at 36 years old, Paul still has the fight and ability to lead the young Suns. His 14.5 points and 10.1 league-best assists are vital to the Suns’ offense on nights where Booker can’t get the shots to fall and to help teammates get easy looks at the basket. Even at his age, Paul’s defensive ability remains with two steals a game.
Another player with a new contract, Mikal Bridges continues to be a valued player on a team with championship ambitions. Bridges is the team’s best defender and works every night on the opposing team’s best player. He will likely draw Curry and will need to limit his shooting to give the Suns a good chance to win this game. Coming off a career-high seven steals against Brooklyn on Saturday, Bridges should look out for the Warriors’ turnovers at 16 times a game which ranks 28th in the league.
One key advantage for the Suns is their number one overall pick Deandre Ayton. One weakness for the Warriors is their lack of size in the paint, Ayton needs to establish himself as a dominant force. Shooting a career-best 64% from the field, Ayton should be a focus for the Suns to find him easy buckets. Nobody on the Warriors can match his size and strength and therefore can win the game for the Suns.
Phoenix needs to limit Curry, force turnovers, and feed Ayton if they want to take down the top team in the NBA.
The primetime matchup tips off Tuesday at 8 pm Arizona time on TNT. While it is still early, a win for the Suns will propel them to the best record in the NBA and gain momentum with a 17-game win streak.
Contact the reporter at noahv822@gmail.com.
