Three Takeaways After Suns' Opening Week of Play
The Phoenix Suns open a challenging week tonight with two dates against the Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs before a Saturday morning game (10:00 AM Arizona time) on the east coast against the Philadelphia 76ers.
While this week could mark the return of two Suns' stars and includes a trio of challenging games, there must be some time set aside to reflect on the week that was.
The Suns finished 2-1 and should've finished 3-0. There's much to be positive about, even with a fourth-quarter blunder against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
This Team Will Be Just Fine Without Booker and Beal - For Now
This is obviously not an indictment on either player. Booker is a top ten player in the world, and Beal is two years removed from averaging 30 points a game.
This is a testament to the depth the franchise acquired this offseason. Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen had their first great games as members of the Suns on Saturday night, Drew Eubanks looks levels better than Jock Landale, and capable NBA players in Keita Bates-Diop/Chimezie Metu have hardly played this season.
Suns fans should obviously root for both of the stars to return as soon as possible, but also should feel good that this squad likely won't have to fight to avoid the play-in tournament like they did last season.
Defense Is NOT a Concern
This has probably been the most hammered-down topic of conversation among Suns fans and media through three games. The Suns came into the season with hopes of having a league-average defense, but many on the outside believed they had one of the very worst defenses in the NBA.
Three games in, and the Suns have largely done an amazing job while playing against multiple star players and good offenses. Jordan Goodwin, Josh Okogie, and Drew Eubanks have been huge in the effort of rebuilding a defense that lost a lot with the departures of the Mikal Bridges-Cam Johnson duo.
The defense likely won't be top five all season, but that's almost certainly not necessary with all the offensive firepower the team has.
Don't Be Concerned With Cold Start From Three
Phoenix has started the season shooting 29.7% from three point range, the seventh-worst mark in the league. Sharpshooters such as Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant have started out fairly cold from deep. The best 3 point percentage on the team thus far is Yuta Watanabe at 44.4% in a small minute three-game sample.
The only other player over 40% is Josh Okogie.
If anything, this start should be encouraging. A player such as Okogie shooting well and some of the best shooters struggling is a sign of early-season highs and lows.
Most of the best shooters on the team will progress to the mean, and even if Okogie regresses to the mean, he will be a dangerous piece the team can throw out even with a league-average three point shot.
Adding Booker and Beal back will space the floor even more for the bevy of shooters as well, expect this team to be at the top of the league in three-point shooting at Game 82.
