Suns Know Energy, Quick Start Crucial vs Bucks
PHOENIX -- In the NBA, there's no time to harp on losses - especially when you're the Phoenix Suns and the best team in the league is visiting your building on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Suns hope to rebound in a major way after a poor showing in their loss to the Golden State Warriors last night. Up next are the Milwaukee Bucks, who currently own the league's best record (49-19) and have won their last 20-of-22 heading into tonight.
Phoenix will hope to get off to a much better start after allowing Golden State to tally 43 points in the opening quarter.
“It was a slow start. They came out with high energy like we knew they would and once they get going with momentum like that it's hard to fight back," said Devin Booker, who helped the Suns eventually climb out of a 25 point deficit to get it down to one possession in the third quarter.
"I think we did a good job of weathering the storm you know just kept fighting all the way thru we gave ourselves a couple shots a couple of opportunities to you know to take the lead or get that close so you know it was a good fight.”
Though Milwaukee doesn't have a Klay Thompson to score 33 points in the first half, they do have MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is fourth in the league in scoring (31.5 points per night) and third in rebounds per night with 11.9.
Antetokounmpo didn't play in Milwaukee's recent 104-101 victory over Phoenix on Feb. 26, but the Suns know the task at hand.
“It’s the NBA. We know what we are up against and it's nobody's first rodeo so you know - get some rest, get some energy and get back tomorrow and hash it out," said Suns forward Josh Okogie after Monday's loss.
Phoenix knows a quick start can help make-or-break a tightly contested game. The Bucks aren't the offensive powerhouse Golden State shapes to be, but Milwaukee is the top team in the league and will command crucial energy from Phoenix tonight from the jump:
"I mean their shot making in general in the first quarter put us in the hole. There were a few breakdowns because of their pace but I didn’t think it was a failing grade," Suns coach Monty Williams said.
"We were just a step behind with some of the shots that Klay (Thompson) made in the first half … I thought the shot that he made right before halftime was indicative of the first half. Then after that we pretty much won the game from a scoring standpoint we just couldn’t – to start off like that in the first quarter put us in the hole. To your point it was transition but a lot of it was just their shot making.”
Given the Suns are welcoming Jae Crowder back to the Footprint Center for the first time since his departure, there shouldn't be any need for juice from Phoenix or their fans.
