What We Learned From Suns OT Victory vs Bulls

The Phoenix Suns got away with a win against the Chicago Bulls in overtime, a game where the Suns went up 22-4 early on.

The torrid start likely gave Suns fans hope that the team was starting to turn the corner to become the dominant team everyone expected prior to the start of the season.

Not so fast.

This team still has a ways to go to reach their full potential, including reintroducing Devin Booker into the starting lineup and easing Bradley Beal back into action, but there were once again flashes of the potential the squad has to dominate.

Grayson Allen shot 8-for-13 from behind the arc, Jusuf Nurkic had a near triple-double, Kevin Durant scored 25 points on 16 shots and continues to be the engine of a team that isn't yet whole.

Despite some close wins and disappointing losses, there are many positives fans can take from this period of turbulence.

Rebounding is Elite

Taking a look back at yesterday's keys to the game, winning the rebounding battle was one of the vital areas the Suns needed to control to beat Chicago. They did just that and then some more.

Nurkic lead the charge with 16 boards, including seven on the offensive side. Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant also chipped in with 9 each.

Despite those three being the dominant players in the rebound battle, it was truly a team effort. Every single player on the team that received meaningful minutes grabbed at least one rebound.

The Suns grabbed 12 offensive boards en route to 52 total for the game. Chicago only got 39. This discrepancy was almost certainly the main factor that tipped the game to the Suns' favor, especially through a largely uneven performance.

Phoenix should remain a strong rebounding team throughout the season, assuming a healthy Nurkic and a continued team-driven effort.

Keita Bates-Diop Should Have Solid Grasp on Starting Role

KBD signed with the Suns in July after three seasons on a rebuilding Spurs squad. The versatile wing was looking for an opportunity for a sizable role on a true contender. He was possibly the early front-runner for the fifth starter role early in the process as well.

He seemingly lost the prospective large role in the preseason, where he wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, he simply just didn't do anything to distinguish himself from the Josh Okogie's of the world.

Bates-Diop may have just remedied the fifth starter questions when Booker officially makes his return to the lineup.

The Ohio State product has started the last three games, and certainly hasn't disappointed.

He has been effective as a scorer with the few touches he receives, even hitting one of the biggest shots of the game last night, a corner three that brought the Suns' deficit from four to one late in OT.

The former Spur has also showed consistent signs of being just that. The way he plays the game just screams Gregg Popovich disciple. He has been a great connector in the offense on top of the knockdown shooting, showing off the ability to see the court well and frequently making the right read.

Most important of all, Bates-Diop has been a great defender. While Okogie is a great defender, Bates-Diop has brought near unlimited switch-ability and versatility on the defensive end that perfectly compliments the Suns' surprisingly stringent half-court defense.

Coach Vogel has a tough decision to make pertaining to the fifth starter upon Booker's hopeful return in the next week, but Bates-Diop has certainly earned the gig off of the last three games.

Suns Fans May Have Rushed to Judgement on Nurkic

Nurkic has been scrutinized by many Suns fans across social media in his first two weeks as a member of the squad, with some even continually comparing him and Ayton on a game-to-game basis.

Nurkic answered the critics last night, coming out with a near triple-double and two of the most important individual plays of the night.

Jusuf Nurkic with his 2nd game-winner of the season.

Clutch. pic.twitter.com/aLcZwS0uu8
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) November 9, 2023

Nurkic came out with a steal while guarding Nikola Vucevic on the block, keeping it a one-point game, then subsequently hit the game-winning shot off of a Durant dump-off in a pick-and-roll.

@FlexFromJersey is always 💯

Explained how Nurkic will do better when the Big 3 is whole and how we will see that Nurkic triple double from the preseason

With just Beal, 20/17/8 and 2 blocks

For Nurkic it’s all about FIT

Now just waiting on Book
— Book’em “fan” (@dbookownsyou) November 9, 2023

Nurkic was more than impactful outside of those two plays as well. Despite an alarming six turnovers, he dished out 8 dimes, scored 20 points, and as mentioned above, grabbed a team-leading 16 boards.

Suns insider FLEX From Jersey has been a large figure in the Nurkic defense, bringing up some very valid points, especially that Nurkic will be at his best when the team is completely together.

Nurkic isn't the scoring threat he used to be pre-leg injury, but he also hasn't been in a situation that caters to his skill-set in years.

That should change with the return of Beal and imminent return of Booker. The whole team being together should only enhance the impact Nurkic can bring to the court.

The Suns' next game will be the opening tilt in the inaugural NBA in-season tournament against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tip off will come shortly after 8 PM Arizona time at Footprint Center. The game will be an ESPN-exclusive broadcast.