Keys to Suns Extending Winning Streak vs Warriors

The Phoenix Suns (8-6) are looking to extend their winning streak to five games tonight as they welcome the Golden State Warriors (7-8) to Footprint Center for a nationally-broadcasted game on ESPN.

It's still early, but this Warriors squad looks to be more akin to the play-in exit squad that we got in 2021 than the NBA champion we saw in 2022.

The Warriors struggle with consistent scoring outside of Steph Curry, have a middle-of-the-pack defense, possess a very clear lack of depth at the 4/5 positions, among other issues.

Despite this, Curry and fellow guard Klay Thompson can catch fire any given night. Chris Paul and Dario Saric will be motivated in their returns to the Valley. Steve Kerr is a renowned tactician, too.

While the Suns are widely favored to take this game, they must find unconventional ways to win against the most recent NBA dynasty.

Consider Goodwin/Okogie Court Time

While Jordan Goodwin and Josh Okogie may be a clunky fit together offensively, their defensive abilities combined together could be a potential advantage tonight.

SCurry is the lone consistent scorer in the Warriors' rotation, and if Suns fans remember, Okogie shadowed the sharpshooter for the majority of the night, holding him to a 4-for-14 clip from three.

Okogie and Goodwin once again might not be the best duo to roll out offensively, but the tenacious, disruptive brand of defense both play could make life extremely frustrating for Curry tonight.

Emphasize Team Rebounding

The Warriors are one of the premier rebounding teams in the NBA despite the concerns of lack of depth at the center position.

Golden State ranks fourth in total rebounds per game and, more importantly, third in offensive boards at 13.9

The last thing the Suns want is to cede that volume of second-chance opportunities for the Warriors.

The most obvious beneficiary of second-chance opportunities is the best shooter of all time in Curry, but players such as Thompson and Andrew Wiggins can certainly catch a heater from deep as well, particularly off of kick-outs.

Phoenix must lean into the team-oriented rebounding effort that has yielded eight players averaging at least three boards per game.

While rebounding on both sides will be important, preventing second-chance Warrior points should be the focus.

Let Booker Assert Dominance Early

While Kevin Durant has generally been the catalyst of recent hot starts from Phoenix, the Suns must make Devin Booker the focal point of the offense early on tonight.

Booker's 2023 debut against Golden State included generating points for teammates on nearly every possession to close out the tight win against the Warriors.

Booker has thoroughly impressed on offense in general this season, but particularly as a playmaker, to the tune of 9.2 assists per game and the second highest total points created per game between points and assists generated per game.

Booker being trusted to be the engine of the offense early on bodes well for the Suns' prospects, as the sheer presence of him/Durant on the court together coupled with two shooters on the court together will surely stretch out an already thin Warriors defense.

While the Warriors do have one of the stingiest three-point offenses in the NBA, Booker's combination of increased assertiveness, more consistent timing, and an improved three-point shot make it a stout possibility that Phoenix could enjoy yet another elite offensive performance.