Exactly how you draw it up, right? A young Washington team came in ready to run, ready to test legs, ready to turn chaos into pace. After all, they’re a team that is 7th in pace. That is what youth does. They push and they fly. And credit to Jordan Ott, who was not shy about burning timeouts the second that pace got loose, letting everyone hear it, making sure the message landed.
As the night wore on, the Suns did what they are learning to do. They ground it out. I think back to this same matchup
a year ago, and yeah, I know, I keep dragging last season into the room. That one is going to stick with me for a while. Last year against Washington, Phoenix controlled the game and then watched it slip away late because closing was optional. They still won, but they gave up 40 points in the fourth to make it more interesting than it needed to be.
This year feels different. This is a roster full of closers. Roles are clear. Identity is clear. When it is time to finish, they finish.
4 straight wins now. 6 games over .500. Trending upward.
And the rebounding tells the story. Over the last two games, Phoenix pulled down more than 20 offensive boards in each. That has not happened since 2018. Extra possessions are becoming a habit, not a fluke. Against teams under .500, they are 12-4. This team is learning how to handle its business, and it shows.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Seven players scored in double-digits against the Pelicans, but it was Collin Gillespie who earned the Bright Side Baller. 6 thus far this year through 31 games. Did you have that in your preseason predictions?
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 32 against the Wizards. Here are your nominees:
Dillon Brooks
26 points (8-of-20, 3-of-8 3PT), 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +26 +/-
Collin Gillespie
25 points (10-of-14, 5-of-8 3PT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +13 +/-
Devin Booker
22 points (8-of-23, 1-of-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +22 +/-
Royce O’Neale
15 points (5-of-8, 5-of-6 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +18 +/-
Oso Ighodaro
6 points (2-of-3), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +27 +/-
Jordan Goodwin
14 points (6-of-14, 2-of-6 3PT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, -1 +/-
The time has come to cast ye votes.
