Is it too early in the season to feel that many emotions over a basketball game? Probably. But there I was, riding the rollercoaster as the Suns coughed up an overtime loss to Utah. The team was down 16–2
before I even got settled into my seat. You could feel the air get heavy. Then, like a bar fight that wouldn’t end, they kept swinging. Over and over. That stubborn pulse you hope for in a team showed up. No Jalen Green. No Dillon Brooks. But plenty of attitude. Even down 7 with 23 seconds left, they didn’t fold.
They got crushed on the boards, outmuscled by size they never countered. It was obvious. You could feel the frustration bubbling because the lineup was small enough to fit in a rental car. But that’s the grind of it all, the ugly side of progress. Jordan Ott is still figuring it out, learning what works while the games actually count. Starting Dunn and Oso against that kind of length? A choice that deserved the L that followed.
You can pinpoint a dozen reasons why they lost. Size. Poor execution. Booker clanking too many looks. But you can also find reasons to appreciate it. They fought. They made it fun. And somewhere in the chaos of that fourth game of the season, you could see the bones of a team that refuses to roll over. That’s worth something.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
We all knew it wouldn’t take long for Devin Booker to remind everyone who he is. Last season’s Bright Side Baller of the Year came roaring back, dropping 31 points on the Denver Nuggets. Sure, he coughed up the ball nine times, but when you’re carrying the offense on your back, a few turnovers are the tax you pay for greatness. Booker snagged 50% of the vote and his first Bright Side Baller Award of the season, reclaiming his throne with style.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Your nominees for Game 3 of the season?
Devin Booker
34 points (11-of-26, 5-of-12 3PT, 7-of-10 FT), 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, -5 +/-
Mark Williams
25 points (9-of-14 FG, 7-of-9 FT), 11 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 steals, 0 turnovers, +13 +/-
Royce O’Neale
17 points (6-of-17, 5-of-12 3PT), 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, 4 turnovers, +1 +/-
Grayson Allen
23 points (7-of-19, 4-of-13 3PT, 5-of-7 FT), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -8 +/-
Collin Gillespie
15 points (5-of-13, 4-of-12 3PT, 1-of-1 FT), 3 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, +19 +/-
Nick Richards
6 points (2-of-6 FG, 2-of-2 FT), 10 rebounds, 1 turnover, +5 +/-
And now, my fellow Bright Siders, it is time to cast ye votes.
