Games like the Suns’ loss to the Lakers on Sunday night are the ones that punch you right in the gut. They feel mucky. They feel gross. For a Phoenix team that lives on rhythm and disruption, this was
one of those nights where it felt like the game was taken out of their hands by a whistle that never loosened up.
That is part of the deal with this team. It is going to happen from time to time, especially when you play a franchise that has made a living off preferential treatment. Only the Orlando Magic attempt more free throws than the Lakers do on a nightly basis, so that reality has to be baked into the scouting report. Play aggressive. But play smart.
You can point to a lot of moments if you want to.
Just a minute into the game, Dillon Brooks picks up a technical after responding to contact that LeBron James initiated. On a night where Tyler Ford seemed more interested in reviewing plays than calling them correctly in real time, that one probably deserved another look. You can point to the free-throw parade at the end of the first half.
You can point to LeBron running into Brooks on a late three and getting a pass. In a one-possession game, you can always find a million reasons why a team lost or why it should have won.
What cannot be ignored is what happened in the middle of the game. The Suns went eight full minutes without scoring. Eight. The Lakers ripped off a 24-0 run during that stretch. That is where the damage was done.
And yet, Phoenix still fought back. Down 20 in the fourth quarter, they clawed their way back into it. They put themselves in a position to steal the game anyway. Sure, it would have helped if the whistle leaned their way even a little. Sure, it would have helped if the Lakers had not shot 43 free throws. But that is the NBA. And when you are playing the Lakers, you already know how this usually goes.
Oh, and the Suns went 0-2 in games dictated by NBA Cup group play. Sure hope these two games don’t come back and bite ‘em in the ass come April…
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Jamaree Bouyea was one of the few players who brought consistent fight on Tuesday against the Thunder. For that effort, he earns his second Bright Side Baller of the season. 25 games in, no one has truly separated themselves, and that is what happens when a team is banged up.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 26 against the Lakers. Here are your nominees:
Devin Booker
27 points (7-of-17, 0-of-5 3PT, 13-of-16 FT), 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, +4 +/-
Mark Williams
20 points (9-of-10), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, +14 +/-
Dillon Brooks
18 points (6-of-9, 4-of-7 3PT), 1 rebound, 0 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls, +12 +/-
Grayson Allen
13 points (4-of-11, 1-of-5 3PT), 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers, -4 +/-
Royce O’Neale
12 points (4-of-7, 4-of-7 3PT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -23 +/-
Collin Gillespie
10 points (4-of-9, 2-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -2 +/-
The polls are open!
