For the second straight preseason game, the Suns could not finish the job, falling 124-117 to the Bulls. They built a lead of as many as 15 points mid-second quarter, and had good defensive energy described by color commentator Rex Chapman as “it looks like the Suns are playing with eight players out there”. This intensity and focus did not sustain going into the locker room up just two. The final score involved a late crumbling by the back end of Phoenix’s roster, but this was mostly a tight game throughout
the second half.
Free throw shooting was improved over game one at 76%. Turnovers tied directly to the loss, and tonight’s 26 were not much better than the last game. Some of this ties to all the rotation mixing and it being preseason, but I see it also as a loss of focus.
Some positives include Dillon Brooks playing with a somewhat controlled intensity (aka no technicals, at least) and being an efficient scorer, getting 24 points on only 9 shots. Is Jordan Goodwin the best ever “second stint with the Suns” player? The lineup with him, Maluach, and Dunn was stifling. Gillespie was solid all around.
Several concerns surface from this outing. The core rotation can play like a top 4 seed and then fall apart, same as preseason game one. There are no indications Bridges’ ankle injury is serious, but that will be something to monitor as the preseason continues. Book’s three-point shot was not falling, finishing 0-8 from the arc, and the team needs that to be a rarity when the games count.
Of players with roles to be determined:
Impressed…Ryan Dunn provided solid defense without much fouling until the closing minutes. He passed the eye test. Jamaree Bouyea scored 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Did not impress…Rasheer Fleming didn’t show the intensity needed to take his next steps, finishing 1-of-4 with three fouls and no steals or blocks. Khaman Maluach: While there were some highlight blocks, his overall strength in the paint both offensively and defensively was underwhelming. Keep in mind Chicago was missing their first- and second-string centers.
Game Flow
First Half
Phoenix opened with a slow start, down 10-3 in the first two minutes – including two turnovers and allowing two open threes (which Norm Powell and Jalen Smith converted). Multiple plays at the rim in the first few minutes had me thinking how Khaman Maluach may have made a difference with that.
Coach Jordan Ott successfully challenged an inbound pass, and Miles Bridges immediately converted an and-1 to close the gap to 13-17. Jalen Green showed a nicely paced mid-range and an alley-oop to Oso on back-to-back plays – things he worked on this summer.
We got to see Maluach with the starters at the 6:25 mark of Q1 down 3.
Dillon Brooks made his third three-pointer to give Phoenix a lead. Jordan Goodwin started doing Jordan Goodwin things, and then Ryan Dunn successfully forced an 8-second count for back-to-back turnovers forced, immediately followed by a Collin Gillespie three turned 4-point play with Man Man converting the free throw on an away-from-the-ball foul. A Collin three opened up a 14-point lead. 40-29 Purple Gang after Q1.
Bridges turned an ankle and came out at the 11:01 mark. He did not return. A very durable player – but so was Jalen Green before last year! Fingers crossed.
Oso Ighadaro converted an alley-oop from Kennard and two fast-break visits at the boom room in the preceding 90 seconds of game play. Overall, the Suns are looking sharp and playing with good intensity.
Caleb Wilson went on a mini run to cut the deficit to 9. Phoenix seemed to lose focus; Norman Powell (a focus of our preview article) made back-to-back threes, and the Bulls closed the half down only two, 66-62.
Second Half
Rasheer Fleming opened with the second-half starting unit in place of Bridges. Back-to-back Brooks baskets opened the half. Things got sloppy with the team, up to 15 turnovers at the midpoint of Q3.
While Brooks has kept his composure and toed the edge in terms of technicals, he was already up to 4 personal fouls and got a fifth pushing off on an inbound. He and Buddy Hield had to be separated at 4:55, and Dillon came out.
Huge block at the rim on rookie Noa Essengue by Maluach at 4:30.
A review reversed a foul on Gillespie and put him at the line (make that 2 for 2 on reviews).
More sloppy play and a Patrick Williams three put the Bulls up 3 to end the third.
Q4 opened with Jamaree Bouyea, Pat Spencer, Dunn, Fleming and Maluach – the first four of which are fighting for their place on the roster.
Spencer tied it up with a three at 5:25, then made a steal and took it the distance for a dunk and the lead at 4:42. Another game headed for crunch time. Tobe Awaka went for 14 and 11 in 21 minutes, and the Suns could not get it done.
Up Next
Spurs at Suns, Saturday, October 10, 7:30pm! We’ll see you then!
