The Phoenix Suns came into this past week with some battle scars. Sure, the previously week they went 3-1, but that one loss was a stinger, blowing a 22-point fourth quarter lead to the Atlanta Hawks on their
home court. To start the season, Phoenix has been tested on their ability to come back when down, but until this week, we hadn’t seen how they responded to blowing a major lead. This week they had a chance to show their response, and they did so with a 3-0 week.
Here are the main questions for Week 5 that we want your thoughts on:
How have the Suns been able to respond to adversity so well this season?
Injuries, blown leads, or key players fouling out have not stopped the Suns from winning ten of their last 12. An important note from Phoenix’s crazy win over the Timberwolves was that the Suns blew an 18-point lead. However, unlike their game against the Hawks, it did not stop them from getting the victory when the final buzzer sounded.
The team was out Grayson Allen for the entire week, and his status for this week’s games remains murky. Jalen Green isn’t expected back anytime soon, and Rasheer Fleming, while he isn’t expected to miss a lot of time, tweaked his ankle against the Portland Trailblazers on Tuesday and hasn’t returned yet.
Phoenix has struggled with injuries of late, but both the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs were missing some of their starters when the Suns played them this week. How have the Suns not let their issues stop them from winning?
What was the Suns’ most impressive win this week?
Phoenix’s three wins this week all looked different. Tuesday’s win against Portland came in dominant fashion, giving Jordan Ott the chance to rest Devin Booker in the fourth. Friday’s win against the Timberwolves was a comeback win, as they were down late with both Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker fouled out, and Collin Gillespie hit a game-winner in the final moments to seal the win, breaking the team’s long losing streak against Minnesota. Sunday’s win, Phoenix was down for most of the first half, but ended the game on a 59-40 run with five players scoring at least 14 points, just like they did against the Blazers.
Dealers’ choice, what are you picking and why?
The Rockets and Thunder are up this week, what does Phoenix need to do to prove they can compete with the West’s best?
Phoenix will be playing the Houston Rockets without Kevin Durant tonight due to a family matter. However, Houston is the West’s four seed and has the fourth-best best odds to win the championship this year. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning champs, are off to a historic start to the season, winning 17 of their first 18 games.
What do the Suns need to prove in these matchups to make you feel that they can compete with the Western Conference’s best teams, and what type of game plans should Jordan Ott roll out against both foes?
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