Suns Recap: Running Out The Clock
By Gavin Schall
Another brutal offensive showing led to the Phoenix Suns losing their ninth game in the last 10 and ensured that they’ll finish under .500 for the fourth time in five seasons.
The San Antonio Spurs closed out a 107-91 romp with a 22-9 run halfway through the fourth quarter, during which they scored on 10 straight possessions.
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They’ve now won 11 games in a row with this one being a classic case of two teams going in completely opposite directions to finish the season. San Antonio was brimming with playoff level intensity while the beat up Suns limped towards the finish line.
Tim Duncan led the way with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a pristine 8-of-9 mark from the free throw line.
Phoenix shot 42 percent from the field and made just four three-pointers on the day.
The Suns managed to keep it close throughout the first quarter by keeping San Antonio from getting into the lane and starting those dizzying Spurs-ian passing sequences that always seem to end in a wide open look.
The second quarter was a different story as the Spurs ripped off a 13-4 run with all but one of the baskets coming on a three or a free throw.
Phoenix managed to turn the defensive intensity up again in the third quarter, but just like Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, they didn’t have the firepower to make it count for anything.
Gerald Green continued his thought-provoking late season surge, leading the Suns with 23 points while hitting half his shots from the field and going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
A Model To Build On
It’s tough to admit you have to emulate another team to achieve success. It’s a whole lot tougher when that team has been a thorn in your side for the better part of 20 years.
It’s not rocket science to say a team built on one of the greatest coaches in the game’s history combined with three future Hall of Famers and an up and coming Finals MVP will be successful, but it’s the little things the Spurs do that the Suns need to focus on. Even with a playoff spot secured, guys like Tony Parker were diving on the floor for tip balls and executing every cut on offense like it was the last play of the Finals.
Phoenix stubbornly kept trying to beat San Antonio with iso-ball, getting nowhere and throwing up prayers instead of resetting the offense. It’s a combination of selfishness, youth and a lack of shooting that is all the more glaringly obvious in the bright light of the Spurs’ beautiful game. Balancing out the roster with experience, shooting and ball movers has to be a long-term priority.
Starters Struggle
After Brandon Knight went down a month ago it seemed as if the Suns had found a starting lineup that clicked. The defense took a step up and the offense had a two-game stretch where everything clicked. Since then, it’s been nothing but inconsistency.
Tonight it was P.J. Tucker, Archie Goodwin, and Markieff Morris‘ turns to struggle as the trio combined to shoot 12-for-33. Tucker struggled to make the Spurs pay for their hard closeouts, Goodwin couldn’t do anything outside two acrobatic finishes and Morris had no luck carving out post potion. With an injury-depleted bench, Phoenix can’t afford to have two starters struggle much less three. Four of the Spurs’ five starters finished at least 10 points for the game.
No Need For Kawhi
The Spurs have won 21 of their last 24 games, and have led by at least 21 points in six of their last seven wins. When any team reaches that level of utter dominance there’s always a multiple contributing factors, but for San Antonio a good portion of it can be boiled down to two words: Kawhi Leonard. Leonard got fully healthy right at the start of the run and it’s shown in his play.
Leonard finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, but didn’t really get it going until the fourth quarter. Instead, the Spurs relied on sharp interior passing, transition and playing through Tim Duncan, who shot 7-for-11 from the floor. Six other Spurs scored in double figures, showcasing the type of balance the Suns possesed pre-deadline.
Next: Should The Phoenix Suns Re-Sign Brandon Knight?