Phoenix Suns v New York Knicks 12/13 Game Preview

Phoenix Suns (7-17) v New York Knicks (14-10)

Monday 12/13/2016 7:00pm
Talking Stick Resort Arena
Fox Sports Arizona/Arizona Sports 98.7FM

Season Series – 0-0
All-Time Series – New York leads 62-60
Last Matchup – March 9, 2016 New York won 128-97
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to New Orleans 120-119
Knicks’ Last Game – Win over Los Angeles Lakers 118-112
Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 106.8 (7th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 113.3 (29th of 30)
Knicks’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 104.8 (12th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 107.1 (24th of 30)

Preview

Phoenix Suns

The Suns’ loss to the New Orleans Hornets was gut-wrenching for Suns fans. Leading for the majority of the game and up by as many as 15 points, they could not hold on late and New Orleans fought back in the fourth to send the game to overtime. In the extra period Phoenix failed to convert on several important offensive possessions and had it not been for a three-pointer by Jared Dudley at the buzzer, the final score would have been a little more indicative of the disparity between the two teams. Unfortunately the loss spoiled a solid offensive night from Eric Bledsoe’s 32 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds, and terrific defense on P.J. Tucker on Anthony Davis who finished with only 14 points and 12 rebounds. For the Official Valley of the Suns postgame wrap up, read here…T.J. Warren has been listed as questionable for tonight’s game…The Suns are back up to number one in the league in field goal attempts per game at 89.1…By contrast, they are eighth overall with 39.5 makes, a 44.3% completion rate, good for twentieth overall…In his interview with ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Earl Watson said he wanted the Suns to shoot more threes. Over the past three games they are 2nd in the league with 34.7 attempts, though still a full six shots behind the league leading Houston Rockets…On the season they are 20th overall in threes made, however, in the past three games they are 7th with a nearly four make spike, draining 12.0 per game…Watson also mentioned that he wanted more passing leading to more assists. Over the past three games this too has been accomplished to a degree as the normally league-worst (and still statistically ranked worst) assist team, is 18th over the short stretch, averaging 21.3 assists per outing, 3.3 above their seasonal rate…The Suns are a second half team, and are currently 4th overall averaging 54.5 points…Normally in the bottom third of the league with an eFG% of 48.9, in the past three game stretch the Suns have set themselves at 17th overall at 51.1%…Phoenix remains the most prolific fouling team in the NBA, at a rate of 25.7 per game…With three consecutive games of 16 points or less by Devin Booker, and two consecutive 30+ point games by Eric Bledsoe, Bled has taken a strong grip on the team scoring lead, averaging 19.8 points per game to Booker’s 18.7. T.J. Warren, who has been sitting at 17.7 due to his extended absence, will look to re-enter himself into the Suns scoring race…After an impressive 21 rebounds against the Pelicans, Tyson Chandler is once again averaging 11.5 rebounds per game…Brandon Knight’s scoring average has sagged to 12.8…Eric Bledsoe is one of only five players in the NBA averaging a minimum of 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. The others are: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, James Harden, and Russel Westbrook…

New York Knicks

This is Head Coach Jeff Hornacek’s first appearance back in Phoenix since he was fired ten months ago…The New York Knicks are in 3rd in the Eastern Conference…The statistical comparison between the two teams is quite striking…The Knicks are a high shooting team as well and are second in the league in field goal attempts only .2 behind the Suns. However, they are 6th overall in field goals made. Yet, they are only a marginally better shooting team than the Suns and average 44.8% shooting, .5% better than Phoenix…They are neither a high three-point shooting team, nor a great one, averaging 9.3 of 25.8 threes made and attempted per game for 35.8%…Unlike the Suns who are 4th in the league in free throws attempted, the Knicks are 27th overall, averaging 20.2 attempted per game, making 78.6% of them, good for 8th best percentage…New York sits right above Phoenix in average rebounds per game, 5th overall with 45.9 per game, only .3 better than the Suns…While the Suns are near the bottom of the league in blocks with 4.3 per game, New York sits at 4th overall with 5.9…Similarly, while the Suns are 27th overall in own shot attempts blocked at 5.8, New York is 8th with only 4.5…Tonight may potentially be a high fouling game as the last place Suns average 25.7 per game, while the Knicks are 24th overall with 21.4 per game…While Carmelo Anthony’s 22.4 points per game is the second lowest of his last twelve seasons, he has not partnered up with a talent near the level of Kristaps Porzingis since the days of Allen Iverson in Denver. In only his second season in the Association, Porzingis is continuing on his rookie year rebounding and assists averages, sitting on 7.7 rebounds 1.4 assists, .6 steals, and 1.9 blocks, all almost identical to last year. However, he has upped his scoring average to 20.0 points per game, almost a full six points higher than last season…Derrick Rose too may be one of the best players Carmelo has played with since Denver, and is averaging 17.0 points and 4.6 assists per game, staying relatively healthy thus far in his first season in New York…It is reserve Brandon Jennings that actually leads the team in assists with 5.1. His season high is 11, which he has matched twice thus far…Far from the player he used to be, Joakim Noah continues to provide a solid defensive presence in the middle for the Knicks, averaging 12.6 rebounds (the third highest of his career) and 1.4 blocks per 36 minutes.