Suns Should Cut Down the Nets in Brooklyn

Phoenix Suns (22-49) v Brooklyn Nets (14-56)

Thursday 3/23/2017 4:30pm
Barclays Center, Brooklyn NY
Fox Sports Arizona/Arizona Sports 98.7FM

Season Series – Brooklyn leads 1-0
All-Time Series – Phoenix leads 44-39
Last Matchup – November 12, 2016, Brooklyn won 122-104
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to the Miami Heat 112-97
Nets’ Last Game – Win over the Detroit Pistons 98-96
Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.1 (10th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 112.5 (29th of 30)
Nets’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 105.7 (13th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 113.6 (30th of 30)

Preview

The Suns went into Miami two afternoon’s ago a little more short-handed than normal due to an illness to Alan Williams who because of it was forced to sit out for the first time since February 13. He had averaged 12.6 points and 9.5 rebounds in 23.7 minutes over that period. For about 16 minutes the Suns either led or were within only a two possession deficit appearing like they might be able to hang with the Heat and possibly pull off the upset. It was a little before the halfway point of the second quarter though that Miami turned the heat up and using several at least one very large run in each quarter blew the Suns out. Phoenix was unable to bring the game under control from that point forward and found themselves staring at their fifth loss in a row – tied for their longest losing streak on the season. For a full recap and interesting stats from Tuesday’s loss, read here.

The Brooklyn Nets needed a buzzer-beater from Brook Lopez to steal a two-point victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night winning their third of their last six games. Archie Goodwin, who signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on March 15, scored a season-high 10 points on 5-10 from the field, with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. This was Goodwin’s second game with the Nets, and fifth appearance in the NBA all season. Goodwin told SB Nation’s Nets Daily that he watched the Nets all season and wanted to be there from the start.

“Being in Phoenix for three years where I never really got an opportunity, then (I was in) New Orleans where I didn’t get an opportunity as well,” he said at shoot around. “Just looking at this opportunity here and being able to come in and work like I’ve been working, I’m just trying to take advantage.”

All the way back on November 12, these two teams met in Phoenix, at a time when neither realized how bad they would end up by the end of the season. The Suns had played tough against several teams much better on paper and were 3-6 following a win over the Detroit Pistons. The Nets were, believe it or not, third in their division and after the victory over the Suns (in which Phoenix shot 37.4% from the field and Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe combined for 19 points), at 4-5 were in 9th place in the East. The wheels fell off for Brooklyn from there and the Nets lost seven in a row. They would later record an 11 game losing streak and then from January 21 to February 25 lose 16 in a row.

The Nets have not won two games in a row all season (they had four two-game win streaks last season), but set themselves up to do so facing the Suns coming off of the victory over Detroit. The Pistons and Suns are currently the only two teams in the league that the Nets own the season series lead over, with the Pistons the only team they have defeated twice thus far. The Suns have lost three straight against Brooklyn and have not defeated the Nets since March 6, 2015 in Brooklyn, the franchises only victory in that borough. Since moving to Brooklyn, the Nets lead the suns 7-2.

Three Interesting Stats

Phoenix Suns

1. The Suns are all but guaranteed to lose at least 50 games this season with their next loss will being their 50th. Having lost 59 last year, the last time the Phoenix Suns have lost at least 50 in consecutive seasons goes back 42 years to the 1974-75 (52) and 1975-76 (50) seasons.

2. Since then the Suns have had only three other 50+ losing seasons, 1987-88 (54), 2003-04 (53), 2012-13 (57). They also had nineteen 50+ win seasons between then and now, which will not be further broken down here.

3. The Suns are in a unique position in that they are in a youthful rebuild and thus, barring a miracle, are not expected to suddenly become playoff competitors next season. However, following their first two consecutive losing seasons, in 1975-76 they went 42-40 and made a surprise trip to the NBA Finals. Following the 1987-88 season they signed Tom Chambers and won 55 games. Then after the 2003-04 season they signed Steve Nash and won 62 games. Finally, following the 2012-13 season Jeff Hornacek turned the Suns into a 48-win team and fell one game short of making the playoffs.

Brooklyn Nets

1. The New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets have one of the most pathetic histories of losing in NBA history. Although they won two ABA titles (including their final year in that league) and made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in the early 2000’s, the Nets have lost 50+ games 17 times since joining the NBA.

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2. Including last season (61), the Nets franchise has lost at least 60 games five times, and 70 games once, in 2009-10. They are one of only five NBA franchises to have ever lost at least 70 games (Philadelphia the only one doing it twice) although the Charlotte Bobcats in 2011-12 and Providence Steam Rollers in 1947-48 each had winning percentages of less than .146, the winning percentage needed for at least 70 losses in an 82 game season, although the Bobcats had that season in the lockout shortened 66 game season, and the 47-48 season was only 48 games long. (Providence was the only team in the league that didn’t make the playoffs that year).

3. Presuming the Nets lose four more games, it will be the first time in their franchise’s that they will have lost 60+ in consecutive seasons.