The Phoenix Suns recently released a video on Twitter of what they consider to be the top five plays of the 2019-2020 season. Did they get them right?
In yet another signal that most people feel the 2019-2020 season is over, at least for non-playoff teams, the Phoenix Suns media department put together a short video featuring what they deem to be the best five plays of the year. The question is, did they get them right?
In short, probably, although I could nitpick about the order and maybe squeeze in another Tsunami Papi dunk on top of the two already on the list. Or maybe one of Oubre’s clutch 3-pointers he made down the stretch this season.
The Suns, however, focused on dunks. In fact, every play is a dunk. They’re not wrong in the sense dunks are awesome, but variety is the spice of life. Regardless, let’s go through them.
Your favorite plays from the season, wrapped up in one video!@Ticketmaster Top 5 Play of the Season! pic.twitter.com/SxWNVtTKBY
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 21, 2020
#5: Cam posterizes McGee
The 5th play likely makes the list, not because the dunk itself is so great, but because of who did the dunking. Cameron Johnson, known to primarily hoist his shots up from behind the 3-point arc, drove and dunked one in the face of JaVale McGee against the Lakers. I honestly didn’t know he was capable of doing such a thing, so cheers to him.
That is not the only time McGee got posterized by a Phoenix Suns player this year. Oubre got him good in what is objectively a better dunk than Cam’s, but considering two other Oubre head-bob-worthy dunks made the list, I see why they gave some love to the rookie known for his sharpshooting.
#4: Oubre in the face of Gobert
Did I mention Oubre dunks are readily featured on this list? Yeah, here is one of them. During a game against the Utah Jazz, he dunked right in the face of Rudy Gobert, one of the best shot blockers in the league.
Insert trademark head-bob and this was an Obure classic.
#3: Three-quarter length ally-oop
In a route against the New York Knicks, where they seemed to have everything working, Ricky Rubio threw an ally oop pass to Deandre Ayton from what felt like the 10th row. Rubio just casually dribbles up the court and heaves it forward. Much to the surprise of everyone, including the cameraman, Ayton was waiting for an oop under the basket.
It was the perfect exclamation point on one of the most dominating wins of the season.
#2: Booker can dunk too
Booker got a lot of love for his put-back dunk during the All-Star game. Similar to why Cam Johnson’s dunk made this list, that dunk got notoriety because we don’t often see Booker show off his hops.
This play, ranked as the second-best play of the year by the Phoenix Suns, is another example of that Devin Booker has a limitless scoring arsenal. It looked pretty too.
Booker soared through the air against the Dallas Mavericks at home in a play that will live on Booker’s mixtape for years to come.
#1: Oubre back at it, this time against Paul George
Oubre’s awe-inspiring dunks circled back and made the best play of the season, according to the Phoenix Suns themselves. This time, his dunk was right in the face of Paul George.
There was no running start. No fast break. Oubre jumped flat-footed off both feet, as did George, and Oubre won the leap battle. Even the Los Angeles Clippers crowd can be heard giving a loud “Ohhhh!”
Again, I can nitpick this, but I won’t. These are all awesome plays and they make me miss basketball more than I already do. If you need me, I’ll be watching these on repeat for the next few hours from on couch.