Phoenix Suns Superlative Stat 4: Shooting when Closely Guarded
The vision of Devin Booker draining the game-winner over the outstretched arm of Paul George in the bubble will live in Phoenix Suns fans memories forever. However, it is a good thing that wasn’t a 3-pointer.
The Suns were last in the league in 3-point shooting when there was a defender within two feet of the shooter, coming in at just 11.1 percent in these situations. However, I give you that bad superlative to flip it into a positive: the Suns only took one of these shots every 10 games.
That is what you call good shot selection.
When it comes to 2-pointers, that Booker buzzer-beater was not the only time opponents witnessed shots drilled right in their eye.
The Suns ranked second in the league in field golf percentage when shooting 2-pointers with a defender within two feet, coming in just behind the Los Angeles Lakers. They shot a very impressive 52 percent in this scenario, and 51.3 percent overall, also good for second in the league.
What makes this even better is the Suns ranked 9th in fewest shots per game where the shooter was closely guarded. This means that their shot selection was great and when they were forced to shoot a tightly-contested two, they were near best in the league at scoring.