Phoenix Suns Takeaways: Jae Crowder is Back
Almost nobody looked worse off coming into this game for the Suns than Jae Crowder. Shooting 31.7 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from deep before this one tipped off, Crowder arguably deserved the most blame for the Suns 2-3 start to their new season.
But even during Phoenix’s ugly sequences throughout this contest, Crowder shinned as a lone silver lining. He finished going 5-7 from the field, but he also hit his first five shots, which included three triples.
Crowder essentially kept this team alive when nobody else could. Booker endured his struggles, Paul only attacked as a facilitator, and Bridges failed to put up a high volume of attempts. But all the while, Crowder stayed knocking down 3-pointers, keeping the Suns afloat.
Last year, Crowder put together arguably his finest season as a long range bomber, hitting from beyond the arc at a 38.9 percent rate. He did this even while averaging 6.3 attempts from outside per game.
His deadeye shooting largely contributed to his team’s surprise run to the NBA Finals, and with the Suns looking to reach those heights again, his revitalization comes as an incredibly encouraging sign underneath the team’s gritty victory.