Phoenix Suns
The 2019-20 Phoenix Suns season can be defined by the fact that the Suns won more than 24 games for the first time in five years, and by the fact that the Suns went undefeated in the bubble.
What did we learn?
The Phoenix Suns are no longer the punching bag of the Western Conference!
Deandre Ayton’s 25-game PED suspension at the beginning of the season was quite the bummer, however, it unlocked something special: The most spacing that Devin Booker has ever had to work with. Head coach Monty Williams inserted newly acquired Aron Baynes into the lineup in place of Ayton. Baynes, a center capable of knocking down the 3-ball, was positioned along the perimeter opening up the paint and opening up s p a c e.
More space equaled more cookouts with Book! Devin Booker finished the season with 28 games with 30 or more points. Book posted almost identical per game numbers to the season prior, but his percentages and efficiency were the highest of his career. Book was selected to his first All-Star Game and deservedly so.
Also newly acquired last off season, Ricky Rubio a.k.a. The Spanish Samurai, handled the ball as the main point guard, alleviating ball-handling and play-making duties that Book was previously required to burden. Rubio averaged 8.8 assists per game, the most since his last season in Minnesota back in 2016-17.
Kelly Oubre Jr. played the best basketball of his career, posting career-highs in points per game, minutes per game and three-point percentage. Oubre (a.k.a. Tsunami Papi!) of course also regularly brought us the thunderous power dunks, constantly head-bobbin’ and flexin’ on ‘em.
Baynes bombing 3’s + cookouts with Book + Rick Rubio running the show + power dunking Kelly =
OUR SUNS!!!
We were enthralled by this reiteration of the Suns, redolent of past league pass teams that aren’t particularly great but a helluva lot of fun to watch. Our Suns played polished team ball. Our Suns played together. Our Suns finished with the second highest assist percentage in the NBA.
Our Suns also had rookie Cam Johnson knocking down 39% of his threes on 4.8 attempts per game and the long-limbed Mikal Bridges roaming on D.
The problem with our Suns was that Baynes dealt with injuries and was banged up often, missing a total of 31 games.
The solution, however, was the bubble. Many believed (including us) that it made no sense for the Phoenix Suns to travel down to Orlando to participate in the eight seeding games. We were all proven wrong by the Bubble Suns who ran the motherfuckin’ table, going an astonishing 8-0 which included a Devin Booker game-winning fadeaway buzzer beater over both Kawhi and Paul George.
Despite going undefeated in the bubble, the Suns did not make the playoffs, losing out on a tiebreaker to the Blazers.
But that’s okay, because they were OUR Suns!!!
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What are the answers to our Season Preview Final Questions?
Will we see Los Suns: Lineup de el Blanco? Tyler Johnson, Ty Jerome, Dario Saric, Frank Kaminsky, and Aron Baynes. Wait, that lineup kinda works out positionally!
We see no evidence that this five-man lineup ever made it on the court together. It’s probably for the best.
Can Booker and Ayton develop their two-man game to the next step with Rubio’s and Monty’s help?
Yes, Booker and Ayton did develop their two-man game to the next step with the help of Rick Rubio and Monty Williams.
The five-man lineup of Rubio, Oubre, Booker, Bridges and Ayton played 226 minutes together with an astounding net rating of +20.2, a staggering Offensive Rating of 121.6 and stout defensive rating of 101.4.
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Would our preseason Over/Under prediction have hit?
The Suns will be a lot more fun than they are good. UNDER 29.5 wins. (36% winning pct)
Suns 2019-20 final record: (34-39) 47% winning pct
NOPE, our preseason Over/Under prediction, in fact, did not hit. The Suns achieved their 30th win on August 6th in the bubble. But they were even more fun than we imagined!
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What’s Next?
Carry the momentum from the bubble into the 2021 season.
No suspension for Ayton, please!
Get Tsunami Papi healthy!!
Re-sign Aron Baynes!!!
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