Defensive key in a strong start to the season for the sun’s rays

Devin Booker appreciated the reduced power in the Suns locker room last Saturday after a loss to the Kings with a poor early try and a poor late performance.

After all, this was the first loss the team has suffered since March, after they started winning all eight of their games in the NBA bubble and started the season to win before Christmas. Worse, the Suns looked too much, coming out in what head coach Monty Williams called a “trot.”

“It was like we got rid of the playoffs or something,” Booker said, “and I’m not too mad about that. You have a lot of people in your care, but it’s a long season so we have to understand that, and there are times like that where you drop a game and you have to get one back immediately. ”

The Suns responded in fact with a win in their next two tournaments heading into Thursday night ‘s matchup with the Utah Jazz. While Booker, a young director for the team, was pleased to see that bravery from his players, the response was also a testament to the Suns’ overall development from last season. Winning a blow over New Orleans Tuesday was the only game of the entire season that showed off the various abilities of this modern Suns squad, and how defense can lead the way.

While the offense has at times begun the year and Booker has quietly begun on that end, the Suns defense has been a relief during the opening week of the year.

The Suns are second in defensive effectiveness so far this season, though that has boosted significantly with a few fortunes on opponents ’shooting. Teams have only made about a quarter of their three against the Suns through four games, the second lowest mark in the league. Put that together because the Suns allow the highest three-point frequency in the NBA, and it’s a sign that the Suns have just got lucky to be so good in this field. While the Suns’ overall length and team’s defensive acumen could make a three-point defensive strength, it is unlikely to hold up at such a low level.

However, keeping teams to 106 points or less in every game is not just about luck. The Suns are allowing the 10-minute fringe attempts as a batch of full shots so far this season as well, going well back on the defensive glass, and limiting teams in movement. Many of these same things were a problem in the loss to Sacramento, another testament to the teams ’ability to improve on their mistakes.

The Suns scheme – which usually involves appearing early in the selection and the more aggressive help and assistance from the weak side – will take time to master, but Williams believes that the Suns make regular second attempts to make up for occasional errors.

“We may have a mix on the back, but it covers because we have a good pressure on the ball,” head coach Monty Williams said. “We are in a multi-pronged approach at the moment as we try to make the scheme better. ”

Being a coach on the floor was one of the main reasons the Suns traded for Chris Paul, and he has chosen to put an emphasis on defense for this early team. The Suns have so much talent on offense that it’s hard to imagine the team not working out on that end, but they have to work on the defense all year round to to have the best playoff time.

“Defense is one of our main focuses and Chris has made that very clear,” said Cameron Johnson later in his second year, highlighting the flexibility of his roster. “Defense is where we really intimidate teams. ”

Considering in particular that, at times, the Suns ’offense has suffered from a lack of chemistry and continuity after Paul and Jae Crowder added in due course, it was surprising to see the defense developing so fast. With an intermittent multiplayer on the floor at all times and players up and down the roster who move forward defensively and intelligently spin, the Suns are doing nothing revolutionary, but they perform consistently.

At times the Suns can take the ball to a stop for the opposing team as they clear all the way to the basket.

Another sign of the Suns strength is defending flexibility.

“Some teams have normal defenses that they play night to night, but basketball is communication at the highest level,” Booker said. “It’s easy to read and replicate. You cannot play all teams in the same way and all players play the same way. Learning to play moves and having Jae and Chris, boys like that who can communicate with them, and know the boys we play with ”.

Paul made similar comments about his defensive philosophy on JJ Redick’s podcast earlier in the season and Williams has emphasized how far he has come in writing reports and getting to know his opponents. -challenges, even during the regular fast-fire season.

Small teams may need more change, while a single force like Zion Williamson needs clear leadership against a team like the Pelicans. A ball handler like Damian Lillard needs to be investigated at half-court but the defense can go under screen against a point guard like Ricky Rubio. The NBA is big and needs on-the-fly redecoration to succeed.

With a young center like Deandre Ayton anchored in the middle and youngsters up and down the roster, the Suns defense was expected to be finally on the offense. Ultimately, defense was the key test for the top of the Suns. That will all still be true, but the continuity on that has improved faster than expected.

“You want everything to click on all the cylinders, but the thing about the defensive end, that’s a real commitment,” Paul said. “Night in and night out, you can rely on that to give us a chance to win.”