The Suns, calling Durant

Waiting for Durant. Calling Durant. Wishing Durant. That’s how the Suns go who want their brand new signing finally joins the track. for now, He is still on the bench and his debut with his new jersey, the fourth he will wear in his NBA career, is expected to take place next week.. Until then, the Suns will have to learn to manage an already short rotation and a more predictable game, at least as long as the ball doesn’t pass through DeAndre Ayton’s hands in late games and Devin Booker is the one to take over. prominence and try to tip the balance. Like the one in Milwaukee, with the Bucks taking a great victory in their attempt to supplant the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference (43-17, half a victory for the greens). And without Giannis Antetokounmpo, which increases the merit of what has been achieved.

The equality was titanic in a game in which no room was decided by more than 7 points difference and in which the 11 points of advantage that the Bucks managed were the maximum of the game. A lot of fighting, a lot of rebounding (54-65 for the Suns) and a great finish: at 3:11 the result was 96-96. After that, a free throw for Brook Lopez, two for Chris Paul, a triple by Jrue Holiday and a good basket by Devin Booker who is the closest thing, with Jayson Tatum’s permission, to Kobe Bryant in the current NBA. With 100-100 things got interesting: Lopez hit, Booker lost and one of two for Joe Ingles from the personal. It seemed that the ball was then for the Suns, but Terrence Ross touched it and it went to the locals. Jrue holiday also scored one of two, but Devin Booker took three free throws and was also about to make the triple. Scoring the first two and throwing the last one to miss would be an option. But the first failed. He hit the second and missed the third, but the die was cast. Lopez rebound. And good bye.

There was a lot of intensity, a lot of physicality and bad percentages, but very positive things. The overexploited quintet of the Suns got as far as it got, also with little forces at the end. It was almost 40 minutes for Paul, on his way to turning 38, for 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Booker, with 38 minutes, went to 24+4+8. Ayton, with 35, made 22+11. Too much used, too much time on the track and a clear wear that was noticed in a worse managed ending and in which they will be less vulnerable when a Durant appears that gives more options to the offense and levitates around the track in his usual way. Paul and Booker accumulated too much time on the ball and 8 of their team’s 12 turnovers combined. And the Suns miss the opportunity to approach the Kings in third place in the Western Conference. Again: calling Durant.

The Bucks worked very well, they were emboldened by the public at the Fiserv Forum and they knew how to use their impetus to get the game out of attitude, although speculating a lot on free throws (15 of 21 for 13 of 22 for the Suns, also wrong on this issue). Giannis did not play, but Jrue Holiday was the best: 33 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. And 22+13 from Brook Lopez, to which must be added 11+10+6 from a Khris Middleton who was in everything. Giannis dedicated himself to cheering his team on from the bench in a game that met expectations without him and that serves as a reissue of the 2021 Finals. Then, Jae Crowder was in Suns. Today, with the Bucks, he has gone to 7 points. In a bad game from a basketball point of view, but exciting and very fought. Now all that’s missing is the jewel in the crown that will cheer us up when the Suns play: Kevin Durant. We are looking forward to seeing you.