The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs is in full swing, but the Phoenix Suns have yet to get in the win column against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a disheartening first two games on the road, it’s time for a new Take That For Data episode to diagnose this team’s problems and try to find solutions for Game 3.
To start, Gerald Bourguet and Stephen Pridgeon-Garner examine the Suns’ offensive woes, including where the Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have struggled against this Wolves defense, how the Suns are using Jusuf Nurkic, and where Phoenix can be better with their offensive process in Game 3.
Then, the duo takes a look at where the team improved defensively in Game 2, how they’ve been guarding Anthony Edwards, and how they can limit the role players from going off again.
Finally, it’s time to go through some possible tweaks and areas for improvement in Game 3 in order to keep Phoenix’s season alive.
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Take That For Data: Finding solutions for Suns’ struggles on both ends
- 0:00 Intro
- 1:40 Timberwolves’ stifling defense limiting Suns offense
- 5:40 Jaden McDaniels clamping down Devin Booker
- 9:30 Rudy Gobert is not the mismatch they thought he’d be
- 12:45 Failing to attack Karl-Anthony Towns or keep offense moving
- 19:40 How Phoenix is using Jusuf Nurkic
- 24:25 Big 3’s struggles to balance hunting mismatches vs. moving the ball
- 32:25 Defense starts and ends with loading up on Anthony Edwards
- 40:15 Disconnect within locker room over team’s biggest problems
- 41:50 Keeping defensive integrity on Ant even when role players hit shots
- 51:00 Wolves’ pace on offense
- 54:05 Tweaks for Game 3
An AllCity Network Production
