- Current Record: 43-35, 4th seed in the Western Conference
- Offensive Rating: 114.5 (14th, —)
- Defensive Rating: 112.2 (7th, ↓1)
- Net Rating: +2.3 (9th, —)
4-0 in Week 24. Now that’s what I’m talking about.
You want to be playing your basketball best in April, not March. A season ago we experienced that: a team that perhaps peaked too early. They had nothing to play for in the final month of the season, up by 8 games in the Western Conference, and subsequently they lost their edge.
It was similar to what the Phoenix Suns did on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. Denver started their ‘C’ squad and the Suns were up by 20 at halftime. But when focus is not present and precision is not there due to the belief that “everything is in hand”, you allow the opposition to sneak in the side the door. Phoenix ultimately won the game, but it was a reminder that being engaged is a valuable tool, whether it be in the game or during the season.
Phoenix has now won five consecutive games and Week 24 saw them go 4-0. Again, peeking at the right time of the season.
The return of Kevin Durant to the lineup on Wednesday against the Wolves hasn’t just been seamless, it’s been historic.
Phoenix is developing a one-two punch that is devastating to cover.
Durant is averaging 26.8 points-per-game since his arrival, doing so on 60/52/89 splits. Booker is averaging 30.1 pointer-per-game since the KD trade on February 9, and his splits are 53/36/85. Combined, that’s 56.9 points from the Phoenix duo, which puts them in rarified air.
In a Fadeaway World article from 2020, they ranked the Top 10 Scoring Duos in NBA History. The 2000-01 Lakers’ duo of Shaq and Kobe ranked second (they were making the point that Harden and Russell may be number one based on statistics), and the championship one-two punch averaged 57.2 points-per-game.
Again, Durant and Booker are at 56.9 points. If it wasn’t for their combined 57 points against Denver, the 100 total points scored by Phoenix would not have been enough.
KD has been a revelation, unlocking everyone around him. His spacing on the floor. His connectivity. His gravity. Everybody’s benefiting. Devin Booker scored zero points and had zero field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter of the Suns win on Sunday afternoon against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Why?
Because Kevin Durant scored 13 points, Chris Paul scored eight, and the other Ayton scored six. Because the historic duo affects everyone on the court. Booker doesn’t have to be Devi
Player of the Week
- Kevin Durant
- 27.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists
- 53.7 FG%, 50.0 3PT%, 88.9 FT%
Three games played, three wins for Phoenix. Well, make that six games played since joining the Suns, six wins.
I’ve always been a Durant fan from afar, admiring his game and his work ethic. When you get to see it night after night, you notice the intricacies, that make him so effective. He can play physical on the block, he navigates double-teams like an artist, his shot is silky smooth, and his passing is underrated.
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