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The Phoenix Suns have been the NBA’s most impressive team all season. Their 64-18 record secured them the top seed in the West with the second-place Grizzlies eight full games behind them. The Suns lost in the NBA Finals last season and were the championship favorites heading into this postseason.
These hopes took a massive hit with the news of Devin Booker’s injury in Game 2. The Suns' star had an impressive 31-point performance in the first half before being forced out of the game with hamstring tightness. Booker pulled up in pain after sprinting back on defense on a fast-break opportunity. The Kentucky product is out indefinitely with the injury and his absence will greatly change the Suns' style of play.
The New Orleans Pelicans were able to pick up a scrappy victory in Game 2 with Booker forced to watch the ending from the sideline. The opening series is now tied at 1-1 with both teams set to travel back to New Orleans for the next two matchups. The impressive play of the Pelicans and injury to Devin Booker makes it clear this series will not be a walk-through by any means. The Suns' game plan is certain to change and here are three predictions for what to expect in Game 3.
3 Suns predictions for Game 3 vs Pelicans
DeAndre Ayton will get 15+ FGA
There have been underlying frustrations with the usage of DeAndre Ayton during his time in Phoenix. The Suns and Ayton failed to agree on an extension this past offseason due to ownership’s unwillingness to give him a max deal. The former number one overall pick clearly believes in his skillset and for good reason. The ball dominance of Devin Booker and Chris Paul has limited Ayton’s role in the offense in his time with the team.
Phoenix will be without the 20.9 FGA that Devin Booker averages and they will need someone to step up to fill these. Look for Ayton to capitalize on this and put on display his underutilized skills. This will be the big man’s opportunity to prove why he is worth the massive contract and help lead the team to victory. The Arizona product has had the edge on Jonas Valanciunas in the early games so look for them to capitalize on this in Game 3. Expect Chris Paul to seek out some alley-oop opportunities with Ayton as the Pelicans lack the verticality to match the 7-footer.
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Jae Crowder will hit 3 three-pointers
The Suns will also look for their complementary pieces to be more involved in Game 3. Jae Crowder will be one of the first guys looked at to step up in this role. The Marquette product has struggled thus far and is 0-9 from beyond the arc through the first two games. Crowder has never been a guy to allow a shooting funk to affect his decision-making on the court. Expect him to continue to let it fly and for the 35% three-point shooter to get back on track. The Suns have not connected on more than 13 made three-pointers in the first two games, and three long-range shots from Crowder would help get the team rolling.
Suns will win the rebounding battle
There has been a great deal of talk about the absence of Devin Booker, but this was far from the only reason the Suns lost Game 2. Phoenix was uncharacteristically bad in transition, turned the ball over 13 times, and lost the rebounding battle by a large margin. The battle of the boards is the biggest concern as the Pelicans have outrebounded the Suns 98-68 in the first two games. They also have allowed a ridiculous 35 rebounds in the series. It is very difficult to win when being outrebounded by this margin.
A great deal of New Orleans’ success in this area can be attributed to Jonas Valanciunas. The big man is leading the NBA rebounds this postseason by averaging 19 boards per game. For the most part, the Suns have gotten away with this impact but this effort must be corrected. Expect Monty Williams to make this a major priority ahead of Game 3. This will require a focused effort from DeAndre Ayton and some help from the perimeter players as well. The tone of many games can be set on the boards so this would be a great way for the Suns to assert their dominance in the first game on the road.
So far this season things have been nearly perfect for the Suns. The Pelicans have made it clear they will not roll over and the team faces adversity that will make them better in the long run. Learning how to win without their star and then adding him back could help the team a great deal this postseason. Expect Monty Williams to make the necessary adjustments and for the Suns to be prepared for Game 3.
