NBA Preseason Game: Phoenix Suns vs Adelaide 36ers
Game Review:
With round 1 of NBL23 starting this weekend it was an NBA preseason game most people were really looking forward to seeing, and it did not disappoint!
1st quarter:
Deyondre Ayton wins the tip for the suns and he looks so big out there, which leads to Devin Booker opening the scoring with a nice drive to the basket for the Phoenix Suns.
Adelaide blow an alley oop play, and Ayton dominates inside for an easy layup.
Early on it looked like its was going to be a long night for Adelaide.
Daniel Johnson (DJ) got scoring going for the 36ers with a corner J and then followed it up with a 3 ball to take a quick lead change 5-4.
After watching the NBL this weekend, the NBA court looks so Big! There is just so much space between the players. It can't be understated how much it changes the game.
Antonius Cleveland drops another three and the 36ers have come to play 8-4. But Booker breaks the drought and swings the lead back to the Suns. It happens so quick. 8-9, 9:00 left in the quarter.
A DJ Three and the lead is back to the 36ers its a fast paced 1st quarter and DJ is on fire 3/3.
The starters for the Suns just look unstoppable, but Adelaide manage to stay right there with them. The Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton pick and roll looks unstoppable, and with the Suns leading they take the starters out for a rest at the midway point of the 1st quarter.
Adelaide make some nice plays, and Craig Randall II opens his scoring with a nice drive. Suddenly Adelaide have the lead back 29-26 with 1:00 left in the quarter.
Kai Sotto got a big dunk off an awkward Mitch Mccarron assist to close the quarter 33-28.
2nd Quarter:
With a surprise commentator jumping in, we get Andrew Gaze included in the commentary team to start the quarter. Great to have some Aussie input!
Randall opened the scoring in the quarter with a 3 and the NBA range doesn't look to bother Adelaide, 36-28. Randall then drops another two big 3s and its 42-31 after 1 minute in the quarter! Randall is rolling.
After only 2 minutes, the Suns coach brings the starters back on which leads to an immediate dunk from Mikal Bridges. But Robert Franks wants in on the shooting and drops back to back 3s, to hold the strong thirteen point lead 48-35.
Ayton is such a good player. He is instant offence for the Suns whenever they need a bucket. Not many centres can compete with a player of his size and skill, as the Suns start to push back. Combine a centre like him with the skills of CP3, and you've got everything you need. Another pick and roll and it looks too easy for them:
The 36ers keep pushing and Antonius Cleveland got a bucket on a strong transition play, and a 10 point lead is held with 2:00 left in the half.
Daniel Johnson looked comfortable playing his game, and it's great to see him show what he can do, and what we've seen him do for you years in the NBL.
Adelaide as a team move the ball well and find a wide open 3 from Robert Franks who bombs it in closing the half Adelaide up 71-59.
36ers were shooting the lights out! And here come the excuses from the commentators. Just a heads up, it's preseason for both teams. Those commentators were painfull as they pulled out as many excuses as they could.
3rd Quarter:
Chris Paul (CP3) opens the half with a step back longe two 71-62.
But in a huge loss for the 36ers, Daniel Johnson is injured and has to leave the game after 15 points in the first half, dropping shots from all over the court. 36ers commit a take foul to get him off the court and get a tech with the new rules coming into play in the NBA of no take fouls in transition.
Ayton can not be stopped on offence though, as the Suns bring the 36ers lead down to two points 71-69 with 9:20 left in the quarter. Big run by the Suns starters.
CP3 drops a nice pocket pass to Ayton to push the Suns offence but couple of bomb 3's from Franks and Randall from way outside keep Adelaide moving. 78-70.
The suns starters are just too good and shrink the 36ers lead to one point 82-81, with 5:00 left in the quarter.
Mitch McCarron makes an insane no look pass to Sotto for the easy dunk and the Suns bring their starters off with 4:00 left in the 3rd Quarter down 84-81.
Jock Landale makes a nice spin and layup for the Suns but with the Suns bench unit on, Craig Randall II is making plays and dropping bombs. 89-83 3:00 left in qtr.
Cameron Payne made some good shots but cant find an inside pass! Jock Landale has been open under the basket multiple times and Payne can not make the pass.
Kai Sotto gets in on the 3 points shooting, but Torrey Craig got a put back lay in off a Payne drive, and miss for the Suns, closing the quarter. Adelaide holding the lead 96-90.
4th Quarter:
Randall Drops a bomb from way outside 3 points range to open scoring for the 36ers, and then turns around to drop two more! Randall is 8/15 from 3. He follows it up with a floater and he has taken over the game. 36ers blowing the lead back out to 10, 107-97.
Antonius Cleveland makes a big block at the 9:02 mark and Torrey Craig gets fouled going up for transition dunk. 36ers aren't giving up anything easy. They want the win, they can feel the win!
Franks finds a nice layup, and dropped another big 3 nearing the half way point in the quarter 116-109.
Torrey Craig played some good defence getting a steal and dunk.
Cameron Payne keeps the suns offence going but the Suns bench unit can't move the ball. Payne can not pass!
Randall blocks Payne playing both sides of the ball, and the 36ers continue to shoot the lights out.
Franks drops a way outside the 3 line bomb, and its 132-119 with 1:30 left in the game.
Landale and Craig keep the Suns score ticking with some strong offensive rebounds and put backs off Payne misses, as he drives to the basket on every play.
With 30 seconds left in the game and the 36ers up thirteen, 134-121 they empty their bench to cruise to the win!
Adelaide 36ers win 134-124.
Adelaide 36ers shot the lights out going 24-43 from long range! 55.4% from the field and 55.8% from 3!
Mitch McCarron was dropping dimes everywhere with 16 assists.
I can not see Adelaide shooting this well again, but it certainly showed how big of a jump the NBL has made in the last few years.
This is the first ever win by an NBL club against an NBA squad! And 22 minutes from the starters was no bench squad.
For the Suns, the starters looked good and really were unstoppable when they were in. As a preseason game they were never going to go 100%. The bench needs to be looked at though. Cameron Payne can not be your bench point guard. He can score, but cannot unlock that bench unit. The point guard needs to be able to facilitate and put the ball where it needs to be, to get the most out of the team. Payne can put the ball through the basket but can't find a teammate wide open under the basket. They will have some work to do.
Hopefully Adelaide get to keep some of their players going into the NBL season, but I can see several NBA teams snapping up these NBL players after that display. Most NBL players have an NBA outclause in their contract so that roster may look very different come game one of the NBL season for Adelaide.
Key players:
Adelaide 36ers:
Mitch McCarron: 16 Assists, 9 Rebounds
Craig Randall II: 35 points,
Robert Franks: 32 points, 7 rebounds
Daniel Johnson: 15 points, 4 rebounds
Phoenix Suns:
Chris Paul: 6 points, 12 assists
Devin Booker: 13 points, 4 assists
Deandre Ayton: 22 points, 6 rebounds
Cameron Payne: 23 points, 4 assists
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