NBA TODAY | “Durant, Phoenix are REAL threat in West” – Danny Green on Suns beat Nuggets 104-97

NBA TODAY | “Durant, Phoenix are REAL threat in West” – Danny Green on Suns beat Nuggets 104-97

Playoff position in their own right the Suns and the Denver Nuggets they were in action last night no Jamal Murray here for the Denver Nuggets for the rainning Champs the sun’s coming in with the single most difficult remaining schedule in the NBA so picking this one up in the

Second quarter tie game Kevin Durant doing what he does going to work there Dan Green yeah this is a sense of urgency that they needed All Season I’m glad they’re playing with it now but they got to continue this for the rest of the rest of the season Michael Porter

Junr though just a huge night for him 18 points eight rebounds really showing up in every way kids come a long way from that back injury man I’m really happy for him early in the third quarter here the Suns lead by 10 Durant drills the triple the Sun’s Up 69- 56 and then

Under 6 minutes to go here the Nuggets Trail by nine yic resets gets pass back Thrills the three nuggets Trail 7165 Nuggets next possession this is what Nicola yic does goes right through his Defender hits the layup and the foul finish the three-point play the Nuggets down by three and then Kevin Durant

Elevates hits the fade away the Suns pushing their lead once again and then Eric Gordon hits the corner three Michael Malone not happy with this one but the fourth quarter Danny this is where the Suns have had so many issues and where the nuggets are really dominant yeah well Phoenix needs better

Leadership I think theyve starting to get that now uh obviously Denver’s been there without Jamal Murray I don’t think it was enough for for Phoenix phix that night joic had 22 points 10 assists nine rebounds huge win Durant 30 13 five blocks though the Suns get a much needed win

10497 Kevin Durant he might be 35 but his game is timeless he is one of two suns players in the last 25 Seasons with 30 points 10 boards five blocks in a game the other is the Matrix Sean Maran that was back in 2006 and you know who

Else spent some time over with the Suns our very own Tim legler started his career in Phoenix right and he is more on what this offense can be well Malik a big part of this Victory is being plus 18 at the three-point line for the Phoenix Suns over the nuggets

And in large part to the quality of shots that they got at the three with ball movement opening up the middle of the floor I give you a couple examples and when I really like Phoenix when they operate their offense like this and there’s nothing special to it it’s

Simple ball screen basketball you get a screener you get one of their top scores coming off with the basketball and the goal here is to drag two with you and it’s a exactly what Kevin Durant does and now you’re going to get a slip to the middle so there’s all kinds of space

With the goal being let’s Force some sort of reaction out of the weak side defense it’s exactly what happens comes off ball goes middle now if you make one pass out of this to either of these weak side players there’s a very good chance you’re just going to be able to close

Out so whether the ball goes here or here either of those two backline Defenders are going to be able to make a pretty hard close out and take it away but when you make two passes you force communication and that’s exactly what they do here first pass comes out you

See both guys in a rush to try to contest dein Booker at the three-point line which means one more swing to the corner and now instead of a contested three a wide open one for Bradley Beal first points on the board great execution great offense here’s similar action basically the exact same thing

Coming from the opposite side of the floor you’re going to get this screen right here by fad young set the screen this time it’s Devin Booker coming off an elite level offensive player same thing your goal drag two Defenders with you and then get a slip to the middle

And that’s exactly what we get here’s the action one more time now if you make one pass you’re going to get a hard close out but here’s the thing when you make two passes now you’re putting the defense in a tough spot because you’re going to get the first close out there

But that’s second swing pass there’s nobody there to cover that that’s exactly what they get and once again it’s Bradley Beal benefiting from this and he gets going early in the game and I just thought Phoenix execution in this one little bit more difficult to cover as a result their offense flowed and

They get a much needed win in Denver Tim thank you they’re going to need more of that though because of suns they find themselves in a really precarious spot when it comes to the postseason the analytics they are not in their favor they have a 78% chance to be

Involved some way somehow in the playin but with the West being so close they could end up in a couple of different spots as you see there you don’t want to presented by Levis don’t look now but the Lakers they’re clicking at the right time despite not having Anthony Davis against Sometimes we don’t see the Stars play no SGA for the thunder on this one this is early in the second Thunder Down who no I a got to do that to the OG I didn’t know he had that in him why do that to

The O he just had to prove he knows Jeff Green can still do that so he had to say you know what I got it too all right going to the here halfway through the fourth Rockets down 9894 Jaylen green splits the defense prolific prep absolutely balling been exceptional

Really in the entire month of March just hangs in the air there then under four minutes to go thundered down by one Josh giddy he falls decides yeah you know what I’ll I’ll take the shot from there that’s a hell of a risky play and can you make that in horse Danny no

No especially in the fourth quarter that close of a game his teammates are loving it 25 seconds left the Rockets down by one green finds Jabari Smith Jr in the corner for three knocks it down then less than eight seconds remaining here the Thunder Down 112 109 Jaylen green or

Jaylen Williams rather he knocks down the three to tie the game so to over time we go my friends one minute left in OT the Rockets up by three this time Jaylen green the other Jaylen going to work hits the step back three glad he’s finally like living up to all the hype

I’ve seen him since high school this kid is special I’m he’s going to be Allstar next year rocket possession playing like he’s about to start a family you know the rim you had to do that tar een he may be out for the season but you know

What he still had something to say about this team Warriors come out to play Warriors come out to play yeah it’s like that was that false step play what whoa that was some range here but the they deserve it they’ve won 10 straight they’re a game back of Golden State for

The 10th seed so with 10 games left for each team here’s what the path looks like down the final stretch here the Rockets they must finish a game ahead of the Golden State Warriors because remember the Warriors they own the tiebreaker they cannot finish with the

Same record and if you look at the bottom of the screen right there these two teams they have one more meeting so clear your calendars for next Thursday I know what I’m going to be doing I’m pulling up to that I’m pulling up to that yeah that’s how excited I am who is

The 10 seat Zack do you think the Golden State Warriors are going to be able to hang on and saave off the rockets for that spot they better keep playing well cuz the Rockets aren’t going anywhere I know the Rockets have a tough schedule they got the Mavericks a couple times they’re

Facing a bunch of teams that need to win this team has found something they’re playing at a turbocharged Pace Jaylen green is making the leap right before our eyes and they are tough as hell they seem to get in a fight every single game they make winning plays on both ends of

The floor they’ve been great on both ends eem Oda has crafted this into a tough defensive team The Warriors are not going to be able to limp into the 10th seed they’re not going to be able to hang their hat on well we’ve got the head-to-head tiebreaker on an easier

Schedule that’s it you got to come out and play cuz this team is not going anywhere I agree they have their new starting five has been awesome Jabari Smith Jr at Center has worked really well Thompson’s been really incredible 25 and 15 last night Jaylen green I don’t know what’s happened over the

Course of this last month but all of a sudden he he’s so impressive hey if we got to give Ean yoka some love everything that he’s gone through to be coaching this team and them doing what they’re doing it’s incredible like they’re playing with house money they’re not nervous they’re just hooping you

Know you got my guy from LSU talking trash to the Warriors they have no pressure and these they’re like them pisky kids from Scooby-Doo man they you just want them to go away and they won’t go away and they’re fun to watch and get ready to watch them for a long time 10

Wins in a row the only other team to do that this season the Boston Celtics that’s pretty good company to keep who’s going to get the 10th seed though the Warriors or the Rockets Danny Green I’d like to go with the experience with the Warriors but the way the Rockets are

Playing it’s hard to bet against them right no seun Jaylen Green’s been stepping up unbelievable yeah I said I got to give a lot of credit not only to Ema but Dylan Brooks fan Fleet those leaders that are getting those young guys ready and in playoff form and in

Shape to be ready for this playing game but Golden State just the the experience and the fact that they’ve been there I can’t never bet I can’t bet against St I I do not bet against the Golden State Warriors but even if they don’t make the

T seed the Rockets this is a huge success they’re like the Oklahoma City Thunder of last season they made a huge leap here and I expect them to make another huge one next season I do want to Pivot to the other two teams though in the west they are also battling for hello

For Foree for speee Spee get thise how know like wood of then oh for Oh oh one L come on don’t go me go bye for

NBA TODAY | “Durant, Phoenix are REAL threat in West” – Danny Green on Suns beat Nuggets 104-97