The Suns made their debut in the NBA over 50 years ago, and they have gone on to become one of basketball’s most successful franchises. However, once LeBron James left for the Lakers in 2018 free agency, it became clear that this was not going to be a season like any other. The Suns will need some time before becoming competitive again; however, there is an undeniable upside with rebuilding through youth as Phoenix has done repeatedly since 2010.
The “phoenix suns 2021/2022 schedule” is a pleasant surprise for the Suns early in 2021. The new NBA season will start on October 16th, and the Suns will be playing their first game of the year on October 18th against the Los Angeles Lakers at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
The Phoenix Suns’ top priority for the 2021-22 NBA season is redemption. Last season, they surpassed all expectations by reaching the NBA Finals. They were unable to complete the task. Chris Paul and his teammates cannot easily slap themselves on the back in a league where winning is everything.
Unlike last year, when the Suns were a touch off the radar, opponents are fully aware of what head coach Monty Williams and his staff can accomplish this year.
As a result, they have a major task ahead of them as the team to beat. This is something Williams is well aware of. He can’t simply set out a similar game plan and expect the same, if not better, outcomes this season. So he revealed his goal to develop Mikal Bridges into a viable scorer in the summer, particularly as the third option after Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
So far, Bridges has been successful.
Mikal Bridges is a pleasant surprise for the Suns.
Mikal Bridges is now a direct danger to the team.
Bridges is averaging 16.3 points per game in six games of the 2021-22 NBA season, shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from three-point range, both career highs. Obviously, as the season goes, these figures might change. But it’s worth noting that Bridges led the club in scoring twice in those six games. We can argue that this is a significant improvement from previous season, when he only led the club in scoring in four games.
Bridges’ attacking game did not undergo any significant alterations. He continues to benefit greatly from Chris Paul’s playmaking prowess and Devin Booker’s media exposure. Bridges remains dead-eye from behind the arc, as he was in 2020-21. He’s also a fantastic cutter who creates beautiful finishes all around the ring. His mid-range shot, which he reveals off pull-up dribbles, is maybe the most underappreciated aspect of his game.
NBA players who hit over 70% of their restricted area shots and 40% of their three-point tries (minimum of 20 attempts):
– Mikal Bridges (87.5 percent of the vote, 44.0 percent of the vote) – Nikola Jokic (78.0 percent of the vote, 40.6 percent of the vote) – RJ Barrett (77.8 percent of the vote, 42.9 percent of the vote) — Mo Bamba (77.8 percent vs. 40.6%)
pic.twitter.com/iv1d9rS8eX Some elite efficiency
November 3, 2021 — BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
Maybe what has changed is that Bridges has become more active. He has a better awareness of the game as a whole, as well as his colleagues’ habits, at this stage in his career. With his mid-range shots, he’s also more patient. He’s more conscious of the defender’s proximity. He’ll pull the trigger if there’s enough room. If there aren’t any, he’ll stage a pump or just pass it off.
As previously said, Bridges has profited from and is taking advantage of Williams’ well-defined strategy for him. With this in mind, we may witness more games in which Bridges is the team’s leading scorer.
Is there a future for Kawhi Leonard?
Bridges finished 11th in the NBA All-Defensive 10-man pool last season. This placed him on the map as a lockdown defender (at least among non-Suns fans). Those who have followed Bridges’ career know that he has been a fantastic defender since his college days. As a result of his improved offensive game, he’ll undoubtedly be compared to Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. With the San Antonio Spurs, he began off as a tenacious defender before becoming into a dangerous scorer.
Mikal Bridges was flawlessly dimed by Verified D-Book. pic.twitter.com/UMsk60FDYw
October 31, 2021 — NBA TV (@NBATV)
Despite his attacking development, Bridges remains a capable defender. He’s generally the one tasked with protecting the opposition team’s greatest player. He isn’t a one-man show when it comes to defense. Bridges still analyzes what the offensive is doing, responds appropriately, and either gets thefts, blocks, or deflections to interrupt the offense’s rhythm.
In Bridges, we may be seeing the emergence of a major two-way player. Bridges may garner more respect from his teammates and observers if the Suns repeat their performance from last year (or maybe better it by winning the championship). This shouldn’t come as a surprise if he becomes an All-Star in the future.
The “what channel is the suns game on tomorrow” is a question that people ask often. The Suns will play their first game in 2021, and it will be on ESPN.
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