Halfway through the 2020-2021 season, the Phoenix Suns have risen to the occasion.
After taking care of the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, The Suns (24-11) sit atop the Pacific Division with a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Last offseason’s additions have led to the Suns’ improved play in 2021. Chris Paul’s presence has opened up the offense and helped take the pressure off of Devin Booker. The additions of veterans Jae Crowder, Langston Galloway and E’Twaun Moore have worked out, giving Monty Williams more reliability, whether it be off the bench or in the starting lineup.
While the Suns’ are second in the NBA behind the Utah Jazz, how do they stack up to the rest of the league?
Here’s a look at the numbers behind the Suns’ breakout season:
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The Suns’ are the 12th highest-scoring team in the NBA, averaging 113.6 points per game this season. They are eight in offensive rating at 115.6 points per 100 possessions.
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On the other side of the ball, the Suns sit third in the NBA in points allowed per game (107.1). The Suns hold a defensive rating of 109, tied for third with the Jazz and trailing the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.
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The Suns have held opponents under 100 points 10 times this season, eight of which have come during the Suns’ last 19 games.
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As a team, the Suns rank sixth in the league in shooting, making 48.4% of their attempts from the field. The team also ranks ninth in three-point shooting (38%).
2.09
Before the addition of Paul, the Suns’ averaged 1.84 assists to every one turnover, which ranked sixth in the NBA in 2019. This year, the assist number has risen to 2.09 which ranks second in the league according to TeamRankings.com. For reference, the Spurs are first with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.25.
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The Suns lead the league in assist rate at 27.6 assists per game.
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This is the first time two Suns’ players have been selected to play in the All-Star game since 2010 when Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire both made the team. Paul was voted in by the coaches and Booker was named an injury replacement for Lakers forward Anthony Davis.
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The Suns have only lost five of their 17 road games, sitting at 12-5 at the All-Star break. The Lakers are 13-5 away from Staple Center and are the only team with a better road record than the Suns.
68.6
The Suns’ win percentage is currently the second-best in the NBA. It’s on pace to be the sixth-highest in franchise history.
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Since Jan. 28, the Suns have gone 16-3, which is the best record in the NBA in that timespan. The Suns ended the first half on a seven-game road winning streak and went 9-3 at home in that span.
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