Expectations can be a real pain. Ask the NFL team in town.
The Phoenix Suns didn’t come into this season with any such expectations. After a big-money “all-in” experiment failed spectacularly to bring the first championship to town, the Suns overhauled their roster, eliminating championship pressure and reducing the expectation for many fans to “I hope they compete.”
Well, we’re 17 games into this season, and this year’s Suns are more than fun. They’re more than competitive. They’re good. They proved that in a 111-102 win over the Spurs just two nights after shocking the Minnesota Timberwolves in a whirlwind comeback for the ages.
Yes, the Suns beat a shorthanded Spurs team, but they’re not exactly a picture of health either, missing Jalen Green, Grayson Allen and Ryan Dunn on Sunday. Didn’t matter.
Jordan Goodwin stepped into the starting lineup for the first time and made his usual impact with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Goodwin looks like a different player from the first time he donned a Suns uniform just a couple years ago. And why is Goodwin here?
Shoutout to nepotism. Goodwin spent last season in L.A. with the Lakers and made an impact for that team after the All-Star break. But when the Lakers had to form their roster for this season, Goodwin was the odd man out as they chose to keep some guy named Bronny James over him. L.A. waived Goodwin in July, and the Suns brought him back for a second stint in purple and orange. He and Collin Gillespie have been godsends; so much so, they’re being referred to as the “Killer Gs.”
Sunday, the pair combined for 30 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals.
But it’s not just about them. Dillon Brooks missed seven of his first eight shots, but rebounded to lead the way with 25 points, including several timely buckets in the second half. Devin Booker shook off one of his worst games ever to contribute 24. Mark Williams had another efficient double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Suns can sweep a three-game homestand with a win over Houston on Monday. But regardless of the outcome Monday at Mortgage Matchup Center, this team has proven something already. It knows how to win, and that knowledge can go a long way.