NBA Game of the Week: Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz
Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns will travel to Salt Lake City on Friday to take on a Utah Jazz team that has shocked the world so far this season.
Despite no true star players on the team, Utah has a 10-6 record already due to its strong depth and bench play.
Over the offseason, they shipped off star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to Minnesota, signaling a potential rebuild.
If there was ever a time to tank in the NBA, it would be now; 7-foot-3 prospect Victor Wembanyama looks to be the next big thing and will almost certainly be taken first overall in the upcoming NBA draft.
But based on how the Jazz have played this season, the trades look to be more of a retool that allows them to stash draft picks but still compete for a playoff spot. They will have three first round picks in the 2023 draft.
Lauri Markkanen, the No. 7 pick in the 2017 draft, has been one of the brightest spots for the Jazz. He is leading the team with an average of 21.3 points per game.
Outside of Markkanen, the Jazz have gotten contributions from just about everybody. Their depth of strong role players, including veterans Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk and Mike Conley, allows them to play team basketball on both ends of the court.
On the other side of the court, the Suns have gotten off to a strong 8-5 start.
While there has been a regression in scoring from 37-year-old star Chris Paul, he is still passing the rock among the best in the game; his 9.4 assists per game rank second in the league.
The Suns have also benefited from a career-high 15.6 points per game from Villanova product Mikal Bridges. The small forward has become one of the NBA’s best two-way talents, using his length to stop scorers on the perimeter defensively and shooting efficiently from all over the court.
At the center of Phoenix’s success is the microwave scoring and all-around talent of Booker. The eighth-year guard from Kentucky continues to prove that he is one of the best at arguably the most important skill: putting the ball in the basket.
Booker’s 26.5 points per game rank 11th in the NBA.
Overall, Phoenix is a well-coached team that has a bit of everything and has realistic hopes of an NBA title.
Utah continues to play the underdog role, proving their doubters wrong by having different players step up every night.
Friday’s game will feature two potential Western Conference playoff teams; the Jazz sit at third in the conference, while the Suns are fourth.
Daniel Mader is a third-year majoring in digital/print journalism. To contact him, email dbm5725@psu.edu.
