BOSTON – The Phoenix Suns were riding a four-game win streak before the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics stopped it with a March 26 blowout that exploited one of their major weaknesses – defending the 3.
Boston shot a torrid 22-of-52 from distance in blasting the Suns, 132-102. Phoenix faces them again on Friday, April 4, at TD Garden, still looking for answers to guarding the 3.
Phoenix is 26th in the league in defending the 3 in terms of percentage at 36.8%.
“A lot of this has to do with us guarding the ball a little bit better one-on-one,” Suns wing Cody Martin said. “Once you start getting beat one-on-one and creating lanes to the basket, naturally, you’ve got to help and want to help and that puts you in rotations early.”
Boston leads the league in 3s made at 17.8 a game and attempts at 48.4. They are eighth in 3-point percentage at 36.9%. As great as the Celtics are from 3, they shot it even better against the Suns, but this is nothing new.
Phoenix has yielded at least 20 made 3s seven times this season.
Nov. 4 vs. 76ers – 20-of-51 (W, 118-116). Philadelphia is 22nd in the NBA in made 3s (12.7) and 27th in 3-point percentage (34.4%). Philadelphia’s season high for made 3s: 24 (March 17 at Rockets, L 144-139 OT).
Dec. 13 at Jazz – 22-of-39 (W, 134-126). Utah is 11th in the NBA in made 3s (13.8) and 22nd in 3-point percentage (35%). Utah’s season high for made 3s: 22 against the Suns.
Feb. 23 at Raptors – 20-of-35 (L, 127-109). Toronto is 29th in the NBA in made 3s (11.7) and 24th in 3-point percentage (34.8%). Toronto’s season high for made 3s: 21 (November 27 at New Orleans, W, 119-93).
Feb. 25 at Grizzlies – 20-of-48 (L, 151-148, OT). Memphis is 10th in the NBA in made 3s (13.8) and 13th in 3-point percentage (36.7%). Memphis’ season high for made 3s: 27 (Dec. 19 vs Golden State, W, 144-93).
March 2 vs Timberwolves – 21-of-52 (L, 116-98). Minnesota is fifth in the NBA in made 3s (15.2) and fourth in 3-point percentage (38%). Minnesota’s season high for made 3s: 22. (Nov. 8 vs. Portland, W, 127-102 and Jan. 17 at New York, W, 116-99).
March 7 at Nuggets – 21-of-40 (L, 149-141 OT). Denver is 27th in the NBA in made 3s (12.2) and fifth in 3-point percentage (37.9%). Denver’s season high for made 3s: 21 against the Suns.
March 26 vs. Celtics – 22-of-52 (L, 132-102). Boston is first in the NBA in made 3s (17.8) and eighth in 3-point percentage (36.9%). Boston's season high for made 3s: 29 against New York (W, 132-109).
“I think sometimes we’ve got to guard the ball better,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We’ve got to keep it in front better. Pick-and-roll, sometimes we’ve been aggressive in that and teams have just been able to move it and get good looks. Some nights, teams have just had some unusual shooting nights. It’s been stacking against us some nights.”
Even without All-Star Jayson Tatum, the Celtics still blitzed the Suns from 3 last month as they took advantage of Phoenix looking to put two men on the ball to start the game.
Four of the Boston’s five starters that night shot between 35-40% from 3. All-Star Jaylen Brown is only at 31.9%, but he made Boston’s first two 3s of the game in finishing 4-of-9 from deep.
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