NBA Cup quarterfinals - Will Suns or Thunder set the defensive tone?

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. preview Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup in Oklahoma City. Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

The Phoenix Suns, once again, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

These two teams faced off just over a week ago: the Thunder, Eking out a 123-119 win over the Suns in that one.

We’ve talked a lot about what the Thunder do to players who have the best defensive skills Rating in the NBA.

They have one of the best defensive ratings.

Relative to the league in league history.

And so, looking at this matchup, My base question ahead again is which defense is going to set the tone first?

Will the Thunder be able to bog down this Phoenix offense that may be without Devin Booker?

Obviously going to shift a lot of on-ball Responsibilities to your Royce O’Neal, your Colin Gillespie, Your Dylan Brooks, etc.

Are they ready to face heightened defensive attention from this OKC team?

And for Phoenix, can you put Shea in a box to any capacity?

Do you cycle through looks against Shea?

So, I just want to start with defense in this matchup, Steve.

Or what are you looking forward to with this?

One?

Uh, a whole lot; I think defense is a fair thing to point to.

Uh, these are the top two teams in points off uh, turnovers.

OKC ranks number one, with 24.6.

Phoenix is number two, with 21.8.

Uh, the one difference between them is, uh, the Thunder are second in opponent points off Turnover: 14.9.

Phoenix ranks 28th.

And if you go back to when they played, Phoenix had eighteen turnovers.

OKC had only 10.

And so is Phoenix’s defense; will they be able to put the Thunder in a scenario where They’re a little sped up?

And we have not seen that this season.

The Thunder have been in control, and I think the one thing we saw in their last matchup was Just how much they were able to keep pressure on the Suns.

Like, it’s not necessarily one thing, Shay.

Uh, he’s going to attack.

He’ll get his one-on-one chances, But they’re going to keep moving.

They’re going to play randomly.

I think that’s what kind of keeps the pressure on a really good Phoenix Suns defensive group.

The other thing for OKC’s defense, and this is the tricky part for Phoenix.

Can they generate enough offense?

Can they sustain the offense?

They have the balance; they have the mindset.

You know, even when Devin Booker was out there in the game, They, hey, wherever he goes, there’s gonna be help shown.

And so we’re gonna recover out there.

So, can they beat OKC?

Can they put them in a tough spot?

NBA Cup quarterfinals – Will Suns or Thunder set the defensive tone?

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