The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets are playing two different seasons. The Suns are in championship-or-bust mode behind their three-headed monster of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. The Rockets are trying to build around Alperen Sengun and other young players and take success when they find it.
Lately, it's been less about success and more about development, as Houston has only won two of their last ten games.
In the Rockets' most recent loss, Beal did not play for the Suns, but Booker and Durant combined for 59 points. Houston was unable to answer, with only two players scoring more than 15 points.
However, Phoenix's points did not come easy. Rookie Amen Thompson did not play much and did little on the offensive end, scoring zero points, but he did manage to record two steals and make it hard for the Suns to score.
In fact, when he was the closest defender, Phoenix went zero-for-two from the floor. If he can salvage his offensive game, he will be a very good player.
Dillon Brooks also contributed on the defensive side of the ball, adding a steal. He received significantly more minutes than Thompson and also failed to do much on offense, but he made life difficult for the Suns.
When Brooks was the closest defender, the Suns shot 27.3 percent from the floor, compared to 40.4 percent overall. The only three shots he allowed were in the paint, so he clearly was putting on a defensive exhibit on the exterior.
Brooks might not be a vital part of Houston's rebuild, but he is a reliable defender and veteran presence on a young and emerging team.
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