Coming into this one sans Ayton (non-Covid illness) and Cam Johnson (injury management), not to mention Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Jae Crowder still being out, the Phoenix Suns would trot out their league-most 18th different starting lineup of the season.
In that, they would piece together a litany of efforts via presented opportunity, and remain collectively up to the task, garnering a win behind an elite “next man up” showing.
1.) Offensive Process (particularly early on)
Phoenix did an excellent job out of the gate. Indiana presented the Suns with mixed coverages throughout the game but relied heavily on an aggressive scheme with Myles Turner hedging out, momentarily putting two to the ball in Suns pick-and-roll actions.