The Phoenix Suns haven’t sniffed the postseason for ten 10 years and it’s been eight since we last saw a whiteout for the Coyotes. Both clubs are getting ever so closer to sneaking into their respective playoffs while causing all sorts of headaches for opponents inside their bubble atmospheres. These teams lead off our top five takeaways from the weekend in sports.
The Suns overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to the Mavs on Sunday night, thanks in large part to rookie Cam Johnson and the bench. Johnson (19 points, 12 rebounds) stepped up when Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton both went out of the game with five fouls early in the third quarter. Newly acquired guard Cam Payne hit two enormous 3-pointers during a big run that got the Suns back in the game and helped them take the lead. Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky filled in the gaps during that second half and killed enough time to allow Booker to re-enter the game to close it out with his 30 points.
Big takeaway: This was fun to watch. It was the first Suns game in a long time that had a nervous energy at the end. The key teams ahead of them in the standings lost all weekend long, and the Suns keep winning. They’ve made up two games and are now four games back with six more to play in the Orlando bubble. Hope is returning to Planet Orange.
We’re not sure if 4-1 is the most dangerous lead in hockey, but it sure felt like it Sunday morning. The Arizona Coyotes got out to a blistering beginning to their Game 1 matchup against Nashville, with three first period goals in a seven minute stretch. A beautiful breakaway goal from Michael Grabner in the second period gave the Yotes a 4-1 lead, and then it was time to grip onto something until the knuckles turn white. The Predators got back into the game with two quick third period goals, but Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper stood tall the rest of the way and Arizona held on for the crucial Game 1 win.
Big takeaway: The intensity of playoff hockey feels good. We’ve missed it badly for far too long around these parts. We may only have it for three or four more games, but looking at how well Arizona played on Sunday, buckle in for a lot more hockey in August.
For everything that has gone right for the Suns and Coyotes recently, it’s mostly gone wrong for the D-backs (3-7 record). Manager Torey Lovullo hasn’t put out a lineup capable of scoring more than five runs in a game (and they only did that once this season: Friday night against L.A.). Regular starters Eduardo Escobar, Kole Calhoun, David Peralta and Nick Ahmed are all batting under .200. The team has only hit two home runs all season, by far the lowest mark in Major League Baseball. Merrill Kelly is the only starting pitcher with a win through the first 10 games.
Big takeaway: Nothing works right now for the D-backs and they have a much-needed day off on Monday. Take the time to reflect on the poor start and comeback Tuesday with a renewed approach or this season will be lost before mid-August.
Several Pac-12 football players reportedly penned a letter in the Player’s Tribune on Sunday, calling for a list of demands to be met before they take the field this season. Some of the dictates included reducing coaches’ salaries, paying players, diverting revenue to social justice causes and ramped up COVID-19 testing. While they used #WeAreUnited across social media, ASU offensive lineman Cody Shear was the lone Sun Devil among the group. According to Devils Digest, there is no support for the boycott in the ASU locker room. ASU’s coaching staff can largely take credit for that because of the constant line of communication and trust they have with their student-athletes.
Big takeaway: Herm Edwards’ pro-style approach is working wonders in Tempe, trying to build a team that can compete on the field and a foundation that can hold firm in the blowing winds of societal change.
NFL Sundays are now less than six weeks away and so far no Arizona Cardinals players have opted out of the season. Instead, they appear to be working on team chemistry in new ways, like playing chess! In a tweet from Kyler Murray, it appears the second-year quarterback got the best of 17-year vet Larry Fitzgerald.
Big takeaway: The Cardinals playing chess is hopefully a metaphor for the rest of the season, as long as their opponents are playing checkers.
Tuesday: Coyotes vs. Predators, game 2
Suns vs. Clippers
Diamondbacks vs. Astros
Wednesday: Coyotes vs. Predators, game 3
Diamondbacks vs. Astros
Thursday: Suns vs. Pacers
Diamondbacks vs. Astros
PGA Championship 1st round
Friday: Coyotes vs. Predators, game 4 if necessary
Diamondbacks vs. Padres
Saturday: Suns vs. Heat
Diamondbacks vs. Padres
Sunday: Coyotes vs. Predators, game 5 if necessary
Diamondbacks vs. Padres
PGA Championship final round
