The Adelaide 36ers made history on Monday, becoming the first NBL team to defeat an NBA outfit with a stunning 134-124 upset victory over the Phoenix Suns in Arizona.
To that, Suns coach Monty Williams had a simple but telling explanation.
“[We] just didn’t give them the respect they deserved as a pro team,” he said.
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Williams said that the 36ers played “the game of their lives” on Monday but the 10-point defeat also heaped further pressure on Phoenix after a tumultuous off-season.
Having finished the 2021-22 regular season as the league’s most dominant team, the Suns crumbled in the playoffs and the drama only continued from there — on and off the court.
Now, pre-season games are hardly the most accurate indicator of what to expect when the NBA season tips off and Phoenix’s starters, who are worth around $A180 million for the upcoming season alone, played only 22 minutes.
But Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson did not shy away from the fact this result was “undeniably shocking”.
“Phoenix was favoured by roughly 30 points at most sportsbooks and trailed for the majority of the game,” he wrote.
“Its biggest lead was six points and it was the first time a NBA team has lost to a NBL team. Even though the Suns’ starters only clocked in at 22 minutes, that doesn’t do much to shake off the surprise of the result.”
While coach Williams thought a lack of respect was to blame, Suns superstar Chris Paul had a different opinion.
“I know I definitely respected them, and I think the guys did,” he said.
“They played a heck of a game. It’s a preseason game. Our first time playing together, not all of us, but some of us. We lost. Got to get ready for the next one.”
But even Suns centre Deandre Ayton seemed to take lessons out of the ways the 36ers not just played the game but even approached the occasion itself.
“Just to see how those dudes did not take this opportunity for granted,” he said.
“Those boys came out to play and they listened to their coach. They had their head on their shoulders and that’s what’s you expect out of a team coming to play an NBA team.”
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Now of course, this game would have meant more for Adelaide given the opportunity it was for its players to put their names out there on the international stage.
As Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin went on to point out, the Suns may have “taken for granted” the fact the 36ers had several imports, or American players, looking to prove themselves.
“Craig Randall II, Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland showed and proved plenty,” Rankin wrote.
“They combined for 89 points and drained 18-of-31 3s. Randall scored a game-high 35, Franks went for 32 and Cleveland added 22. They all know the NBA. Franks and Cleveland both played in the league while Randall spent time in the G League.”
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It was not as if the Suns had little to work with to prepare for Monday’s game either.
Coach Williams said Phoenix knew Adelaide could shoot the ball but still did not make the defensive adjustments to cut off 3-point attempts.
“They didn’t feel the pressure,” Mikal Bridges said.
“They were comfortable and once they were comfortable, they were confident and they’re all hoopers at the end of the day. Just because they’re not in the league doesn’t mean that they can’t hoop.”
Rankin also wrote that Phoenix’s bench needs “major work” after struggling to fire on Monday as Adelaide exposed the team’s biggest weakness.
With the Suns’ starters only playing 22 minutes, this game was going to be a test of Phoenix’s depth and the ability of their second unit to step up into key roles.
Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, Damion Lee, Torrey Craig and Jock Landale were brought in to replace the starters in the first quarter and really struggled to maintain any of the momentum.
“Our bench has to do a good job of maintaining or increasing. They can’t lose any ground,” Williams said.
The five combined to shoot 4-for-19 from deep and were also poor on the defensive end, leaving coach Williams with serious questions ahead of the NBA season.
“Williams has some decisions to make on whether to keep Craig as the backup four or move Dario Saric into that role because new Suns big Jock Landale looks like he’ll be the backup five to Ayton,” Rankin wrote.
