Posted: November 14, 2012
Despite a thrilling 18-point comeback, the Suns dropped a 112-106 overtime decision to the visiting Bulls on Wednesday. Check out some notable tidbits uncovered in the locker room before and after the game.
Sixth Man Award Consideration
Coming into Wednesday’s contest, Suns shooting guard Shannon Brown has been averaging a zesty 14.4 points a game. His 115 points in eight games are the most points a reserve has started the season with since Tony Delk scored totaled during the 2000-01 campaign.
Even in the years Eddie Johnson, Rodney Rogers and Leandro Barbosa took home Sixth Man of the Year honors, they didn’t start the season with as many points as Brown. The 6-3 high-flyer has already produced four games in which he’s totaled over 15 points off the bench this season.
He only posted those numbers three times off the bench last season. Brown also has two efforts of over 20 points in eight games.
One reason for the increased production has been his red-hot 44-percent shooting from downtown. It is a sizable jump from his 36-percent shooting from behind the arc last season.
On Wednesday, the former Michigan St. Spartan scored 11.
Turnover Solution
If you happen to have caught a media huddle with Gentry all season, there are two things that he constantly emphasizes: rebounding and not turning over the ball. Through the first eight games, the Suns are averaging only 13.1 turnovers a game, which is good for third-best in the league.
Since turnovers started being recorded in 1977-78, there have been only three teams in franchise history that have averaged less than 14 turnovers a night. We’ll see if the Suns can keep up the pace and become the fourth team to do so.
“We just tell guys to make simple plays,” Gentry said. “We’re a really good basketball team when we take the ball from one side of the floor to the other and make more than three passes. If we make more than three passes, we’re a 55-percent shooting team.”
Overtime
Wednesday’s contest against the Bulls was the first overtime game the Suns have played since April 11, 2011. During the 2011-12 season, the Suns abstained from participating in overtime games.
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