THE FLATS – Josh Okogie continues to find ways to help the Suns win as playoffs approach … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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COULD JOSH OKOGIE BE AN X-FACTOR IN SUNS PLAYOFF PUSH?
Shortly before the NBA trade deadline, the Suns sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, and four unprotected first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant. Durant was injured at the time, but was in the thick of the NBA MVP conversation and has been amongst the NBA’s best players for at least a decade now.
While Durant is the headliner, the aftermath of the trade left Phoenix with little depth and not many avenues to add players outside of the buyout market. One of the guys that was already there was former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Josh Okogie, who signed with the Suns during the summer of 2022.
Okogie had to take on an even bigger responsibility after the trade because Durant was injured and the lack of bodies on the perimeter for Phoenix. He averaged nearly 33 minutes a game during the short month and scored at least 24 points twice.
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OKOGIE INSTRUMENTAL IN CLOSING OUT NUGGETS
The offensive production from Phoenix Suns fifth starter Josh Okogie has admittedly plummeted as of late, but it’s something we saw coming and the team is prepared for to handle.
Over a recent eight-game stretch from Feb. 9 to Mar. 3, which includes seven starts, Okogie averaged 17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists (1.3 turnovers) on 46.9% on 6.1 three-point attempts per game.
Over the last 13 games since then, most of those numbers have fallen down to 9.2 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 31.5% on 4.2 threes per game. Okogie’s playmaking, however, is starting to become a real weapon with 2.2 assists to 0.8 turnovers per game over that stretch, and that’s even considering zero assists to one turnover over the last two games.
This 14-point, 5-rebound, 1-steal game in a 100-93 win over the Denver Nuggets marks consecutive double-digit scoring nights for just the second time in March as we turn to April. It was also his best shooting night of the month from both the field (5-8, 62.5%) and three (4-5, 80.0%).
More from Bright Side of the Sun
josh okogie finishes march having made 22-66 (33.3%) from three. pretty pedestrian month compared to february’s 46.2%, but still better than his career 29.2%.
he finished strong though, making 4 out of 5 against denver, including the dagger with 45 seconds remaining.
📽️ pic.twitter.com/aDpjl2Vtyw— damon allred (@iamdamonallred) April 1, 2023
Making the most of an opportunity. pic.twitter.com/DNqIgr8EwL
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 29, 2023
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HASLEM SAYS BOSH, JAMES, WADE TOOK PAY CUTS TO KEEP HIM ON HEAT TEAM
Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem will be saying farewell to the NBA after a 20-year run, and he’s had quite the career, winning three championship titles with the team.
On “The Pivot” podcast, Haslem revealed there was a time when he was certain his fate would be sealed when the “Big Three” was announced. He had been with the Heat since 2003, and in 2010, he was a free agent and realized the trio’s value could jeopardize his spot on the team.
However, the “Big Three,” which consisted of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, negotiated their salaries to keep him on the team.
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