Stage is set for Suns shootout

Dreams will be realised, bucket list items will be ticked off and opportunities are ready for the taking when Adelaide 36ers take on the Phoenix Suns in the first of their two NBL x NBA games on Sunday (Monday, 12.30pm SA time).

The Suns are in the NBA championship window right now, having made it to the 2021 NBA Finals and boasting one of the scariest backcourts in world hoops.

WATCH LIVE: ADELAIDE 36ERS vs PHOENIX SUNS

But don’t fear 36ers fans, the squad will be ready for easily their biggest test so this pre-season.

Everyone in a blue singlet will come to play, and coming off another successful NBL Blitz campaign, the 36ers walk into the Footprint Centre in Phoenix full of confidence to show their skills on the big stage.

THE KEY
Phoenix have a dynamic duo, a Batman and Robin, in Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

Paul, one of the greatest point guards to grace an NBA court.

The 12-time NBA All-Star averaged 14.7 points and a league leading 10.8 assists per game last season as he led the Suns to the best record in the league.

He creates, he gets others involved, he can score, and he will be a nightmare for defenders.

Stopping Paul is no mean feat, but to even curb his influence will go a long way for the 36ers to have an outside chance.

Booker is a weapon, a scorer who can shoot it from anywhere, midrange, three, deep three, there’s no limit to this man’s arsenal.

THE SECRET
The Phoenix chemistry will be an interesting watch for this game. The NBL x NBA game is the first competitive hit out the Suns have had since getting eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks on the same court five months earlier.

A lot has changed since then, trades have happened, new players have come in, the saga of keeping DeAndre Ayton was played out during free agency and now the franchise will have a new owner.

Boomers big man Jock Landale is one of those new players to join the Suns and 36ers fans and players are no stranger to know the influence he can have on a game.

Torrey Craig is another Suns player 36ers fans will remember from his NBL days. The swingman is a two-way nightmare but expect no one to be starstruck come game time.

THE FINAL WORD
Just who and for how long of the Suns superstars play will be interesting. Bruton expects the likes of Paul, Booker and Ayton to play big minutes as it’s the Suns’ first game of their pre-season.

Expect McCarron, Dech and Randall to all have time on Paul, while Cleveland looms large as the man to stop the sweet shooting Booker.

Ayton in the post will cause his fair share of issues, but again Bruton has options in Sotto, Johnson, Galloway and even Franks to guard the former No.1 draft pick.

Execution at the offensive end is crucial early on and the 36ers must stay close in the first quarter and not be intimidated to what has been said to be a sellout crowd at the Footprint Centre.

Dare to dream? Why not.

DEPTH CHART
PG: Paul | Payne | Washington Jr
SG: Booker | Shamet | Lee
SF: Bridges | Craig
PF: Johnson | Saric | Wainright
C: Ayton | Landale | Biyombo