Finding the Phoenix Suns' Pace

NBA Success

[{"selector":"#anim-2940a345-4765-4359-8103-600f28d123f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-190cec45-f771-498f-b5af-7f10892d8330","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 383.66009%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2ed2f59-73d1-4138-bb72-65f6a44ab23d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15c59f53-1743-426c-a785-6869bbf4dc96","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a551e3a-7a98-4477-9d4a-0bdb9a61fe5b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(39.189796295772545%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a39dac09-1be3-4a60-9b51-1114e91be652","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3234532-c104-4187-9332-92307d27ba1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NBA success is closely tied to pace, which measures a team's number of possessions per game. Image -Getty images

Pace's Influence

[{"selector":"#anim-af333f14-a84e-416f-85a4-04316d21a9eb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1fda6145-c6ca-46f3-b983-656ac088ae6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed883989-0b07-4c8b-b448-19fc4eecd245","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8a3f14a-b379-486c-b942-03c5ea49bb3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3265341f-0c69-4669-8eaa-49f3be167318","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86d0a244-880a-46e0-ac6d-bff225b0bfe6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d79b9cc3-9615-48b7-bf8c-7aba03ef8caf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 383.66009%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Faster paces were traditionally seen as the path to success in the NBA during the 2010s. Image -Getty images

Championship Patterns

[{"selector":"#anim-c4ec0fe0-ce76-476e-ac5e-9bc00fbd3fbc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.90624987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1c5757c-fa6f-4d95-b520-8392cc4adca5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d30ea40-e353-4ee6-9ca8-be51f6b16ff5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e1ac6ba-e461-4b35-8310-85238d902a8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4076cd2-4801-41a1-9ef5-140811aa9f20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56689d9e-ef79-4bb9-a28a-e52e71c48dc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c479a8c-8a5e-4d4a-b3e7-3980dd066f99","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 371.89519%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] From 2013-14 to 2017-18, four of five NBA champions were top 10 in pace, but this changed in the following seasons. Image -Getty images

Nuggets' Efficient Offense

[{"selector":"#anim-277ab371-ae94-40e6-87ff-312e20f4c9ce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(41.79736316012024%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e05c441-2f04-4bcb-b1e1-b46a0eb88eb1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8162ec8-cb9b-468d-a6bd-b980ba7b4926","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6cca528f-9502-49cc-9d9f-fee4256f5155","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b11d4ab-756a-4397-a8da-8998c046c8f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8e4bc35-51f8-40c4-9da2-63583ca6b4ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5a0fa3f-9c03-46e6-b0d5-f364f7b2e759","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 348.36575%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Denver Nuggets won the championship with a slower pace but efficient offense, thanks in part to Nikola Jokic's playmaking. Image -Getty images

Suns' Challenge

[{"selector":"#anim-db7eebb3-36aa-4119-9d8d-68c9fdca436c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.972656181525256%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c9a2275-ab35-4c8b-b728-fb4363ea29d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-900c711f-02bf-4e95-b3aa-6a5a4111761d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54b40a53-a879-473d-a64d-dd73dbb62644","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-650a363b-916f-4dcd-8937-babd848450da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18e5a2bc-178c-4aab-86b6-d81a3102bf7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8f8ab26-51e3-46c5-a240-1e8cd02f5e1e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 401.30725%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Phoenix Suns had a middle-of-the-road pace and scoring in the previous season, making it hard to determine their ideal offensive pace. Image -Getty images

Vogel's Coaching Style

[{"selector":"#anim-9fc67bbd-84c0-4b5f-b338-c15d05d0f831 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.254577522972255%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90bd1f2d-712f-4a73-8dce-7e4c7c4536b8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-822e89dd-8c65-4b68-aa5c-99680dd98713","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bea5e68-22e2-48c2-9527-4bbc5563b146","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68413143-03ba-4864-9077-9db9f5bc53dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d86f28e-d878-4f04-a4a4-4d4432f87b9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7e9b3af-a27f-4ded-928e-b93aa527aa76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 395.42462%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Suns' head coach Frank Vogel typically leads slower-paced teams, influenced by his defensive coaching background. Image -Getty images

Finding Optimal Pace

[{"selector":"#anim-92e4ec08-89ca-49ed-8672-ac90a8ee125d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(40.85388170735161%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65351b09-2fa5-4796-b897-3bd1452d632b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34398cbc-ff5a-43e1-9eec-eb941bd642c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67a67fb5-6a99-4aea-8759-37bccf9478bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3efa59c3-f9f6-4706-bd82-5205a6340f9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb809980-845e-4c78-902e-1d6809167972","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b06474e-5eeb-4d1d-bca3-378eafb14d7a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 413.07179%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Suns may find their sweet spot between 10th and 15th in pace, balancing offense and defense effectively. Image -Getty images