Vinny’s View: the Suns got abducted by an Alien

I’ve seen a lot of Phoenix Suns games in different capacities. I’ve seen my share of 26-point blowout losses of the guys in purple and orange, too. But I don’t think I’ve ever been as non-mad at one as I was Monday night.

The San Antonio Spurs rolled into Phoenix red-hot and left town with a nine-game winning streak as they annihilated the Suns 122-96 at Mortgage Matchup Center.

Victor Wembanyama is known as “The Alien,” and after what we saw Monday, I’m not sure that moniker isn’t absolutely true.

Wembanyama had 40 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots. He made two 3-pointers. He got to the free-throw line 10 times. He had nine dunks. He altered countless Suns’ shots. He had a fast-break finger roll where he started his gather at the 3-point line and took off from the free-throw line. He did all of this in 25 minutes.

It’s nearly impossible to point at what the Suns failed to do in this game and get all that upset or analytical about it. Playing against an engaged Wembanyama is unlike anything we’ve seen in the history of the sport. Sure, we’ve seen dominant, sport-changing big men in the game before — Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal come to mind.

Monday was another reminder that we’ve never seen anything like what we’re seeing with Wembanyama right now. Hopefully the Suns are able to recalibrate their focus for a game against mere mortals (the Los Angeles Clippers) Tuesday night.

Vince Marotta has been the Phoenix Suns’ PA announcer since 2016 in addition to his duties as co-host of Bickley & Marotta. On weekdays after Suns home games, you can listen to Vinny’s View on Arizona Sports 98.7 at 7 a.m. or read what he saw from the front row at Mortgage Matchup Center here.

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