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PHOENIX SUNS
Last Week:9
Record: 26-20

OffRtg: 117.3 (10) DefRtg: 115.3 (16) NetRtg: +2.0 (11) Pace: 98.5 (23)

The Suns won seven straight games, coming back from big deficits to beat the Bulls and Mavs last week. But the streak ended with two losses over the weekend in which a season-long problem reared its ugly head.

Three takeaways

It’s rather amazing how bad the Suns have been in the last 12 minutes of regulation. They’ve been outscored by 15.7 points per 100 possessions in the fourth period, which would be the worst fourth-quarter mark for any team in the 28 seasons for which we have play-by-play data. They were up 11 early in the fourth in Indiana on Friday, only to be outscored 26-13 over the final nine minutes. Two nights later in Orlando, they led by three before being outscored 24-6 over the final 10 minutes. Six points!
The fourth-quarter issues are on both ends of the floor, but a little more on offense, where their 103.4 points scored per 100 possessions ranks last in the fourth. Neither Devin Booker nor Kevin Durant have shot terribly in the fourth quarter, but it’s been the worst shooting quarter for both of them and they were a combined 9-for-24 in the fourth over these last two games. Bradley Beal was 0-for-9 and now has the 12th-worst fourth-quarter effective field goal percentage (42.3%) among 230 players with at least 50 field goal attempts. Jordan Goodwin (41.4%) has the seventh worst.
The Suns attempted just 14 3-pointers in their loss in Orlando on Sunday, one fewer than Durant attempted himself against the Bulls earlier in the week. His 15 3-point attempts on Monday tied his career high and his 43 points (capped by the game-winning jumper) were his most in 58 total games with the Suns (including playoffs). Booker topped that with 46 two nights later and 62 on Friday.
The last three games of the Suns’ seven-game trip are against three of the bottom six teams in the East. They’ll first be at a rest disadvantage in Miami on Monday, but are currently 4-1 (only the Bucks have been better) in rest-disadvantage games.

13. Phoenix Suns (14-13)
18 OF 31
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker
Kevin Durant and Devin BookerCameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: +1.1

The alarm isn't sounding yet, but the bell-ringer is at least limbering up for his climb up the tower stairs.

The Phoenix Suns are 3-7 in their past 10 games, with the most recent defeat coming in embarrassing fashion. Phoenix led the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers by 15 in the second half on Tuesday before fully collapsing on the way to a 109-104 loss.

And while it's easy to pin what's been an underwhelming campaign on various injuries to Devin Booker and Bradley Beal (who's appeared in just six games), lack of durability was always a concern for this group, especially after it added Beal. The former Washington Wizard only made 51.8 appearances per season over the four prior to this one.

For a top three with as many age and injury questions as this one (Kevin Durant has been the iron man of the group so far, but he's 35 years old with an Achilles tear in his history), depth is crucial.

Right now, Phoenix just doesn't appear to have much.

Suns not named Booker, Durant or Beal are shooting 35.2 percent from three (league average is 36.5), and the trio has 8.0 estimated wins while the rest of the roster has 4.1.

AmareIsGod wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:53 am

ArizonaSports: Suns fan who correctly pointed out that Luka is a fat piece of shit accepts Luka's apology.

Lol Bone!

Split T wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:05 pm

Hard to be player of the week with 2 losses

England Sun wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:03 pm

The sooner we get any trades done the better so we know what we’ve got left to work with. Personal accolades are all well and good but relatively meaningless when the team isn’t doing well inspite of them.

England Sun wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:03 pm

The sooner we get any trades done the better so we know what we’ve got left to work with. Personal accolades are all well and good but relatively meaningless when the team isn’t doing well inspite of them.

specialsauce wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 8:28 pm

England Sun wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:03 pm

The sooner we get any trades done the better so we know what we’ve got left to work with. Personal accolades are all well and good but relatively meaningless when the team isn’t doing well inspite of them.

Yeah I’m bored with this. I’m convinced we’re not legit championship contenders with the role players as currently constructed, so I’ve lost enjoyment in this team and am just sitting around waiting for the roster tinkering to happen.

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:25 pm

England Sun wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:03 pm

The sooner we get any trades done the better so we know what we’ve got left to work with. Personal accolades are all well and good but relatively meaningless when the team isn’t doing well inspite of them.

I'm sure Book would rather have the wins.