There is no more disappointing team in the NBA than Phoenix Suns.
Being five matches below .500 with 23 competitions left during the season is sad enough. But to sit 3 1/2 matches behind the final Western Conference-Play-in quay, the limit is embarrassing.
Suns is just a game before Portland Trail Blazers. No one outside Trail Blazer’s office considered Portland as a possible playoffs.
When you start with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, you should be well above .500 and in zero danger of watching the mail season on TV.
But after ten losses in the last 12 games, let’s say the silent part high: Phoenix is horrible.
Suns continued their underperforming ways on Thursday night when they lost 124-116 to the visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
Pelicans have been out of the playoffs since December and have nothing to play for. They surpassed and carried Sun’s entire game for a long time.
Zion Williamson recorded the first triple toddle of his career. It is as if he was watching the movie from the shaky Phoenix defense and knew he could do what he wanted. And he did so and made 13 out of 17 shots while compiling 27 points, 11 assists and 10 returns.
Oh, look here, the Pelicans visit Suns again Friday. Note to Phoenix: Big Sion will probably be rested on back-to-back.
The smallest points that the suns have allowed during their 12-game RUT are 117. Phoenix is the squad that you grease up your average because you know that there will be defensive divisions and guys will be wide open for 3 points.
Suns continues to talk a big game as if they will magically turn their fortune. Yet their playoffs continue to decrease.
After Thursday’s loss to the Pelicans, Booker defined what he sees as the problem with Suns.
“Skip over the details and always take the” get “Em Next Game” mentality, “Booker said. “At some point, you must draw a line and (it) should have been drawn long ago.”
So book, let’s draw a line.
The line is directly under Sacramento Kings, the 10th place in the west.
Guess which team is deserved under the line? Oh yes, under -performing Phoenix Suns.
We do not try to choose from Booker, because he always plays hard and puts together 36 points, nine assists and seven returns on Thursday.
But it’s just zero reason that a team with Booker and Durant on it can’t play much better basketball.
That trade for Bradley Beal was a murderer, and he doesn’t fit well with Suns. Tyus Jones is a good complement to Booker and Durant, while Bol Bol promises and may still develop.
But most of the other rotation players are just guys: Nick Richards, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Dunn.
Let’s not forget that the Phoenix lead fired Frank Vogel after a season as a coach.
Suns went 49-33 during the regular season under Vogel. Uh-Oh, this year’s squad must go 22-1 the rest of the way to match that brand.
Vogel’s biggest abuse was to be swept by Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Phoenix lost by an average of 15 points.
The new coach Mike Budenholzer would be the answer. He has an NBA title and five 50 victories on his resume.
It’s amazing stuff, but it is starting to look like having Giannis Antetokounmpo on your list is better than having Booker and Durant. How do Suns get worse when the season is going on instead of adapting to the new coach?
Maybe Budenholzer is not comfortable holding Durant responsible. Durant is a great time, but he marches to his own drum at this time in his career.
In fact, Durant had the next mentality that Booker is not fond of when he was pressed for the team’s struggle.
“Guys still want to figure out this thing. I am convinced that our group is coming out (Friday) with a sense of urgent and getting better, ”Durant said.
It’s time for Suns to draw another line.
Because right now, “most under -performing team” is stenciled on that line.
