I know, what a concept!
The Phoenix Suns host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, and the hope is that the team can get on the scoreboard with a win in the series. The fans will show up. Let’s hope the team follows suit.
We’ve been racking our brains over the past couple of days trying to understand why this is happening and how it can be fixed. Many of us have landed on the simple fact that this team does not have the foundational ability to be better than they are; that they are their own worst enemy and sessions on the therapy couch may be the only solution.
Phoenix is in their emo phase it appears, where everything is happening to them rather than being a result of their actions, preparation, and overall attitude. Like all season long, this team has faced more challenges than a couple on The Amazing Race. The difference? The majority of them have been self-inflicted.
I’m just waiting for Booker to walk into the Footprint Center with his classic beanie and sunglasses on, sporting a Fall Out Boy t-shirt. He’ll be listening to My Chemical Romance I assume.
During the regular season, Phoenix was 25th in turnovers, committing 14.9 a night. As a result, they were 25th in opposing points off turnovers. 18.2 points every night came directly off of their mistakes. 1,491 points of the 9,281 they allowed this season. 16.1% of all opposing points.
Did we think their ability to avoid self-inflicted mistakes would magically disappear when the postseason began? Escpailly against the best defense in the NBA? Not surprisingly, it has become worse.
It might not surprise you, but the Suns are 16th out of 16 teams in the playoffs with 17.5 turnovers per game thus far. https://t.co/7MAlbhWsZe
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) April 26, 2024
Self-inflicted pain. Panic! At The Disco get what I’m saying.
The team is dead last in turnovers amongst all 16 teams in the postseason. They are coughing the ball up 17.5 times a night against the Timberwolves. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant — the Suns’ two best players — have been the primary culprits, turning it over 3.5 times a game each. Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic are isn’t far behind with 2.5.
News Flash: Minnesota is not an elite offense! They were 16th in offensive rating this season and 18th in points scored! How are they winning? Math, that’s how. 24% of Minnesota’s points have come as a direct result of the Suns’ turnovers.
It needs to stop.
In our recent Suns Reacts Survey, we asked what could right the wrongs for Phoenix. It wasn’t even close. 64% of the Bright Side community recognized that the turnover battle is killing the Suns. And a little bit of my heart. Ah, crap. Now I’m becoming emo.
Ball security is the name of the game as the Suns prepare for Game 3 tonight at the Footprint Center. The Suns know the problem. Do they have the ability to fix it? I let your emotionally charged observations fill the comments sections below.
And I’ll ask you this: Can you help me find a way to carry on again? Yes, that is from ‘Swing, Swing’ by the All-American Rejects. If I had hair, I’d dye it black right now.
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