The Phoenix Suns have plenty of areas they need to fine tune after going down 0-2 in the First Round.
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Well? What did you expect? The Phoenix Suns have been a team that has lacked an identity the entire season. I’ve mentioned it before…perhaps that is their identity: their team does not understand who and what they are. They know who and what they can be. Crossing that bridge has been steps untaken during the 2023-24 season.
They went to Minnesota, a team they defeated three times in the regular season, and are flying back to Sky Harbor International Airport with two losses in their pockets. And the challenge? It didn’t even feel like they competed.
They did, of course. They tried to execute their sets, play with defensive energy, and disrupt the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ game plan. It was unsuccessful. The script for each game was the same: compete for two-and-a-half quarters, watch Grayson Allan go down with a right ankle injury, allow Minnesota to go on a run in the late third, and not recover.
There was no response to adversity or spark. Credit the Timberwolves. Their defense connectivity is a real thing, and it has become a real problem for Phoenix.
This wasn’t the Lakers versus the Nuggets game we witnessed on Monday night. This wasn’t the best shot from Phoenix (like it was for L.A.). Perhaps that still gives us hope that they can win four of the next five games and take this series. Because we know this team can play better. We know that they can outscore Minnesota.
Due to their lack of identity, however, they are stuck. Stuck wondering why. Stuck wondering how. And stuck wondering if they can win.
There are numerous issues with this at this point, and we’re trying to figure out what specifically they can do to get out of the two-game rut that they’ve been in since the postseason began.
So we turn to you, Bright Side community, to seek your thoughts and opinions on what this team needs to do to be successful.
Is it their bench production? Frank Vogel has gone to an eight-man rotation that has averaged 23 points in the series for a team averaging 94 points scored. Is it not turning the ball over? They’ve committed 25 turnovers in the first two games which have led to 54 points for the Timberwolves (that’s 24% of Minnesatoa’s total points scored).
24% of the Timberwolves total points scored in the series have come off of Suns’ turnovers. pic.twitter.com/8c8DHJQ0LB
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) April 24, 2024
Is it the fourth quarter? A familiar foe that resurfaced in Game 2’s loss. Is moving to a small-ball five approach something that Frank Vogel can do in an attempt to find points? Perhaps speed and quickness can trump length and physicality.
Or is it three-point shooting that the Suns need to focus on? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a team so afraid of shooting the three-ball like in Game 2, where they shot just 22 from deep. The team is shooting 34% on 25 3PA this postseason. Like last year’s playoffs, the Suns once again find themselves at the bottom of the 3PA totals. Different coach. Same problem from deep.
This should be an interesting result.