Valley of the Suns
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Suns Analysis: Breaking Down Phoenix’s Recent Problems On Offense

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Suns Analysis
Mar 2, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) dribbles the ball against Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Fast Break Points Down

Only one of their four wins since the break — against the Thunder — was an impressive victory, with the other three coming against the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets. The Suns have also lost to poor teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat in that time.

How is this happening? Between the recent shooting problems and a dependence on players making individual plays, the Suns have also hurt themselves by failing to capitalize on their easiest source of offense: transition points.

The Suns are second in the league in fast break points per game (19.0), but other than the 29 transition points they put up on the Celtics, Phoenix is averaging just 11.3 fast break points in the three losses since — including a goose egg against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In the four wins since that Celtics game, the Suns are averaging 15.5 fast break points per game. Phoenix had to fight for each one of those wins, and three of them came against lowly teams, so no matter if we’re talking victory or defeat, the Suns need to make a concerted effort to push the tempo like they did before with the one-man fast break, Goran Dragic.

Next: Turnovers

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