4. Finding The Offense Again
Since the All-Star break, the Suns are averaging a meager 97.9 points per game, the 20th best mark in the league. They’re scoring only 98.1 points per 100 possessions (26th), their field goal percentage has dropped to 43.8 percent (21st), and they’re shooting a miserable 30.0 percent from three-point range (29th).
That’s right folks, the only team with a worse three-point percentage since All-Star Weekend is the New York Knicks.
Shipping away one-third of the roster of the trade deadline was bound to lead to an adjustment period. Trading away such a talented offensive player like Goran Dragic — not to mention Isaiah Thomas‘ scoring impact off the bench — was also going to take its toll.
But the irony of the Suns finding their defense right when they lose their offense is painstakingly clear to just about everyone right now. Phoenix’s offense has always been too dependent on guys making individual plays and not enough on ball movement or cutting, but even the good shots aren’t falling these days.
Keeping this newfound confidence on the defensive end intact while also finding the offense should be a short-term goal to close the season. The playoffs aren’t happening, but working to improve the team chemistry on the offensive end — while avoiding some of those annoying dry spells that keep setting in — is important in every game for this young core.
Next: No. 3