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Phoenix Suns: How Their Defense Improved And The Offense Died

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and center Alex Len (21) and forward P.J. Tucker (17) and forward Marcus Morris (15) and head coach Jeff Hornacek and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) look on during the final moments of the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and center Alex Len (21) and forward P.J. Tucker (17) and forward Marcus Morris (15) and head coach Jeff Hornacek and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) look on during the final moments of the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) celebrates a play with guard Goran Dragic (1) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Death Of The Slash Brothers

At the trade deadline, the Suns shipped out one-third of the roster, including two members of the controversial “Point Guard Hydra.” By trading away Goran Dragic (16.2 PPG, 50.1 FG%) and Isaiah Thomas (15.2 PPG, 42.6 FG%), the Suns were bound to lose some of their offense. That’s 31 points per game right there.

Since acquiring Brandon Knight and turning even more of the ball-handling over to Eric Bledsoe, the Suns have seen their offensive rating plummet from 105.9 points per 100 possessions (seventh in the league) to 98.0 (26th). Their scoring averages have also dropped from 105.9 points per game (fourth) to 97.7 (22nd).

But this isn’t just a matter of pace, even if Phoenix’s fast break points per game have dropped from 19.6 to 16.3 without the one-man fast break. The quality of shots the Suns are getting without Dragic and I.T. has deteriorated as well, as reflected by the team’s diminishing shooting percentages:

  • FG%: 46.1% (seventh) –> 43.9% (22nd)
  • 3P%: 35.9% (eighth) –> 29.5% (30th)
  • FT%: 78.5% (second) –> 70.7% (26th)

Before the break, the Suns were top eight in all shooting percentages. Now, they’re at the bottom of the barrel in each category. Losing an efficient shooter like Dragic (50.1 percent) was bound to make an impact, but did anybody see this kind of drastic decay coming?

Some of this stems from getting accustomed to new teammates, but with shooting percentages dramatically down across the board, how did we get to this point of offensive ineptitude?

Next: Old Problems Finally Surface

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