To improve a league-worst defense, the Phoenix Suns need a combination of better athletes and better effort.
Last season, the Suns ranked dead last in the NBA with a defensive rating of 110.6. No team has had a worse defensive rating since the 2008-09 Sacramento Kings. That’s really bad.
The Suns’ woes on defense can be attributed to inadequate talent, poor effort, and poor coaching. If new head coach Igor Kokoskov does his job well, the last two will no longer be an issue. And if new players play up to expectations, the team might have the pieces to put together a league average defense.
One of the biggest improvements the Suns will have to make is in the hustle stats department. Most notably, the Suns were near the bottom of the league in deflections, loose balls recovered, and charges drawn, per NBA.com.
Last season, only the Hornets deflected less passes per game than the Suns’ 12.6. The top 12 teams in deflections all made the playoffs, benefitting both defensively and offensively. At worst, a deflection disorients the offense and uses up the shot clock. At best, it can lead to a steal and a run out for an easy transition bucket.
Only three teams in the NBA recovered less lose balls per game than the Suns’ 7.8. The willingness to get on the floor for a lose ball isn’t a talent, it’s a matter of wanting the ball. Still, having perimeter defenders athletic enough to quickly hit the wood and strong enough to corral the ball is significant.
Only five teams around the league took less charges than the Phoenix Suns. In a vacuum, this stat isn’t the end of the world. A team that blocks a lot of shots and protects the rim well doesn’t need to take charges to play effective interior defense. Unfortunately, the Suns don’t block enough shots or hold teams to a low enough shooting percentage in the paint to get away with it.
Being at the bottom of the league in one of these stats doesn’t say much. Being at the bottom of all three reflects a lack of effort and a shortage of athletic defenders.
This year, with Kokoskov already earning respect from his players, the addition of good athletic wings like Mikal Bridges and Trevor Ariza, and an interior presence in Deandre Ayton, their hustle stats should no longer be in the cellar. There’s a lot that needs to get better on the defensive side of the ball, but better effort and more skilled athletes is a good place to start.