Phoenix Suns: 2 Things Responsible for Ugly Start this Year

Did the Phoenix Suns accidentally walk into a time machine and travel three years back into the past? It certainly feels that way right now, with the team sporting a 1-3 record which eerily resembles the Suns of old, rather than new.

Most recently, Phoenix suffered a crushing loss at home to the Sacramento Kings. Although Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton filled their team’s stat sheet up to its brim, the Suns still found themselves lying on the mat after the bout, with Harrison Barnes having delivered a knockout blow.

Before that game, the Portland Trail Blazers took their turn smacking around the Suns, taking them down with an assertive 105-134 final score. Phoenix lacked the energy to hang with the Denver Nuggets on opening night as well, losing to the same team they dismantled with ease during the postseason a few months ago.

Between those contests, the Suns managed to earn a lone victory against the Western Conference favorited Los Angeles Lakers. But regardless, the “lake show” is dealing with some production problems right now, with the team sitting on a lackluster 2-3 record after blowing a 26-point lead to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When putting the now returned 82-game slate into perspective, Phoenix’s ugly opening to the 2021-22 campaign honestly means very little. But at the sae time, by no means does it reflect any promise or excitement.

The first step in fixing any problem begins with recognizing it, and with regard to the Suns, these two issues stand most responsible for their bewildering start.