Phoenix Suns: 3 Takeaways from Awkward Victory over Sacramento Kings

Phoenix Suns Takeaways: Perimeter Defense Still Broken

Even with premier long-range bomber Buddy Hield aboard, the Kings still entered this bout as a middle-tier 3-point shooting team, averaging the 16th most triples made per game under the 13th highest percentage. But regardless, the Suns still let them rain fire from outside, highlighting their perimeter defense as an ongoing issue.

Last night, Sacramento shot 10-24 from deep, putting up their second highest percentage for a game so far this season. That largely allowed them to stick with Phoenix during this game’s early stages, as the they started the game 7-9.

As a team, the Suns entered this matchup allowing the third highest opponent 3-point percentage. Like with Bridges’s shot attempts, no coincidence exists here, as Sacramento’s hot shooting tonight came as a byproduct of Phoenix’s flawed defense around the 3-point arc, rather than anything else.

With the 3-point shot’s popularity today, the Suns absolutely cannot continue on like this. Their porous play along the perimeter allowed a play-in team at best to nearly defeat them last night, so imagine what marquee teams like the Golden State Warriors or Utah Jazz might do to the Suns if they fail to patch this up.