Clippers just exposed Suns biggest weakness ahead of playoff push

The Phoenix Suns suffered a 117-93 home loss on Sunday to the surging L.A. Clippers, not that their fanbase should be concerned by the setback.

This team has done extremely well to stay in the playoff hunt without both Devin Booker and Jalen Green, who again both sat because of injury.

Clippers expose Suns' lack of size in defeat

But what the Clippers did manage to achieve which will have Phoenix worried is expose their lack of size and physicality inside the paint.

Head coach Jordan Ott admitted as much, telling the assembled media afterwards that -

"Their size overwhelmed us at times. We tried to use our speed the best we can, but couldn't get out in transition when you're taking it out of the net so often, or after free throws. Their size really impacted us, for sure, on both ends."

The Clippers inflicted this defeat on the Suns without James Harden, so in theory this could have been even worse. But nights like this one are exactly why they have been linked with a player such as Jeremy Sochan in recent days.

Royce O'Neale has done a wonderful job at the four all season long, particularly with sophomore Oso Ighodaro not looking quite ready to play starter's minutes.

But there are games in which his 3-point shot is not going to fall, and he unfortunately does not have the bigger frame to hang with true power forwards.

Earlier this season coach Ott did a wonderful job of building a defensive game plan for Victor Wembanyama around O'Neale and Grayson Allen, but that won't work every night.

As much as the Suns don't want to ruin the chemistry they have built so far this season, losses like this one highlight that they do need cover at the four if they're going to make the playoffs.

It is a delicate balance, but with Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach combining for 36 minutes off the bench, it is clear he is searching for beefier players to combat certain opponents.

Another actual power forward in Isaiah Livers played 14 minutes off the bench as well, once again showing that coach Ott knows his team lacks size for certain matchups.

Nobody expected the Suns to make the playoffs this season, but now that they have a real shot, they have to take it seriously.

Being able to figure out different opponents and having options is crucial to that, so the Clippers exposing this problem before the deadline could actually be a massive blessing in disguise.