The Phoenix Suns' topsy-turvy season took another downward spiral on Thursday night, with a tough to a New Orleans Pelicans outfit who had only won four games all season prior to this one. The 126-124 defeat a tough one to take, and it happened without superstar Kevin Durant.
He will be re-evaluated in a week after an ankle sprain, with the timing of the injury once again a blow for the team. Just as it looked like they were back to full health again - Bradley Beal played 34 minutes in this one - they lose their 36-year-old talisman.
This was also a night to forget for Bol Bol.
Injuries to both Durant and Jusuf Nurkic (right thigh contusion) opened the door for Bol to get some run, and he finished the game having played 11 minutes. The same amount as Josh Okogie, who recently outscored Devin Booker in two games during an ugly Western Conference road trip without both Durant and Beal.
To get the same opportunity as a legitimate rotation player in Okogie was a vote of confidence from head coach Mike Budenholzer, and in the first half Bol repaid that belief in him. He was active both inside and outside the paint - which has not always been the case - and brought that spark and sense of urgency that this team needs early on in games.
Bol Bol has entered the chat 🫡 pic.twitter.com/4neHzHoqk4
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 6, 2024
Then came the second half, and the key reason why Bol will never get a bigger spot in the rotation in Phoenix. Defensively he is dreadful, and teams are quick to pick on him whenever he gets a run of minutes in a game. Not only that, but on this occasion he had a couple of turnovers at key points in the second half that allowed the Pelicans to get an edge.
There's a reason he was given the nickname "BollerCoaster" when he played with the Orlando Magic, and that is because every time he steps on the court it is an adventure. Oftentimes his offensive possessions are so impactful because it looks like not even he knows what he is doing, and it is so hard to quit on a guy who is so loveable and who has the body type that Bol does.
Bol giveth, Bol taketh away. He had a solid first half, but a couple costly turnovers here in the last few possessions. All aboard the Boller Coaster
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 6, 2024
Then comes the massive slide - usually on the defensive end - when he gets blown by when matched up with smaller guards, and picked on by larger centers. Interestingly previous head coach Frank Vogel appeared to get the most out of Bol last season, to the point he had some breakout games and was a part of the rotation around Christmas time.
That was because he treated Bol like a guard/wing who couldn't defend, allowing him to hang around outside the 3-point line and use his insane frame to put off third and fourth option scorers. But if the Suns want to reach the pinnacle, then that tactic will only get them so far, and this loss was a fascinating microcosm of that problem.
Bol then can't be a serious part of the rotation as the season continues, his deficiencies are too obvious. It's a shame because of how hard he tries and how much fans and teammates love him, but this looked like the final nail in the coffin. Injuries may force coach Budenholzer to play him a similar amount of minutes in the next few games, but Bol is looking more and more like a trade candidate.