Suns' head coach makes outrageous decision in loss to Cavs that all but ends season

The Phoenix Suns saw their season plunge to new depths of despair on Monday, as they were dealt a lesson by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The final score reading 118-92, but the psychological impact of this one is going to linger for a lot longer.

Although many Suns fans weren't expecting their team to get a result against one of the best outfits in the league - in their home gym no less - the manner in which the team was smoked was disappointing. Devin Booker had a subdued 15 points, while Bradley Beal somehow only chipped in with five off the bench in 25 minutes of action.

Waving the white flag so early signalled the end for this team.

With just under seven minutes to go in the game - and with the Cavaliers having led by as much as 32 points - head coach Mike Budenholzer took his starting group out and emptied the bench. The group that ended up getting extended run consisted of Monte Morris, Damion Lee, Ryan Dunn, Bol Bol and Oso Ighodaro.

Taking Dunn out of the mix as he's now a starter for the team and this was a lineup we had never seen before. The game was done as a contest midway through the third quarter - when the Suns' stars most certainly were out there - so it made sense that he'd get some extra rest for the players he leans on the most.

So turning to the bench wasn't the issue here, but instead it was the fact coach Budenholzer had to at all, and that everybody seemed to be ok with it. Winning against an opponent that's only lost six times all season was always going to be incredibly difficult - but if the Suns have no chance of winning a championship this season and can't hang for three quarters with the Cavs - what are they doing?

That's why fans should feel so let down by this one, because the group went out with a whimper. At this point nothing should be off the table in trying to turn the situation around, even if that means using some of the bench players more frequently. Lee had a couple of nice moments - and outscored Beal with nine points - while the Bol experience was the same as it always was.

A made 3-pointer with one of the prettiest forms in the entire league, followed by needless turnovers and making the wrong decisions on both ends of the court. Really though if you're trying to talk yourself into Bol or Lee getting some extra minutes, then we're already done here. Massive changes now need to be made in Phoenix.

We're heading towards a scenario where - assuming the Suns even make the playoffs - there is a very real possibility that they get swept for the second season in a row. Not only did they fail to take it to the Cavaliers - or even look like they really wanted to - even the Washington Wizards made life hard for them in their previous game.

They may have won that one - and Nick Richards hit the ground running - but in waving the white flag when he did, coach Budenholzer was effectively doing so on the whole season. This roster isn't elite in any one area, and below average in plenty. The Cavaliers had their own injury issues and still won this one in second gear, so where are the Suns going from here?