The Phoenix Suns have returned home after splitting their two game trip to Los Angeles to start the season, a fair result given the nature of the opponents and the way in which they played. The win over the L.A. Clippers showed all that can be great about this group - and one player in particular - while the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers revealed the uglier side to this roster.
The Suns at least are committed early to playing the kind of basketball that head coach Mike Budenholzer expects. It is only a small sample size, but the 37.5 attempts from beyond the arc each night is only just outside the top 10, and is roughly five more attempts than they hoisted up last season.
Yet one lingering problem is not going away.
It was thought that the addition of point guards Tyus Jones and Monte Morris would give structure and order to the Suns' for all 48 minutes of a basketball game. To their credit - and really Jones in particular as the starter - they have done what has been asked of them.
They take care of the ball, find the open man and ensure that neither Devin Booker or Bradley Beal are having to create for their teammates primarily each trip down the court. It is obvious with hindsight that both work best when that is not top of their priority list, and instead happens when they make the defense bend to whatever it is they're doing. Yet the silly mistakes are still painfully evident.
"I just got to do whatever they need me to do."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 26, 2024
Kevin Durant after 30-point night in Suns loss at Lakers as he played the 5 late.
On 3s, Suns took 37. Durant said they can "get at least 10 more up."
Felt like he could've shot "six to seven" 3s. Went 2-of-3. #Suns #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/hu1c8MMMw7
We can't be too critical of Kevin Durant - he's one of the best to ever do it after all - but his foul on Anthony Davis on a 3-point play with 3:20 left in his team's loss and with the Suns trailing 109-102 is their continued issues personified. It was a needless contest against a career 29.7 percent shooter from that area of the court, and it helped the Lakers to close out this game.
Prior to that the Suns had been up by as much as 55-35 in the second-quarter, before appearing to revert back to their old, isolation-heavy ways. What good is the impact of Jones when - once the team goes up by a high enough number - they revert back to a "your turn, my turn" offensive strategy between their best players?
What makes this even worse is that - again through a small, albeit it tough sample size to start the season - the Suns look like they will once again be better than expected this season on the defensive end. Beal may be one of the key reasons why, as he continues to look so much better than he did for much of last season, and that is on both ends of the court.
Also worth keeping an eye on is the minutes of rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro as the season progresses. Despite having a nice opening game vs the Clippers, Ighodaro played six minutes in this one, understandable given the threat of Davis. Going back to preseason though, and there was a level of care from both of them on the court that was especially lacking versus the Lakers.
Giving them more playing time is a difficult balancing act - but if the Suns are going to continue to squander leads and games as they did last season - then the organization needs to do something. It is a waste of a 30 point game from Durant, and it won't be close to good enough once the playoffs start. Time to start to fix this at home versus the Dallas Mavericks.