Suns in Need of Reality Check
The Phoenix Suns were invincible as of last week. The team had a 16-7 record sitting atop the Western Conference and it seemed there could be no wrong this year in Phoenix.
That all changed Monday night.
The Suns went into Dallas on Monday night to face off against the Mavericks after previously defeating them to open the regular season.
Many had hoped Phoenix could continue momentum and fully exercise demons that stemmed back to last postseason.
This sole fact should have lit a fire under the Suns to bounce back with a vengeance. Unfortunately for the Suns, that clearly did not happen. The Suns were pummeled once again by the Mavericks by a score of 130-111.
While Devin Booker and Luka Doncic may have a rivalry, it's one-sided. Similar to the playoffs Doncic had his way with whatever the Suns threw at him, scoring 33 points compared to Bookers measly 11 points, his worst scoring performance of the season.
To make matters worse, the Boston Celtics, currently the best team in the NBA, came to Phoenix last night and embarrassed the Suns on their home floor 125-98.
This could have been a week where the Suns proved to the NBA world that they are true contenders by beating their bitter rivals and slaying the monster that is Boston.
Rather, the Suns showed us something we already knew: When it comes to the big games and the bright lights are shining on them, the team crumbles before our very eyes.
Seven out of the Suns’ nine losses this year have come to teams that are above .500.
Something needs to change. This week has to be a wake-up call for a Suns team that badly needs a reality check.
Against the Celtics, Booker failed to reach 20 points for the second straight game. Booker's co-stars did not show up to play either. Chris Paul returning from injury did not add any sort of offensive firepower in the lineup, putting up only four points while Deandre Ayton scored eight points and Mikal Bridges matched Paul with four of his own.
The Suns were playing with such ease to start the season but have seemed to hit a brick wall losing these two games. While it's not a good thing to drop games, it actually allows for the Suns to now look themselves in the mirror and realize that they are still many steps away from achieving their goal of winning a championship.
Better it happens now than in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. It's going to take all facets of the organization for the Suns to constantly be able to beat teams like the Mavericks and Celtics, but things begin with coaching.
Over these past two games, the Suns have dug themselves in a hole to start the game that they are unable to get themselves out of. It's on Monty Williams to make the necessary adjustments and motivate his team to climb back.
Booker could put up 51 points against a below-average Chicago Bulls team but needs to translate that against teams that pose a true threat to the Suns' championship hopes. Paul, Ayton and Bridges need to be feared offensively, relieving pressure off Booker's shoulders.
A daunting week is an understatement describing the Sun's poor play over the past couple days. However, team legacies are not defined in December. They are defined in April, May and June.
How will the Suns respond?
They can either learn from these mistakes now or continue to walk this path which will ultimately lead to another early playoff exit with potential of drastic changes on the horizon.
