Suns Know Excuses Aren't Cutting It After Latest Loss

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns' season has just five games remaining before play-in tournament festivities begin, and if their mode of play will be anything close to what we saw in last night's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, there needs to be some corrections made.

"As the game went on, we struggled to get stops. I think our communication has to raise to another level, physicality, knowing what these last few games are going to be like moving into the play-in, playoffs. We've just got to continue to talk to each other," Suns guard Collin Gillespie said post-game (h/t Duane Rankin).

Phoenix fell to the Hornets in 127-107 fashion and have now lost eight of their last eleven games. Even in spite of recently getting starters such as Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks back in the lineup, Phoenix couldn't get the job done against Charlotte.

"Just find ways to speed that process up. Communication to go to another level. Physicality for sure has to as well," Suns star Devin Booker echoed.

Physicality, especially down low, was a major question for the Suns against a Hornets team that was top five in rebounding entering last night. Charlotte won the battle on the glass 47-31. Things could have been even worse as the typically strong three-point shooting Hornets went just 37% from deep.

They still won by 20.

"We'll have to take a look. What hurt us was the middle pick-and-roll, small-small pick-and-roll. That hurt us there in that stretch," Suns coach Jordan Ott said (h/t Duane Rankin).

"That's two smalls and they were able to beat us off the bounce and get to the rim. Everything is on the table. We're trying to figure this thing out on the fly and that's what I just said. We've got to expedite it. There's no excuse. We just have to figure it out."

With only five games remaining, that's certainly an objective for the Suns. The good news? Phoenix was practically eliminated from a top six seed in the West, so the recent string of losses hasn't really impacted their overall outlook.

However, the drop in form is still concerning when evaluating postseason basketball and the Suns' chances to make it out of the play-in tournament. Phoenix now has a short time window to turn things around before the games count even more, and they might have to do so without Jordan Goodwin.

Phoenix is back in action on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls.