Do Suns Get Respect They Deserve?

The Phoenix Suns shot a mere four free throws in Monday's loss to Miami, spawning the question: Does the team get the respect they deserve?

Phoenix Suns Devin Booker had a short response that yielded plenty of substance.

"You tell me."

Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic was in the locker room after a Monday night loss to the Miami Heat that saw the Suns finish a dismal 1-3 on their four-game road trip. 

Booker was blocked by Jimmy Butler in the winding seconds of the game, ultimately denied the chance to play hero yet again before throwing up a desperation shot that fell short as time expired. 

Yet Booker wasn't responding to questions about his performance, nor the final sequence of play. He was asked if he felt the Suns were getting the respect they deserve, just in terms of officiating.

The Suns shot a mere four free throws, the second lowest in franchise history. Miami shot 25 attempts from the stripe:

"You tell me."

Devin Booker when I replied with a question of respect regarding FTs. #Suns pic.twitter.com/ooBB865LCw

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 15, 2022

Monty Williams wasn't too happy about the lopsided attempts, either. 

“It’s just tough to swallow because we’ve had these situations before,” Williams said following the game. “I’ll do my due diligence and (Suns General Manager James Jones) will call the league and see what we can show them where our guys are getting hit, but just look at the totals. It is what it is. 25-4. That’s a hard one to swallow.”

Hard to swallow indeed, which prompts the question: Doe the Suns get the respect they deserve? 

Booker particularly has earned his stripes in this league. He's achieved more than he hasn't in his stay in the league. The Suns, having reached the NBA Finals before pacing the entire league in wins the following year. 

Prior to their road trip, Phoenix defeated the likes of Golden State, Los Angeles and Dallas to emerge to a 7-2 record. 

With anything in life: Respect is given, not earned. 

What do the Suns need to do to earn respect? 

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