Suns Know Defense, Effort Isn't Good Enough

The Phoenix Suns simply have to be better defensively - and they admit that.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns have now lost their last six-of-eight games and currently sit with a 13-12 record. 

As of now, the team still technically finds itself in a play-in spot as the No. 10 seed in the West. They're only two games away from being the No. 4 seed, too.

Yet that's not the bar Phoenix was shooting for when they gambled heavily on the talents of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant as a star trio. Banners were anticipated and championship parades were planned with Phoenix's talent in mind. 

Injuries have battered the Suns since Day 1, though Phoenix's problems extend far beyond their bill of health. The defensive-minded coaching of Frank Vogel has yet to seep its way into the team, coveted role players have taken turns dropping off at crucial times and perhaps worst of all - the Suns seem to take their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. 

The above points all came to a culmination in last night's loss against the New York Knicks. 

On a night where the organization was supposed to celebrate Shawn Marion entering the team's Ring of Honor, Jalen Brunson's 50-point performance (a career high) sent fans heading for the exits far before the final buzzer. Beal again saw himself injured, the Suns allowed a season-high 139 points, and Phoenix was outscored 42-23 in the final frame. 

Jalen Brunson says goodnight, Phoenix

The Suns defense is a mess pic.twitter.com/dePceOFV0W

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) December 16, 2023

The NBA is ultimately a result-oriented business: You either win or you don't. 

“If we’re 25th defense in the league and we’re undefeated, I am just fine. We have an offensive team, we’re going to be very difficult to guard, but we’re not doing well up on the defensive side of the ball and we’re not closing games well enough," Vogel said. 

"That’s the lesson that our group has to figure out. We put ourselves in position, but we haven’t been able to close certain games. We outplayed the Knicks in New York; they outplayed us tonight. Credit them, but we have to learn how to close as a group.” 

Booker said their efforts can start with taking away the opposing team's top weapon.

“I think taking away—what we call ‘head of the snake’—their top two scorers. Obviously, tonight (Jalen) Brunson had it going. But just making those talented guys see something different than they usually see every night," he said. 

It's not just the top weapons Phoenix has been scorned by, as Durant points out.

"Quentin Grimes, he can’t get six three's up. He doesn’t dribble at all. He doesn’t have any free throws on the season, he doesn’t have any assists it feels like but he’s getting three's up?" asked an obviously frustrated Durant. 

"That’s the stuff we can’t have. It’s frustrating but I think we’ll figure it out.”

The ball is in Phoenix's court, according to Vogel.

“We just gotta make a decision whether we want to take care of our business on that side of the ball or not,” he said. “Because what we’re doing is not good enough. Not tough enough, not alert enough.”

The Suns return to action when the Washington Wizards visit on Sunday.