The Phoenix Suns suffered a disappointing 118-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee game. Let’s break down what went wrong and why this game was a step back for the Suns.
• The game unraveled for us in the second quarter. We had a lineup of Booker, Beal, Allen, O’Neill, and Richards that should’ve been solid, but things got ugly fast.
• Cleveland went on a 9-0 run to start the quarter, and we just couldn’t get anything going on offense for over three minutes. That’s a long time in basketball, folks.
• Bradley Beal was a big problem. He only took four shots all game and looked like he didn’t want to be on the court. That’s not the Beal we need.
• The Cavs threw a zone defense at us, and we weren’t ready for it. Our assistant coach David Fizdale admitted as much in a halftime interview. That’s on us as a team.
• We tried going small with Durant at center to juice the offense, but it didn’t work. We can’t always rely on that strategy – it exposes us defensively.
• This game showed how much we’ve regressed against the Cavs compared to last season. They’ve improved their scheme and maximized their strengths, while we’re still struggling with the same issues.
• The Cavs are beating us at our own game now. They’re a jump-shooting team that’s found ways to overcome their physical limitations. We haven’t done that.
• Our rookie, Ryan Dunn, has been a bright spot lately, but he struggled in this game. When he’s not playing well, we really feel it because no one else can replicate what he brings.
• Our center rotation is still a work in progress. Nick Richards started, but when he got in foul trouble, we didn’t have great options behind him.
• We need to stick with our bigs longer, even if they struggle initially. Going small isn’t always the answer, especially when we’re not hitting threes or attacking the paint.
• This loss exposed our ongoing issues with size and paint control. We can’t keep pretending these problems don’t exist – we need to find solutions.
• Moving forward, we’ve got to be better prepared for defensive adjustments like zones. We also need more from our stars, especially Beal.
• Don’t lose hope, Suns fans. We’ve shown flashes of what we can be. Now it’s about consistency and addressing our weaknesses head-on.
