No team has come back from the 3-0 playoff hole the Suns find themselves in, and all of their losses this postseason have come in blowout fashion. After making major shakeups to the roster, including acquiring three-time All-Star Bradley Beal and replacing Deandre Ayton with Jusuf Nurkic, the Suns are at risk of a first-round exit and a worse finish than the last three seasons. Fans vocalized their displeasure with Phoenix’s performance as Game 3 dragged on.
“That’s sports,” coach Frank Vogel said, according to PHNX Sports’ Gerald Bourguet (Twitter link). “You get your butt kicked at home, the fans are gonna boo. I don’t blame them.”
Still, the Suns are trying to use their back-against-the-wall mentality to their advantage ahead of Game 4 at home.
“Yeah, of course, we hear it all. They expect so much out of us, they pay their hard-earned money and they deserve to react how they wanna react,” Kevin Durant said, per Bourguet (Twitter link). “So it’s on us as players to use it as fuel and hopefully it ignites us for next game.”
Phoenix is experiencing the majority of its issues in the third quarter, having been outscored by 34 points in the third quarter this series. By comparison, they’ve been outscored by 20 points in the first, second and fourth combined. The Suns’ chance to right the ship begins with Game 4 on Sunday.
“I’ve never been swept a day in my life, so I’ll be damned if that happens,” Beal said, per Bourguet (Twitter link).
We have more Suns notes:
- As ESPN’s Bobby Marks observes (Twitter link), the Suns have $150MM tied to Durant, Devin Booker and Beal next season, which is more than the salary of 14 entire teams’ projected payrolls for 2024/25. If the Suns lose in the first round, sweep or otherwise, it’s going to be difficult to make meaningful additions to the roster without trading one of their stars. Like last offseason, Phoenix will have mostly only minimum contracts at its disposal given the team’s position relative to the tax. The Suns control the No. 22 pick in this draft but are barren in the way of future draft capital thanks to the trades for Durant and Beal.
- The noncompetitive nature of the final scores between the Suns and the Wolves doesn’t mean the series isn’t chippy. Booker slapped the ball out of Jaden McDaniels‘ hands in the fourth quarter and double technicals were assessed (YouTube link via NBA on ESPN). Later in the quarter, Josh Okogie was ejected after a hard foul on Rudy Gobert, for which he earned a flagrant 2 (YouTube link via NBA on ESPN).
- Booker is the only player remaining from the Suns’ NBA Finals roster from 2021, and he has been subject to continual change over the course of his career in Phoenix, Andscape’s Marc J. Spears writes. Before the season, Booker said the Suns’ new-look team falling short of a championship would constitute an unsuccessful season. In the event of a first-round exit, no one will be tougher on themselves than Booker, Spears writes. “I’m always my toughest critic,” Booker said. “That’s how it’s going to be. So, I feel the pressure, but it feels good. It’s everything I always want. I’m good at putting things in perspective. [I have a] great family around me, great friends around me in a beautiful situation of living. I don’t mean that to be cocky. I’m just truly grateful for what I’m doing.“
Curry is waiting for LeBron and Durant at ocean beach pier.
All 3 superstars are going to catch fish quickly.
According to New York Post, Westbrook Lakers were a super team. If that’s true, Suns are a super team too.
Suns outlook
Durant + Booker + Beal = $150 million salary
Each star gets about $50 million next year (1 year).
Suns next season total salary: $205 million
Needs:
1. defense
2. a big man like Arron Gordon
3. a point guard like Haliburton
quick maths
Why are you posting what was on a news article this morning as if they were your opinions? Bots will be bots I guess.
They are cooked.
Beal can’t be traded due to a no trade only a bad team may take him. Bad teams have young players and Suns don’t want that.
They paid Grayson because they had to because over the tax.
KD is aging and not a vet leader just destroying teams after the Warriors stint.
Booker is not a leader either.
Spot on
On Paper they need a new head coach, another wing off the bench, and they desperately need a PG.
Unfortunately the real problem is Book and KD “love to hoop” but they both don’t love/ want to be great. That’s why this team look a so disinterested in playing hard in these playoffs. Ant Edward’s has a will and passion to win and be great l. Book and KD don’t
Durant the new school Westbrook
Black hole
Keep playing so many guards together in this matchup…makes amazing sense as you lose 3 in a row to just continue to do the same thing…it’s amazing how they lucked into pieces they needed on the roster, but guys either don’t play or are used wrong. This theoretically could have been a matchup for them, but I don’t really understand what they’re doing with their lineup choices
Vogel is a horrible coach and it was apparent from the offseason the suns had no chance this year.
So when is book out the door? Bringing in Beale was extremely high end stupidity.
Suns are done.
Time to start looking at how to get better for next season cause it’s not going to be easy finding a suitor for Bradley Beal.
My only two ideas are…
Beal, Roddy and a second for Clarkson and Collins over in Utah
Or
Beal and Little for Simmons, Schroder and a second from Brooklyn
If you get the Utah deal done then that’s great. Look to find a defensive minded guard and try to build 3 and D depth.
If all you can get is that Brooklyn deal, fingers crossed Ben Simmons can stay in the floor and actually do something in the final season of his contract. Have him and KD share the forward spots with Booker and Schroder in the backcourt. If you knew you were getting a player even 70% of what 2020 Ben Simmons was then it would be fantastic but you might be lucky to get 20 games out of this Ben Simmons.
If you get the later then atleast you have a massive expiring deal you can use as an asset in trades or let expire and go FA shopping next next offseason ….