Arizona Sports: Suns lose 132-119 to Trail Blazers

The Suns Look Like The Pundits Expected Them to Look Last Year

The Phoenix Suns are not winning basketball games, and it’s not hard to diagnose why. That doesn’t mean there’s only one reason for the losing, either. Arizona Sports reported that after a competitive first quarter where the Suns built a five-point lead, the home team allowed 43 points in the second, beginning with a 24-9 Portland run that seized control of the game.

Where Is the Defense?

The Suns, who have been dreadful on that end of the floor early in the season, gave up a season-high 132 points. You’re not going to win many games in the NBA routinely allowing that many points. Deni Avdija had 21 points on the night—below his season average—but dished out 12 assists.

Not since the team consistently ranked in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating have we seen such porous defense from Phoenix.

Where Is the Desire?

Outside of that competitive first quarter, a competitive spirit was not present. It was almost like somebody reminded Jalen Green he’s the best candidate to be aggressive late in the game, as he showed some offensive spark with a series of drives in the fourth quarter.

Luke Kennard played 14:09 and didn’t attempt a single shot. That’s not good, that’s not good, that can’t happen.

The fans, for one.

It’s a fair counter, but the Suns are looking less like a team in a slump and more like one that has forgotten the hard lessons that got them to their previous success.

The Suns’ identity crisis is on full display.

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