With losses and injuries stacking uncontrollably, the Phoenix Suns are entering a portion of the season where excuses must turn into solutions.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Entering a New Years Eve matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 15-16 record, the level of urgency in the Suns locker room is “high,” as described by Phoenix big man Mason Plumlee.
“We’re not playing anywhere near our ceiling,” Suns guard Tyus Jones, on the team’s sense of urgency, added. “The last couple of games, we felt like we’ve played better and we’re growing. But at the same time, where we’re at in the season, we need to be able to string some wins together.”
“We’re not playing anywhere near our ceiling.”
I asked Tyus Jones what the level of urgency is in the locker room with multiple guys out and losses stacking. @BurnCitySports #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/te2IHNB47b
— Connor Moreno (@cmorenosports) December 31, 2024
The Grizzlies, who are also debilitated with injury (nine players on Tuesday’s injury report), enter the game 22-11 and trending upwards despite many early-season setbacks. Something that the Suns need to emulate if they want any chance of an impactful reclamation this season.
Here are three things to watch as Grind City closes out the year in the Valley:
1. Devin Booker is expected to play
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker enters Tuesday’s game questionable with a left groin contusion that has had him sidelined for five games. The Suns’ offense has taken a nearly-seven-point hit to it’s offensive rating since Booker exited the lineup. He is expected to make his long-awaited return, per Suns coach Mike Budenholzer.
In the 25 games prior leaving his 26th against the Indiana Pacers early with injury, the All-Star guard averaged 25.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. Phoenix is 13-3 when Booker and Kevin Durant play together this season.
????Suns with Booker and Durant: 13-3
❄️When one of them is out: 2-13— John Voita (@DarthVoita) December 31, 2024
2. Grizzlies are depleted
One bright spot for Phoenix heading into Tuesday’s game is that Memphis, similar to the Suns, is missing a big chunk of its most important players, including star guard Ja Morant who is out with a right AC joint sprain. The other Grizzlies listed on the injury report are Marcus Smart (finger), Vince Williams Jr. (ankle), Jake LaRavia (ankle), GG Jackson (foot), Zach Edey (concussion), Brandon Clarke (leg) and Santi Aldama (ankle).
Sheesh.
Is this a prime opportunity for Phoenix to get back in the win column or the clearest example of a trap game?
3. The Suns need offensive execution
A tangible improvement that Phoenix has been able to glean from an otherwise treacherous stretch of losses has been the emphasis to compete on defense and that effort yielding promising results. On the other hand, though, their offensive execution has been wretched. How can Phoenix improve offensively now that the defensive problem that plagued them early in the season is resolved?
“I think spacing is always such a premium in our league,” Budenholzer said pregame Tuesday. “As you go down the stretch of games, spacing becomes even more important. I would say probably mixing in pace and randomness for the full 48 minutes. You just need a little bit of everything offensively. I don’t think it’s one thing, I think all of it can be just a little bit better.”
Phoenix has been struggling to create an offensive identity, especially in the fourth quarter, as it has a -9.3 net rating in the final quarter of its last five games.
Offense never seemed like it would become a problem, but it is a huge one now that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
