Phoenix Suns in Crisis: Can They Turn Their Season Around?

Following their 140-109 defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns were unified in their belief that their issues are solvable. A defense that surrendered 43 points in just the third quarter? Solvable. An offense that scraped together only 16 points in the same quarter? Solvable. The lackluster effort shown during the second half of a game broadcast nationwide? Indeed, solvable.

“I think we’ve demonstrated glimpses in recent weeks of how we aim to play,” stated Suns point guard Tyus Jones.

Suns star Devin Booker added, “I trust the work. I believe in the process. The path isn’t always smooth.”

But perhaps these problems might not be as fixable as hoped, and likely, the Suns realize this too. Their loss on Wednesday wasn’t just a defeat; it was a thrashing. The game seemed competitive initially, but by four minutes into the fourth quarter, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer had already called in the reserves. With star player Kevin Durant sidelined because of a pre-trade deadline ankle injury, the Suns’ offense fell apart. Their third-quarter shooting was dismal, making only 7.7% from the field and missing all five three-point attempts. Out of the meager 16 points scored, 14 were from free throws.

“They came out pushing hard after halftime,” Budenholzer remarked, “and we just couldn’t match their intensity.”

Denied. By. Lu. Dort. pic.twitter.com/ZO6658Oqzw

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 6, 2025

Wednesday’s defeat brought the Suns’ record to 25-25, placing them in a three-way tie with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors for the ninth and tenth spots in the Western Conference. No reinforcements are on the horizon. Efforts to acquire Jimmy Butler fell through when he was traded to the Warriors. Negotiations with Golden State about Durant collapsed after Durant expressed disinterest in returning to the Warriors. Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause was irrelevant; no team was willing to take on his remaining $100 million-plus contract.

Since taking control of the Suns in 2022, Mat Ishbia has made bold moves in an attempt to quickly build a contender, but these decisions may have pushed the team toward catastrophe. The Suns overinvested in acquiring Durant and should not have traded for Beal. They dismissed Frank Vogel after just one season, replacing him with Budenholzer. While Budenholzer is a competent coach, under his leadership, Phoenix’s defense has deteriorated from 13th to 24th in the league, according to NBA.com, and their offense has also declined.

Ishbia’s enthusiasm is commendable, yet his decisions have often been misguided.

Budenholzer was well aware of the high expectations. Despite last season’s struggles, the ownership believed they had a championship-caliber core. Improved health and coaching were supposed to propel the team forward. However, in a conference dominated by youthful, athletic teams, the Suns have appeared outdated and sluggish.

Is Budenholzer surprised by any of this?

“Each of us is striving to improve,” he explained. “We have high expectations. We have talented players and a solid roster. We should be performing better than we are, and we recognize that. Each NBA job and team presents its own unique challenges. It’s not necessarily harder or different than expected. The players are fantastic. The challenge for any NBA coach is finding the best way to utilize them.”

So, what has gone wrong?

“I usually focus on the process and what we do daily,” Budenholzer said. “Are we improving? We’ve shown progress, but it hasn’t translated into the results we all desire. We must continue to push and get better.”

In an ideal scenario, the Suns could recover their health, move past the trade deadline, and start a strong run. With a .500 record, they are still in the playoff conversation, just three games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the sixth seed. Inside the locker room, the constant trade rumors have been a strain.

“Despite everyone claiming they’re ignoring it, everyone sees and hears the rumors; it’s unavoidable. Yet, we must focus and remain professional,” Jones commented.

And despite the challenges, Jones noted signs of potential improvement.

“We have displayed it throughout the season, earlier on. The capability is there, the desire is still strong among the players, and we all want to get better. I have confidence in our group and everyone in the locker room, and I believe they would say the same,” Jones added.

Booker concurred, albeit with reservations. “I’ll always maintain it’s solvable,” he said. But even during Phoenix’s 8-1 start to the season, Booker observed weaknesses. “I’ve always mentioned that at the beginning of the season we were barely scraping by. The victories weren’t as convincing as you’d hope, often decided by tough shots in the fourth quarter. We need to perform better now.”

Indeed, even if Butler had joined the Suns, it’s doubtful he could have turned their fortunes around alone. Now, with no new additions coming, Phoenix must attempt to succeed with what they have. Despite high hopes and commendation for Oklahoma City’s performance on Wednesday, as Booker noted, “They have a well-oiled machine over there,” the Thunder set the standard in the West. The Suns have less than half a season to figure out how to surpass them.