The Phoenix Suns were eliminated from the NBA playoffs again, this time in the first round, as the Minnesota Timberwolves swept them in four games. It’s the third season in a row that the Suns have failed to meet expectations in the playoffs, and while that’s true for all teams who don’t win a championship, Phoenix has managed to lose catastrophically in each of their previous three exits.
However, unlike the previous two seasons, when Phoenix was more dominant in the regular season, the Suns this season never truly took off. Injuries were obviously a factor, with Bradley Beal missing 29 games due to various injuries. Even when the squad was totally healthy, the Suns only appeared dominating for a few games at a time. All three of Phoenix’s studs, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Beal, were producing solid numbers, but it was only enough to place sixth in the Western Conference. Some of this may be due to an adjustment time and learning from a new coach, but The Athletic reports that Durant was dissatisfied with how he was used on offense this season.
“Sources familiar with the situation told The Athletic that Durant never felt at ease in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. According to those sources, Durant had ongoing difficulties with the offense, believing he was frequently relegated to the corner and had the necessary ideas to capitalize on his talents because the game was based around pick-and-rolls.
Durant attempted the most corner 3-pointers of his career this season, with 68. That may not seem like much for people whose job it is to sit in the corner and knock down 3s, but given that K.D. had previously averaged approximately 23.2 corner 3s in his career, it’s a substantial jump. And, while he was knocking them down at a rate of 46%, which ranked in the 93rd percentile, it was not the best use of Durant’s generational potential.
While Durant was dissatisfied with being limited to the corner on a regular basis, The Athletic says that many close to the Suns organization believed K.D. should have raised his concerns with the coaching staff more frequently. Whatever the reason, there was clearly some miscommunication. It’s unclear how this will play out in the future. The Suns have previously changed head coaches, sacking Monty Williams at the end of last season and replacing him with Vogel. And, while Vogel stated ahead of Game 4’s loss that he has “full support” from Suns owner Mat Ishbia, The Athletic claims that Phoenix intends to look into either hiring a new coach or changing up the assistant coaches that report to Vogel.
Whatever happens in Phoenix, it’s evident that no one in the Valley of the Sun is pleased with how the season has turned out. Despite the strength at the top of the roster, the Timberwolves highlighted the team’s lack of depth. Unfortunately, because to the money tied up by Booker, Beal, Durant, and Grayson Allen, who recently inked an extension, finding quality players will be difficult, as the Suns are already far into the luxury tax for next season. It will be critical for the Suns to demonstrate their ability to develop a competitive contender this offseason; otherwise, players such as Booker and Durant may go if things do not improve.
