The Phoenix Suns began their playoff journey by getting routed by the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-84 on Sunday. Down 1-0 in the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs, the team has three days to recalibrate before they play again.
Here are the main questions for Week 26, we want your thoughts on as the Suns start their postseason run:
Is there a path for the Suns to win this series?
Oklahoma City didn’t just win on Sunday; they throttled the Suns. Phoenix shot below 35% from the field, committed 17 turnovers, and only had 16 assists. After
the Suns got out to an early 12-9 lead, the Thunder went on a 37-12 run and handled business with ease the rest of the way. The closest the Suns got to breaking into the Thunder’s lead was in the third quarter when they cut it to 15, but Oklahoma City responded the rest of the quarter with a 29-13 run.
With how dominant the Thunder have been this season and against the Suns in recent history, (they’re 2-9 the last three seasons) does Phoenix have a path to pulling off the upset?
More Even Shot Distribution
Collin Gillespie was the only Sun outside of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green to take more than five shots in Game 1. Oklahoma City forced the Suns’ top scorers into deeply contested shots; the trio shot 20/55 from the field, 36% from the field. The three scorers were clearly the focal point in the Thunder’s defensive game plan and they did a good job from preventing them from being efficient scorers, while not giving the chance for any other Phoenix players to get too involved.
Do the Suns need to switch up their offensive approach in Game 2 or trust that their top scorers will have better games? Who else needs to step up? How much is the team missing Grayson Allen right now?
No Mark, No Paint Protection
Without Mark Williams in the lineup, the Suns surrendered 52 points in the paint, and allowed the Thunder to attempt 23 free throws. Still nursing a foot injury he suffered against the Portland Trailblazers in the 7/8 game last Tuesday, if Williams can’t go again, Oso Ighodaro is set to control starting center duties with Khaman Maluach backing him up.
Phoenix generally plays small and has opted to play even smaller as the season has gone on, but it bit them in Game 1 with OKC winning the matchups inside and collecting 19 offensive rebounds.
Should Jordan Ott and company look to play with more size the rest of the series?
On the Suns’ Plate this Week
Game 2 comes on Wednesday at 6:30 Arizona time in Oklahoma City on ESPN, then the Suns will host the Thunder on Saturday at 12:30 on NBC and Peacock for Game 3.
