As you watch the Phoenix Suns play basketball against an Oklahoma City Thunder team that is severely undermanned, a situation that became even worse when Alex Caruso went down with an ankle injury in the first half, your natural inclination is to ask who’s to blame. Which player isn’t playing up to expectations? Is it the Miles Bridges trade and the impact it’s had on both ends of the floor? Is it Devin Booker failing to elevate his game to the level Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was playing at on the opposing
side before he got into foul trouble? Is it the bench? Is it the injuries?
Surely, somebody has to be to blame. Somebody has to be the reason this team is struggling against a Thunder squad that’s quite literally limping through the game. But why does it always have to be someone? Why do we feel the need to point a finger at an individual and declare, “Yeah, that’s the reason why!” Because it gives us the justification to follow it up with, “Yeah, that’s the guy who needs to go!”?
In the case of the Phoenix Suns, it’s a collective issue. I don’t think there’s one sole culprit responsible for the poor basketball we’ve witnessed through the first three games of the season. While continuity exists in theory, connectivity is clearly missing at this extremely early stage of the season, and we witnessed it again Monday night in Oklahoma City.
The offensive sets aren’t crisp, and their execution leaves plenty to be desired. But defensively, the Suns collectively have a real problem. They allowed players like Ajay Mitchell to attack the lane at will, converting layup after layup. And don’t get me wrong, Mitchell is a skilled player. With the injuries Oklahoma City is dealing with, he could very well be someone who takes a significant leap this season. But Phoenix’s inability to contain his drives was troublesome.
Combine that with another night of ineffective rebounding (they lost that battle 48-38), and you have a team that seemingly can’t get out of its own way. Whenever the offense sputters, the defense can’t prevent the opposition from going on runs. Teams can knife into the lane for easy points while taking chances from beyond the arc, knowing that even if those shots don’t fall, there’s a good chance they’ll get another opportunity courtesy of an offensive rebound.
That’s why you can’t point the finger at one person. The problems we’re seeing aren’t isolated. They’re interconnected. Poor communication leads to defensive breakdowns. Defensive breakdowns expose rebounding deficiencies. Those extra possessions put additional pressure on an offense that’s still trying to figure itself out. And suddenly, everybody looks worse than they actually are. Three games into the season, the Suns don’t need a scapegoat. They need accountability across the roster, better execution, and a collective understanding of what winning basketball requires. Because pointing fingers won’t fix what five guys have to solve together.
Bright Side Baller Standings
There are some nights when you know early on that Devin Booker is going to take over a basketball game. Against the Warriors, that was evident from the jump. Booker poured in 43 points, the most ever scored by a Phoenix Suns player in a home opener. Another record for a guy who seems determined to rewrite the franchise record books one page at a time.
Naturally, he dominated the Bright Side Baller voting, earning 85% of the total vote. A landslide victory, and deservedly so. Shoutout to the three people who still thought Mariah Carey was better.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 3 against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:
Jalen Green
20 points (8-of-13, 1-of-3 3PT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, -10 +/-
Dillon Brooks
19 points (4-of-14, 3-of-10 3PT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers, -12 +/-
Miles Bridges
17 points (7-of-17, 2-of-10 3PT), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -17 +/-
Jordan Goodwin
12 points (4-of-9, 4-of-8 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, -10 +/-
Khaman Maluach
12 points (5-of-10, 0-of-1 3PT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 turnovers, -2 +/-
Luke Kennard
9 points (3-of-5, 3-of-5 3PT), 1 rebound, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, -6 +/-
Hear ye, hear ye! Cast ye votes here, ye!
