Suns 2025-2026 Season Discussion

[Mainstreet]

We are now just a 1.5 games out of the 3rd seed. We are starting to gel at the right time. Now if we can get Brooks back sooner than later and figure out the rotation/minutes since this teams staying have has never even really played together, we might just be a dangerous team.

If Jalen Green can start getting hot and stay hot there’s no reason we should be a play-in team.

The Suns could use Mark Williams as well. Their interior defense is extremely porous.

 

[Adrian]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
·
1h
The Suns’ turnaround after trading Kevin Durant and releasing Bradley Beal via waive-and-stretch isn’t being talked about enough.

Phoenix already has more wins than they did all of last season, and now they’re only 1.5 games behind securing the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed.

 

[clyde2tw]

Royce is better than Highsmith. At least right now he is.

The starters should be: MW, RO, Brooks, Book, Green. Subs: Allen, Gillespie, Oso, Goodwin, Highsmith, Fleming. 3rd tier: Maluach, Coffey, Dunn, Booyea.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah, this version is definitely top 5 for me along with 76, Gentry's first year as HC and our initial 6 second or less season. Can't decide on a 5th most likable but I suspect it was pre-Sarver.

1988-1989… that first year of KJ/Horny/Chambers/Majerle when the dust settled after the cocaine era scandal and we went from 27 to 54 wins, sweeping the Nuggets and Warriors before losing to the Lakers in the WCF.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm referring to the likability of the players as individuals and as a team.

I started following the Suns when I first got into town and was rooting hard for them in the finals against Jordan.

The Barkley team was nice and easy to root for, but they weren't as likable as this team is.

EDIT: To reiterate, this is a personal opinion.

Dude… that first Barkley team was BELOVED. Long-time guys like KJ/Majerle, Oliver Miller as a rookie doing crazy stuff all over the place, Dumas flying all over the place, a stinker like Ainge that only your own team could love but everyone LOVED and then the biggest force of nature the Suns or any Arizona team has ever seen with Prime Charles.

That wasn’t just the most likable team, they had the most personality of any Phoenix team ever.

 

[AzStevenCal]

1988-1989… that first year of KJ/Horny/Chambers/Majerle when the dust settled after the cocaine era scandal and we went from 27 to 54 wins, sweeping the Nuggets and Warriors before losing to the Lakers in the WCF.

Yeah, good choice.

 

[Chaplin]

Dude… that first Barkley team was BELOVED. Long-time guys like KJ/Majerle, Oliver Miller as a rookie doing crazy stuff all over the place, Dumas flying all over the place, a stinker like Ainge that only your own team could love but everyone LOVED and then the biggest force of nature the Suns or any Arizona team has ever seen with Prime Charles.

That wasn’t just the most likable team, they had the most personality of any Phoenix team ever.

My most clear memory of that time was during the overtime playoff game against the Lakers. During overtime, we had pretty much already won the game, and Oliver Miller was at the free throw line. He missed a free throw and was visibly upset about it, and the announcer said he loved players like him because even if the game is already won, he is still passionate about the fact that he missed a free throw. I remember that like it's yesterday, it's weird.

 

[taz02]

“So, we’re down 0-2,” Westphal said. “I know the next question is, ‘Are you guys dead?’ No. We’re going to win the series. We’re going to win one Tuesday and the next game’s Thursday. We’re going to win there and then we’re going to come back and we will win the series on Sunday. And everybody will say what a great series it was.”

 

[carrrnuttt]

Dude… that first Barkley team was BELOVED. Long-time guys like KJ/Majerle, Oliver Miller as a rookie doing crazy stuff all over the place, Dumas flying all over the place, a stinker like Ainge that only your own team could love but everyone LOVED and then the biggest force of nature the Suns or any Arizona team has ever seen with Prime Charles.

That wasn’t just the most likable team, they had the most personality of any Phoenix team ever.

I was literally brand new to Suns basketball at the time, so I didn't have the sentimentality for these longtime players. Coming from my hometown Kings (I'm from Sac) that I couldn't really stomach and never cared about (my dad is from SF and was/is a Warriors fan), and a passing respect for Jordan's Bulls that was always available to watch on WGN.

Being an underdog lover, I started rooting for the Suns during those Finals and it stuck ever since.

I reiterate: This is a *personal* opinion.

 

[Hoop Head]

I was literally brand new to Suns basketball at the time, so I didn't have the sentimentality for these longtime players. Coming from my hometown Kings (I'm from Sac) that I couldn't really stomach and never cared about (my dad is from SF and was/is a Warriors fan), and a passing respect for Jordan's Bulls that was always available to watch on WGN.

Being an underdog lover, I started rooting for the Suns during those Finals and it stuck ever since.

I reiterate: This is a *personal* opinion.

Just curious, roughly how old were you then? You mentioned moving here and being a basketball fan already so I was curious how dedicated you were. I know the Kings have long been dysfunctional so i can't blame you for switching allegiance.

That Suns team is the best team that ended up succumbing to Jordan's Bulls, IMO. It set me up as a fan for life as I was around 8 years old and got into basketball that summer with the Dream Team. Chuck's play from the Olympics through the playoffs was second to none. It was the best run that didn't end with champagne that the league has seen. The whole squad adopted his attitude also and had so much fight in them. Everyone played their role and pushed their egos to the side that first season as they all seemed equally focused to reach the mountain top.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Just curious, roughly how old were you then? You mentioned moving here and being a basketball fan already so I was curious how dedicated you were. I know the Kings have long been dysfunctional so i can't blame you for switching allegiance.

That Suns team is the best team that ended up succumbing to Jordan's Bulls, IMO. It set me up as a fan for life as I was around 8 years old and got into basketball that summer with the Dream Team. Chuck's play from the Olympics through the playoffs was second to none. It was the best run that didn't end with champagne that the league has seen. The whole squad adopted his attitude also and had so much fight in them. Everyone played their role and pushed their egos to the side that first season as they all seemed equally focused to reach the mountain top.

I was barely 18.

Got stationed at Luke AFB straight out of Tech School and joined right out of high school

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

we just can't catch the four-way directly infront of us - i don't think it's mental - more circumstantial - like facing the raptors on the second night of a back to back - after toronto had lost their last 2 games - they played really well

but i'm over the more wins than last year - the play-in would suck - playing a team with nothing to lose - then the thunder or spurs - that's rough

phoenix has 15 games remaining (2 on peacock) and the next 3 are on the road against boston minny and got damn san antonio

You must be registered for see images attach

plus we're a full 2 games back from the previously mentioned four-way now - we do own the tiebreaker against minny (and the lakers?) - nuggets will be determined on the 24th in phoenix but can we catch any of them record-wise ? we'll see

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

don't get me wrong i'd be more than grateful with this newbie team getting the 7th seed in the west - this team has accomplished more than anyone thought - continues to do so

 

[Cheesebeef]

don't get me wrong i'd be more than grateful with this newbie team getting the 7th seed in the west - this team has accomplished more than anyone thought - continues to do so

I really don’t relish the idea of playing Kawhi in a 7-8 play-in game.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

I really don’t relish the idea of playing Kawhi in a 7-8 play-in game.

i lowkey can't believe he's stayed healthy

 

[Hoop Head]

I wonder whether the Suns will give up on Ryan Dunn after this season, and trade him or even waive him. He would seem to have little trade value--except possibly to some team that thinks he has great potential if his confidence could be restored and he could learn to shoot. I'd keep him, just because the Suns will have few draft picks for years and they need all the young players they can get. Rehabilitate Dunn.

I don't believe it's impossible for a bad shooter to just...learn to shoot. It has been said that Jason Kidd did it, progressing with age from terrible shooter when young to competent if not great. If he can, I don't see why Dunn and Ighodaro can't.

He won't be waived. He's too cheap to waive and still under contract for another 2 years. It's worth it to keep him as an end of the bench guy. We have roughly 20% of the cap paid to guys not on the team already, Beal, Nassir Little, and someone else who finally drops off this offseason. The point is all that dead money is unusual and an existing problem. It doesn't make sense to add to that amount unless Dunn becomes a locker room cancer. I don't see that from him. He's far too reserved to be a disruptive force. Plus he's in year 2 and has had plenty of opportunities. Any complaining would be shut down by Brooks, Book, and Jalen as of would be pure selfishness.

 

[Adrian]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Adrian]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Adrian]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Adrian]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Suns_fan69]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

hard to tell with just the 2 shots here but looks like they're working to speed up Fleming's release?

 

[95pro]

hard to tell with just the 2 shots here but looks like they're working to speed up Fleming's release?

Its already pretty quick, i've noticed he's learned to slow it down when he's wide open now. When he first started getting minutes, he would quickly shoot it even when he was wide open.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Isn't the main reason for the Suns' struggles obvious? It's because Dillon Brooms can't provide noisy leadership on the court. He's not there to inspire teammates by picking fights with superstars. The timing of the losses coincides quite well.

It's the combo of removing a plus defender and adding a minus defender (in Green) to the starting lineup and rotation.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It's the combo of removing a plus defender and adding a minus defender (in Green) to the starting lineup and rotation.

Not to mention failing to rest CG long enough to let that hand heal. If I can see him grimacing from my living room, I'm sure they see it on the court.

 

[Superbone]

Not to mention failing to rest CG long enough to let that hand heal. If I can see him grimacing from my living room, I'm sure they see it on the court.

He looks like he's afraid to shoot the last handful of games.