Larry Schweikart
Veteran
I get that we still have key personnel injured. I get that we've scarcely had the "starters" on the court together at all this year.
But it seemed that with about 20 games to go last season---and I can't tell you the exact game it started---the Suns drifted well down from their commanding first 2/3s of the season play.
I don't know what changed, but I can almost guarantee you something changed. The team of the last few weeks of last year wasn't anything like the dominant team of the first part of the season. That continued with the embarrassing series where we eked out a win over the Pelicans, then got humiliated by Dallas.
This season---again, allowing for injuries, but everyone has injuries---we have looked terrible against good teams with the exception of Golden State (whom we seem to play well against). It took a buzzer shot to beat the Mavs 1st time. Denver kicks our butt every time. The Pelicans have, with one exception, had our number (and they were without Zion). The Hawks, 76ers handled us. We struggle to hold leads against tier 2 teams.
So, my question remains, what changed THEN? I don't know, just asking, but did Jae Crowder have anything to do with this change? Ayton has had a good year statistically, but seems to disappear at crunch time and still exhibits the tendencies of avoiding contact. Again, not stating, more asking. But even when everyone is healthy, I think there is something lacking in this team, more so than last year.
But it seemed that with about 20 games to go last season---and I can't tell you the exact game it started---the Suns drifted well down from their commanding first 2/3s of the season play.
I don't know what changed, but I can almost guarantee you something changed. The team of the last few weeks of last year wasn't anything like the dominant team of the first part of the season. That continued with the embarrassing series where we eked out a win over the Pelicans, then got humiliated by Dallas.
This season---again, allowing for injuries, but everyone has injuries---we have looked terrible against good teams with the exception of Golden State (whom we seem to play well against). It took a buzzer shot to beat the Mavs 1st time. Denver kicks our butt every time. The Pelicans have, with one exception, had our number (and they were without Zion). The Hawks, 76ers handled us. We struggle to hold leads against tier 2 teams.
So, my question remains, what changed THEN? I don't know, just asking, but did Jae Crowder have anything to do with this change? Ayton has had a good year statistically, but seems to disappear at crunch time and still exhibits the tendencies of avoiding contact. Again, not stating, more asking. But even when everyone is healthy, I think there is something lacking in this team, more so than last year.