The Same Old Story: Suns Still Can’t Win the Close Ones

It’s disappointing, but at this point, it’s become predictable: the Suns are showing exactly what we feared, a non-talented roster hampered by smaller-game flaws. The narrative is familiar: blow games open, then lose control in crunch time, or fail to close out tight ones.

Yes, there are new pieces. Yes, hope springs eternal when you bring in a high-ceiling guard like Jalen Green. But the underlying issues remain, and the numbers back that up.

Defensive Issues: The Foundation Is Leaking

One of the most glaring problems: the Suns’ defense. For a team aspiring to be competitive in the West, their defensive efficiency and ranking have been far too forgiving.

• In the 2024-25 season, the Suns posted a Defensive Rating (Def Rtg) of 119.3 (points allowed per 100 possessions), which ranked them 28th in the league. Basketball Reference+2Basketball Reference+2

• Alternate metric: on TeamRankings, the Suns’ defensive efficiency was 1.156 (equivalent to 115.6 points allowed per 100 possessions), ranking 28th. teamrankings.com

• On a per-game basis in 2024-25, they allowed 116.6 points per game. Basketball Reference+282games.com+2

That means in the toughest games late in contests, against top opponents, the Suns are exposed. When you’re allowing nearly 120 points per 100 possessions, you’re giving the opposition far too many chances.

When games are tight, you need a defense that clamps down; this Suns unit has not shown that consistently.

Offensive Turnovers, But At What Cost?

I have mentioned the three-point overload and Booker running the point guard spot as a “hot mess” in your note — you’re hitting on something. The offense has enough talent, but mismanagement of possessions, turnovers, and shot selection hurts dearly.

• The Suns averaged 14.1 turnovers per game in the 2024-25 season, which ranks roughly in the middle of the league (15th), but for a team with championship aspirations, it’s too many. Bright Side Of The Sun

• Devin Booker averaged about 2.9 turnovers per game in the 2024-25 season. StatMuse+1

• Booker’s career assists-to-turnover ratio sits at roughly 1.73 assists per turnover. StatMuse

So yes — Booker has the playmaking ability (7.1 assists per game in 2024-25), but the turnovers plague him (2.9 per game). ESPN.com+1

When you combine a high‐usage player turning the ball over at this rate with a porous defense, you end up with a team that struggles in games that go down to the wire.

The Three‐Point Shot Machine… With Mixed Returns

I am suggesting the Suns are shooting way too many threes. This reflects a broader shift in the NBA toward high volume from deep. But for the Suns, it seems to weigh them down at times rather than lift them:

• The offense averaged 113.6 points per game in 2024-25 (18th in the league) despite the firepower. Basketball Reference

• Yet the defense gives up 116.6 points per game. That gap of ~3 points is meaningful for often tight Western Conference games.

If you’re going to live by the three-ball, you need elite stability in other areas: defense, protecting the ball, and rebounding. The Suns don’t have that right now.

Enter Jalen Green: A Possible Stabilizing Force

You mentioned hope in Jalen Green and rightly so. Green brings athleticism, scoring punch, and a younger guard presence that could relieve pressure off Booker and allow the lineup to diversify ball-handling duties.

The idea: move Booker off the pure “point‐guard” orchestrator role, let him focus more on scoring and secondary creation. Let Green handle more of the initiation and transition. In theory, this helps: fewer turnovers for Booker, more balance, less predictability on offense, while the defense gets more athleticism and effort.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Green will need time, the coaching staff will need to adjust the rotation, and the team needs to buy in defensively. But yes, it is at least a purposeful adjustment.

What Needs To Change Immediately

Here are the immediate takeaways for the Suns if they’re going to flip the script:

1. Defense first: They must improve their defensive rating, especially in the clutch. Closing out games means stopping others from scoring, not just scoring more.

2. Protect the ball: Every turnover is like giving your opponent an extra shot at the basket. Booker must reduce his mistakes, and the team must understand when to push and when to hold.

3. Better shot selection from deep: If you’re going to take lots of threes, make sure they’re quality looks. If the percentage dips or the defense collapses, revert to drives, mid-range, paint work.

4. Rebounding & hustle: Late in games, these margins matter second‐chance points, defensive rebounds, and transition prevention.

5. Clarify roles: Let Booker score more, let Green initiate more. Let the bench contribute consistently. Too many players are still trying to be the “lead guard” or the “shot-creator” when that’s not necessarily their strength.

Final Word

Yes, the Suns are what we thought they were. A non-talented team that looks bad on paper and hasn’t fixed the foundational flaws that cost them in tight games. The defensive metrics are poor. The turnovers linger. The three‐point heavy offense lacks other stabilizers.

But the arrival of Jalen Green offers a glimmer of hope if the coaching staff and players commit to structural change. As of now, nothing about the record, the metrics, or the closing ability suggests that a shift has yet fully arrived.