Suns struggle with free throws and defense in 3 games.

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00:00Let's dive into the Phoenix Suns' early season defensive struggles. The defensive performance

00:05of the Phoenix Suns has been far from reliable during their first three games, and a closer

00:10look at their gameplay and statistics reveals the reasons behind this inconsistency. In each

00:15of these matches, the Suns found themselves trailing by over 15 points at halftime, and

00:20the difference in free-throw attempts has been particularly striking in their two defeats.

00:24For instance, in their loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, the Suns faced a

00:29significant disparity in free-throw attempts, with the Nuggets taking 42 shots from the

00:34line compared to the Suns' 22, resulting in a 133-111 defeat. The previous day, the Los

00:41Angeles Clippers also outperformed the Suns in free-throw attempts, with 26 to Phoenix's

00:4515. These substantial deficits in the first half have only compounded the issue, as the

00:50Suns' opponents have capitalized on their opportunities at the free-throw line. In the

00:55game against the Nuggets, six players from Denver managed to shoot at least four free-throws,

01:00and the starting lineup was flawless making all 28 of their attempts. As the 2025-26 season began,

01:07ESPN had projected the Nuggets and Clippers to be among the top six teams in the league,

01:13ranked second and sixth, respectively. However, this does not provide any relief for the Suns.

01:19There's no excuse for that.

01:20We're going to have to be better defensively, first-year coach Jordan Ott commented on the

01:25team's defensive performance, stating,

01:27We need to be better defensively. This group can be defensive-minded at times,

01:31but we tend to lose our focus. However, we are only three games into the season,

01:35so we have a limited sample size. A lot of it depends on the opponents we face,

01:39and I believe we have encountered some strong offenses. He continued,

01:43We need to find ways to improve our defense and enhance our offensive strategies. Scoring 133

01:50points, regardless of the situation, is likely not sufficient to secure a win.

01:56Suns forward Dylan Brooks, known for his tenacious defense, played a crucial role in the team's

02:01comeback from a 20-point deficit in their season opener against the Sacramento Kings. However,

02:07he noted that the level of communication within the team has not matched the intensity since their

02:11last game, on Wednesday. Brooks pointed out that it is essential for the team to better recognize

02:17the different players on the opposing teams, particularly when facing a deep roster like

02:21the Nuggets, who frequently adjust their lineups throughout the game. Additionally, he mentioned

02:26that, aside from free throws, points scored in the paint have also been a concern. The Suns have

02:31faced significant challenges, particularly highlighted by their recent games against Denver and Los Angeles,

02:36where they were outscored by a total of 46 points, won 14-14-68. Despite this, Phoenix has shown some

02:44strengths in rebounding, holding a slight advantage of plus one over three games, and they have attempted

02:4919 more shots than their opponents. However, their offensive efficiency has been a concern,

02:55as they rank among the bottom 10 teams in the league with a field goal percentage of 44 percent

03:01and a three-point shooting percentage of 32 percent. Devin Booker has demonstrated his scoring ability

03:07by surpassing 30 points in two games, showcasing his talent as a high-volume scorer. However, he has

03:13also struggled with ball control, committing 18 turnovers, which is particularly problematic for a

03:19team that is still waiting for the debut of off-season addition Jalen Green. Booker has acknowledged his

03:27difficulties with turnovers, recognizing that it will take time to resolve these issues, especially

03:32with a young team that is still figuring out spacing and building chemistry. We had some defensive

03:39breakdowns in the first half that allowed them to go on a run, Booker remarked on Saturday, but they have

03:44chemistry, they've been playing together for a while, we're still in the process of learning.

03:51Additionally, NBA rookie Common Malewak made his appearance in the game. In his career,

03:57he achieved a significant milestone by scoring with a dunk early in the second quarter against

04:02the Nuggets. This was a highlight of the game. However, there were also drawbacks, as the seven-footer

04:07found himself in foul trouble, accumulating four fouls and managing only two rebounds in 13 minutes of

04:13play. Malewak reflected on his performance, stating,

04:17It's just a process. Keep building up day by day. Acknowledging that he had lost some ground

04:24defensively. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a forward-looking mindset, saying,

04:29I just let it go. At that point there's nothing you can do about it, it's just next play mentality.

04:34Following a day of rest, the Suns, with a record of 1-2, will continue their road trip against the

04:39Utah Jazz, who have a record of 1-1, with the game set to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday. Do you think the

04:45Suns can turn their defensive issues around as the season progresses?

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