Suns Struggle with Free Throws in Early Games

The Phoenix Suns have struggled significantly with free throws in their early games this season. Through three matches, their defensive performance has been inconsistent, resulting in challenges that have cost them valuable points. They have faced notable deficits at halftime, trailing by over 15 points in each game. This statistic highlights the crucial issues the team needs to address moving forward.

Suns’ Free Throw Challenges in Early Games

In their two losses, the free throw disparity was particularly striking. In their match against the Denver Nuggets, the Suns faced a staggering gap in free throw attempts: 42 for the Nuggets compared to just 22 for Phoenix. The previous day, against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Suns were awarded 15 free throw attempts while their opponents had 26. This discrepancy has compounded the Suns’ struggles, leading to early-game deficiencies.

Defensive Issues and Player Performance

First-year head coach Jordan Ott acknowledged the need for improvement, emphasizing that his team must better their defensive performance. “We’re going to have to be better defensively,” he stated after the loss to Denver. Both the Nuggets and the Clippers have effectively capitalized on the Suns’ defensive lapses, leading to poor results.

• Points in the Paint: The Suns have been outscored in the paint by 46 points (114-68) in their losses.
• Rebounding: Surprisingly, Phoenix has a slight advantage in rebounding, with a +1 margin over opponents.
• Shooting Efficiency: The Suns rank in the bottom 10 for offensive efficiency, shooting just 44% from the field and 32% from three-point range.

Devin Booker has been one of the bright spots for the Suns, scoring over 30 points twice. Despite this, he has also contributed to the turnover problem, committing 18 turnovers so far. Booker acknowledges the need for his team to improve their chemistry and spacing on the court, mentioning that they are still in the early stages of development.

Rookie Contributions and Upcoming Games

Rookie Khaman Maluach made headlines by scoring his first NBA point with a dunk, although he faced challenges with fouls and rebounding during that game. “It’s just a process, keep building up day by day,” Maluach said, highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive attitude despite setbacks.

As the Suns continue their season with a record of 1-2, they will look to bounce back against the Utah Jazz, who have a record of 1-1. This matchup is poised to be critical for the Suns as they seek to address their free throw difficulties and improve their overall performance.

Fans can catch the game on 98.7 FM and through the Arizona Sports app, set to tip off at 6 p.m. on Monday.