The Phoenix Suns’ game plan falls short as adjustments fail to come.
When our teams lose, we naturally start to ask why, searching for potential solutions and wondering if it was something that could’ve been fixed. Sure, we can overreact in the heat of the moment, but when certain trends keep popping up, those overreactions turn into legitimate questions.
The Phoenix Suns lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, and there were several reasons behind it.
Minnesota simply outplayed Phoenix in the second half. They hustled harder, swarmed on defense, and put the Suns in difficult offensive situations where they couldn’t execute. But beyond all that, there’s one disturbing trend that continues to surface, and it was glaringly evident in that game.
Devin Booker had a stellar first half, scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. It was clear to Minnesota that he was the focal point of Phoenix’s offense, and they knew they had to neutralize him to stand a chance of winning. And that’s exactly what they did in the second half. They attacked Booker relentlessly, swarmed him, and made his life difficult. The Suns, however, didn’t adjust. They allowed it to happen. As a result, Booker finished the game with nine turnovers.
Which brings me to a question that many Suns fans have been asking this season: Why doesn’t Tyus Jones facilitate the offense more regularly?
Was Tyus Jones brought to Phoenix to stand in the corner and watch Booker turn the ball over? Or to help the offense? Asking for a friend… pic.twitter.com/zco6O1HUBe
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) January 30, 2025
Last night was a perfect example of what needs to be addressed.
As Minnesota made their adjustment, Phoenix could have countered by having Tyus Jones facilitate the offense, which would have created better floor spacing for the Suns. Whether it’s running high pick-and-roll screens to force Minnesota into tough decisions or penetrating and kicking out to open shooters — Booker and Kevin Durant among them — the Suns had options. Yet they continued to run their offense through Devin Booker instead of Jones.
Despite being the starting point guard, Jones ranked sixth on the team with a 14.8% usage rate in the game. I’m not asking for Steve Nash-level facilitation, but a wrinkle now and then could keep the defense on its toes.
And it’s a trend we’ve seen all season. On the year, Jones has a 15.6% usage rate. Kevin Durant leads the team with 29.7%, followed by Devin Booker at 28.5%.
I’m not a head coach. I don’t create game plans or ask players to buy into a vision I’ve put forth. I’m just a fan who watches the game and asks questions. And I keep wondering: what value does Tyus Jones bring if you’re not using him to his full potential?
Turnovers were the Suns’ downfall last night. And the thing is, they have two point guards who, while not elite defensively, excel at limiting turnovers. Yet, neither of them have the ball in their hands enough. What’s the point? Why bring someone in if you’re not going to use him to his strengths?
I don’t have the answer. I don’t even have a suggestion at this point. But when the Suns recognize what opposing teams are doing, why do they continue to play into their hands by failing to adjust? You’ve got two incredible shot-makers in Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, and you’ve got a facilitator who can put them in a better position to succeed. So why not use that to your advantage?