Yeah, we’ve never seen anything like this in Phoenix Suns history.
We are less than 10% of the way through the NBA season, but after 6 games, your Phoenix Suns are 5-1. You can point to the depth or the continuity. Perhaps it’s the cohesion and meshing of personalities. Whatever your reasoning, it’s clear that one thing has changed: the philosophy of the Suns is to shoot it from deep and to shoot it often.
You’re likely familiar with my Tracking 40 series this season, a weekly look at how frequently the Suns are taking three-point shots. The “three-point rate”, if you will. Head coach Mike Budenholzer, in four of his last five seasons, led teams that attempted over 40% of their shots from beyond the arc. The Suns, however, have never reached that benchmark.
My goal in tracking this is two-fold.
First, it’s to determine if this is a strategy they’re actively employing. By combining it with their effectiveness from three, it reveals a clearer picture of the team’s identity, whether it’s successful, and whether they should continue taking the high-risk shot.
My second goal? This tracking will become so ingrained with our readers that you’re going to look so cool at dinner parties. When you’re sitting around the Thanksgiving table here in a few weeks, you’ll bring this topic up to assist in explaining who and what the Suns are. Your family is going to be so impressed. You’re welcome. Pass the gravy.
Tracking 40 is continuing to evolve as the season progresses and any feedback on it is appreciated. Let’s start here…
Week 2 Record: 3-0
Week 2 of the NBA slate tipped off on Monday, and the Suns faced the Los Angeles Lakers at home, playing them for the second time in four nights. While their first meeting ended in a loss, round 2 went to Phoenix, who came all the way back from 18 down in the first half to win 109-105.
- Suns % of 3PA: 36 3PA/87 FGA = 41.4%
- Suns 3PT%: 30.6%
It was back to Los Angeles on Halloween to play the Los Angeles Clippers, and again Phoenix found themselves down early. Slowly becoming a trend this season? Does the team need some adversity to get going? After shooting 16-of-20 in the third quarter and outscoring the Clippers 39-23 in that frame, the Suns held on to win 125-119.
- Suns % of 3PA: 35 3PA/93 FGA = 37.6%
- Suns 3PT%: 46.2%
The last game of the week was at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, and it was a weird one. The Suns scored 59 points in the first, second, and fourth. Combined. But a 44-point third put them up by 26 points, which was just enough to survive their shooting woes and allow them to escape with a 103-97 win.
- Suns % of 3PA: 52 3PA/93 FGA = 55.9%
- Suns 3PT%: 32.7%
Week 2: 48.5%
In Week 2, Phoenix took 262 shots, with 127 of those being three-pointers. Interestingly, they attempted the same number of total shots against both the Clippers and the Blazers, yet shot 17 more threes in the latter game. Their 52 three-point attempts against Portland marked a season-high and the second-most in Suns history, just shy of their record 53 attempts set in 2021, which came in a double overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets.
The Phoenix Suns attempted 52 three-pointers last night. That is a season high and tied for second-most in team history. The most they’ve ever attempted is 53 3PA on 01/26/21 against the Denver Nuggets.
It is the most three-point attempts by a Suns team in a non-overtime game. pic.twitter.com/lZYoc5Udf2
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) November 3, 2024
48.5%. Nearly half of the Suns’ shots this week came from beyond the arc. This season, their three-point rate has climbed to an impressive 48.0%, shattering their previous franchise record of 39.2% set during the 2020-21 season. With such a high three-point rate, the Suns are clearly leaning into a high-risk, high-reward style of play that, while challenging, can be highly effective against certain matchups and in critical game scenarios.
With numbers this high, you’d expect them to lead the league in three-point rate. But surprisingly, they don’t.
- Boston Celtics: 55.1%
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 49.6%
- Charlotte Hornets: 48.7%
- Chicago Bulls: 48.5%
- Phoenix Suns: 48.0%
From an accuracy standpoint, they shot 36.2% in Week 2 and are now at 38.2% from deep on the season. That matches what they shot last year, so the efficiency has carried over, but now the team is shooting more.
So how does all this look on the ‘ole Tracking 40 graph?
What will Week 3 bring? I’m assuming threes. Lots and lots of threes! Until next week, Bright Siders, keep your hands and arms inside the ride the entire time and enjoy the show!