Tracking 40, Week 23: The Phoenix Suns were given a test and failed spectacularly

The Suns had momentum but elite competition reminded them who they are.

This was the week that would define the Phoenix Suns. Momentum was finally on their side entering Week 23, but the challenge ahead was different. The competition was about to rise, and with it, the questions loomed: Could the Suns meet the moment? Would they ride their recent surge and solidify their place in the playoff race? Or would the weight of elite competition expose them once again?

In Week 23, not much had changed in terms of rotations. Head coach Mike Budenholzer stayed committed to his starting five, the group that had given him the most consistency. There were no major shake-ups, no late-season gambles, no Bradley Beal reintegration to throw off the balance. The formula remained the same. It was a blend of veteran playmaking, scoring, and youthful energy.

But none of it mattered.

After an encouraging two-point win over Milwaukee, the Suns were humbled in every possible way. Boston dismantled them. Minnesota owned them. Houston embarrassed them. Any lingering hope of a miraculous postseason run was buried, the dirt already shoveled onto a grave that’s been waiting for them all season. The coffin just hasn’t been lowered yet.

We knew this would be a test. We hoped they would pass. But deep down, are we really surprised they failed?

The Suns have been missing ‘it’ all year. And ‘it’ is hard to define because ‘it’ is everything. Toughness. Identity. Chemistry. Execution. The intangible fire that makes a team greater than the sum of its parts. You know ‘it’ when you see it. And we haven’t seen ‘it’ nearly enough. There were flashes, brief runs of promise, but nothing sustainable. Now, we’re rapidly approaching the end of one of the strangest, most frustrating seasons in recent memory.

So what’s the takeaway from Week 23? Not much. Just further confirmation of whatever narrative you’ve already chosen to believe. If you think the issue is defense, this week reinforced that. If you believe it’s coaching, roster construction, connectivity, effort, or all of the above, you saw the proof in real time. The truth is, there is no single answer. The Suns are simply a mess.

Week 23 Record: 3-0

vs. Milwaukee Bucks, W, 108-106

• Suns 3PAr: 43.9%
• Suns 3PT%: 38.9%

The Suns didn’t just beat the Bucks—they outlasted them in a war of attrition. Giannis brought the brute force, but Phoenix brought the willpower, refusing to fold under the weight of Milwaukee’s physicality. Kevin Durant was surgical, Devin Booker was ice-cold when it mattered most, and the Suns proved they could take a punch and keep swinging. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Phoenix showed the grit of a team ready for the fight ahead. Right now, they’re a damn good team.

vs. Boston Celtics, L, 132-102

• Suns 3PAr: 47.1%
• Suns 3PT%: 31.7%

The Suns walked into TD Garden and got dropped into Assassin’s Creed on nightmare mode. Boston wasn’t just playing basketball; they were executing a masterclass in long-range warfare. Phoenix fought, but every missed rotation was punished, every open look buried. The Celtics rained down threes like a damn cheat code, and the Suns had no answer.

Sure, the recent four-game streak was nice, but this was a cold reminder of reality. Boston isn’t just ahead. They’re in another stratosphere. Compartmentalize it, move on, and hope the next boss fight is winnable.

@ Minnestoa Timberwolves, L, 124-109

• Suns 3PAr: 46.8%
• Suns 3PT%: 48.6%

Update: The next fight was not winnable. The Suns are back to being a punchline, and the frustration is palpable.

After another gut-wrenching loss to the Timberwolves — who seem to have the Suns’ number this season — fans are sharpening their pitchforks. Devin Booker had a stinker, and the anti-Booker crowd was quick to pounce. Add in the absence of Bradley Beal and a healthy dose of KD-mania, and you’ve got a recipe for infighting. Once again, the Suns couldn’t adjust, falling to 0-4 against Minnesota this year.

vs. Houston Rockets, L, 148-109

• Suns 3PAr: 36.8%
• Suns 3PT%: 31.3%

Some teams own you, and the Suns just got a double dose. Minnesota swept them. Houston swept them. That’s 0-7 combined, a stat so brutal it should come with a trigger warning.

Sunday’s loss to the Rockets wasn’t just another L. It was a clinic on why Phoenix is stuck in mediocrity. They got outworked, outhustled, and run off the court. Turnovers, transition buckets, and a first-half beatdown sealed the deal. The 11th seed fits them like a tailored suit.

And to make matters worse, KD went down.

Week 23: 43.6% 3PAr, 37.7 3PT%

I have no words of wisdom this week. No grand observations, no deeper meaning to extract. After watching that Houston game and sitting down to write this, I find myself completely drained of the energy needed to dissect how three-point rate and three-point percentage correlate to this Phoenix Suns team.

Next season, I’ll choose a different graph. Next season, I’ll take a different approach. But for now, out of obligation more than insight…here’s your graph.

Week 24 Preview

Do you like road trips? Well, buckle up because the Suns are about to embark on a brutal one in Week 24.

Three Eastern Conference giants stand in their way. First Milwaukee, then Boston, and finally, a pit stop in New York City. It’s the ultimate test, a “make or break” stretch that could define their season. How they fare on this journey will set the tone for their return home, where the Warriors and Thunder await.

Get ready, folks. This may be the final, chaotic chapter of a season that’s been anything but ordinary.

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