Luka Doncic has just stolen a ball from his own court, and he goes to score a lay-up on Devin Booker. The other four Suns did not move. They stayed on offense, and Booker gestured for them to come back. At least to make the throw-in… This scene perfectly sums up the Suns' performance against the Mavericks, incapable of making the effort on defense, whether it is to make the defensive withdrawal, or to achieve a two-handed take on Doncic.
“It takes five people (to defend)”, recalls Devin Booker. “A single misstep can leave a shooter open and that’s enough in the NBA. Five players must be on the same page and communication must be high. »
Which was not the case in a caricatured 4th quarter where Doncic had fun reading the defense to better trap it. The Suns lose the last quarter 37-22, and Frank Vogel's players are simply the worst team in the NBA in the 4th quarter…
“It’s just bad rotations, indiscipline in relation to the game plan” regrets the back of the Suns. “When you do what you’re supposed to do, it works. And then as the meeting progresses, we simply lose our concentration…”
Frustration sets in…
Result, Eric Gordon gets annoyed in the press, Kevin Durant gets annoyed behind the scenes, Devin Booker gets annoyed on the field, and the Suns are clearly the loser in this first third of the season with a negative record: 14 victories – 15 defeats. Bradley Beal's repeated injuries don't explain everything, and the team lost for the 9th time in 12 matches!
“My frustration is great” recognizes the leader of Phoenix. “Every defeat is complicated… But we just have to pull ourselves together. It's up to me, the coach, KD, Eric, all the leaders we have here to make sure we're better prepared. »
