Suns Season Preview: Point Guard Issue Solved, But What About The Defense?

October 10, 2024

Suns Preview

A look at the Phoenix Suns entering the 2024-25 season …

New Faces: Tyus Jones, Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro
Key Losses: Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, Thaddeus Young, David Roddy, Isaiah Thomas, Nassir Little

Overview

The Suns addressed their glaring need for a point guard this offseason, bringing in Tyus Jones and Monte Morris. They didn’t have one last year — unless you count Jordan Goodwin, who barely saw the court and totaled 78 assists for the season. That’s less than Jusuf Nurkic, a center. Yeah, it was that bad.

So, for all the firepower Phoenix had with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, they couldn’t move the ball or take care of it. Their assist-to-turnover ratio was the worst among any Western Conference team with real playoff aspirations. Even worse, they played slow. Really slow. Think, Toronto Raptors slow.

But here’s the thing. Despite the limited cap space, they somehow pulled off getting Jones and Morris — two of the most efficient playmakers in the league. These are guys who can set up your offense, protect the ball, and make life easier for your stars. Throw in new coach Mike Budenholzer, who’s known for building top-tier offenses, and the Suns have a legit chance to turn things around.

Except, well, here’s the catch. None of this fixes their defense.

Phoenix got blasted in the first round by the Timberwolves, giving up a brutal 123.2 points per 100 possessions. Jones and Morris aren’t exactly stoppers, and the Suns’ stars have a lot to prove on that end. Durant is 36, Beal hasn’t been the same defender he was years ago, and Booker is hit-or-miss defensively. Nurkic? Great passer for a big, sure. Defensive anchor? Not quite.

Budenholzer built a defensive powerhouse in Milwaukee, but he had Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez. Phoenix doesn’t have anyone near that level defensively. If they can stay average on that end, maybe they can lean into their offensive upgrades and still win 50 games. But in the playoffs? That’s another story.

Best case? Jones fits in perfectly, and the Suns’ offense clicks. They outscore teams and don’t rely on Durant, Booker, or Beal to play hero ball. The bench, led by Morris and Plumlee, steps up, and they turn into a dangerous, well-rounded team that can hang with the West’s elite.

Worst case? The defense is still a mess. Durant or Beal can’t stay healthy. The new coach, the point guards—it’s all just window dressing for a team that can’t figure out how to get stops when it matters. Then you’re looking at a repeat of last season, and worse, a team that could become one of the most expensive failures in recent NBA memory.

It’s a fine line between contending and collapsing. Phoenix has to walk it carefully.