As the regular season enters its final stretch, Phoenix sits only two games ahead of Golden State in the 12BSports standings and remains dangerously close to the play-in tournament. Those who carry great ambitions eventually reach distant places, but the Suns have failed to meet expectations. Their leading players are producing respectable numbers, yet the team’s overall competitiveness has not improved. Most of the problems begin with the way the so-called Big Three controls the offense.
The first issue is three-point shooting. The 12BSports numbers show Phoenix ranking 26th in three-point attempts despite sitting ninth in accuracy. In other words, the Suns have several capable shooters but do not give them enough opportunities. Grayson Allen leads the league at 47.8%, while Kevin Durant ranks 14th at 41.9%. Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, and Royce O’Neale are also above 35%.
The difficulty is that Durant, Booker, and Beal dominate possession without consistently prioritizing perimeter shots. Booker and Beal have recently remained in the low 30% range, while Durant has been limited to 27% within the team’s current offensive pattern. Modern NBA offenses usually ask superstars to create space for dedicated shooters. Phoenix has plenty of stars, but not enough clearly defined shooting roles.
The Suns also score too slowly. Against Milwaukee, they allowed consecutive late three-pointers and lost their opportunity to complete a comeback. Their reluctance to take enough shots from beyond the arc reduces offensive efficiency and makes it harder to recover quickly when they fall behind.
The second challenge concerns Booker’s role. After Chris Paul left, many expected Booker to become the team’s primary playmaker. Although he leads Phoenix in assists, he still approaches most possessions with the mindset of a scorer. Leading the team statistically does not automatically make him an effective organizer.
A genuine lead ball handler must consistently create chances for teammates, especially when the offense begins to stall. Booker, however, often responds to difficult moments by searching for his own shot. Time keeps moving, and the past cannot be recovered. If Phoenix continues without a traditional floor general, the same problems will remain.
Even after Beal returned, the offense has frequently followed a simple pattern: whoever receives the ball attempts to score. The players sometimes resemble a collection of hired specialists rather than one connected unit. Before Phoenix can establish real chemistry, it must decide who initiates the offense and who controls the flow of each possession. Without that decision, everything else risks putting the cart before the horse.
The third issue is physical strength. Opposing teams have recorded much higher offensive efficiency whenever Phoenix uses a three-guard lineup. Royce O’Neale has been the most dependable exception because he combines size, defensive versatility, and reliable shooting.
Allen was originally expected to strengthen the defense, but he has surprisingly made a greater impact on offense. As a result, the team’s overall defensive intensity has not risen as expected. O’Neale has helped restore some balance, but he remains the only trustworthy perimeter defender with enough size to handle multiple assignments.
For Phoenix, the 12BSports outlook now points to a deeper concern than results alone: the team may be losing its willingness to sacrifice for one another. That imbalance can damage confidence and morale as much as any defeat. Championship teams maintain balance between offense and defense, individual talent and collective discipline. O’Neale has helped move the Suns in the right direction, but one dependable defender cannot solve every weakness. Phoenix must increase its three-point volume, define Booker’s responsibility, and become physically stronger before the postseason begins.