What we witnessed in Game 2 was Monty trying to make an adjustment. I’ll accept responsibility for asking for Landry’s head. When you compare the Suns’ reserve production throughout this entire postseason to the other 8 teams remaining, here is how they rank: Gone is the electric play of Cameron Payne, the defensive impact from Torrey, Craig, and the organic chemistry that this team once knew. Over the past two postseason runs, however, the bench has become progressively worse.Ģ023: 14.3 PPG, 33 FG%, 22 3PT%- John Voita May 2, 2023 If we turn back the clock two seasons ago, it’s apparent that the Suns bench provided the boost necessary to get the team to the 2021 NBA Finals. After Monday night, I am not sure if Monty is the problem. Monty‘s lack of an ability to make that simple adjustment shook my faith in his abilities as a coach.

Despite shooting the ball 95 times to Denver’s 76, Phoenix lost.Įarlier this week I wrote about the Suns and Monty Williams coming to the realization that Landry Shamet ain’t it. Phoenix as a team shot 40% from the field and 19.4% from three - their third worst performance of the season from beyond the arc. The Suns’ bench was putrid in their Game 2 loss against the Nuggets. What concerns me – and has throughout the duration of this postseason run – is the productivity, or lack thereof, of the Phoenix bench. You can observe that Chris Paul pulled his groin, and from that moment on in the game, the Suns were outscored by 18 points.Īll are valid. You can note that they opened the fourth quarter of Game 2 with a three point lead, and then proceeded to go 0-of-9 from the field. You can reference their collective three-point shooting (24.1%). You can point to Kevin Durant not being Kevin Durant.

There are numerous contributing factors as to why the Phoenix Suns are struggling and down 0-2 to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The age of faith will durant