As Week 11 of the NBA season concludes, the Phoenix Suns find themselves in a troubling spiral. They haven’t won since Christmas, dropping four straight games and going 3–7 over their last 10. While tracking their performance in three-point rate and efficiency — a key focus this season — one fact stands out: it’s not working.
Despite having two of the NBA’s premier shooters on the roster, the Suns can’t seem to find the formula for victory. Something is off. Something is broken. This team is struggling to execute consistently across all facets of the game. When their defense shows intensity, their three-point shooting falters. When their shots fall, they allow their opponents the same luxury. Each night seems to bring a new reason for defeat.
What makes this stretch particularly frustrating is that there isn’t one glaring issue to address. Last season, the fourth quarter was the Achilles’ heel. If the Suns had just improved late-game execution, they could have turned losses into wins. This season, however, their struggles feel like a comedy of errors. Turnovers have been a significant problem, but even when they win the turnover battle, they still manage to lose games.
The Suns recognize that changes are necessary, and Week 11 finally prompted the first meaningful adjustment: altering rotations. Jusuf Nurkic and Bradley Beal will now come off the bench. Will this move reignite the team and restore their winning ways? Or is it merely the first domino in the collapse of this roster as it’s currently constructed?
Phoenix had just two games last week — an opportunity to recharge and regroup — but failed to capitalize on the extra rest. Moving forward, the challenge only grows. The schedule becomes a gauntlet. Between now and the All-Star break on February 13, the Suns face 20 games in just 37 days.
Here’s a closer look at how they performed in their last two outings:
Week 11 Record: 1-3
Memphis Grizzlies, L, 117-112
- Dog 3PAr: 32.6%
- Dog 3PT%: 30.0%
Even with “scrubs’ playing, the Grizzlies did what they do well: pushed the pace and guarded the perimeter.
Phoenix was just 9-of-30 from deep on New Year’s Eve, tying the lowest three-point make total of the season. They’ve made 9 three-pointers four times this season. All were in losses. It was the fifth time they shot 30% or worse from beyond the arc, and yes, all of those came in losses as well.
Live by the three, die by the three. It’s an oversimplification, sure, but there is truth to the statement. And it wears purple and orange.
Indiana Pacers, L, 133-125
- Dog 3PAr: 38.5%
- Dog 3PT%: 40.0%
This is a game in which the Suns’ defense decided to take the night off. They gave up 30+ points in three of the four quarters, including a 40 burger in the fourth. Sigh.
Week 11: 40.2% 3PAr, 35.0 3PT%
Here’s where we’re at through the season:
What stands out most? A clear downward trajectory.
The Suns are grappling with problems across multiple facets of the game, but one glaring issue is their declining three-point effectiveness and rate over the past three weeks. During this stretch, the team has gone 1–7.
Several factors contribute to this slump. The availability of their shooters plays a role, as does the quality of the defensive competition they’ve faced. Even a heavily depleted Memphis squad adhered to their philosophy of defending the three-point line this week, making it difficult for Phoenix to generate quality looks from deep.
Still, the reality remains: three-point shooting continues to be a significant issue for this team amid their broader struggles. Whether or not there’s a quick fix to this problem is uncertain, but it’s a trend worth monitoring closely as it impacts the Suns’ season trajectory.
What does Week 12 have in store for us? Five games.
The road trip for the Suns continues in Philly on Monday, and despite their losing record, this is a time in the process of getting right. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games.
The next night Phoenix is in Charlotte to play the Hornets, a team that shoots the three with a higher rate than Phoenix. They are currently ranked 4th in the NBA with a 46.6% three-point rate. So expect some bombs to be falling, and given how the Suns have performed this season, the 23rd-ranked Hornets, who shoot a 34.3% clip from deep, will most likely have a field day.
It’s Dave King’s Bright Side Night on Thursday as the Suns welcome not only the Atlanta Hawks, but over 1,700 underprivileged kids who are going to the game thanks to your efforts and donations. I can’t tell you how much it means to be a part of a community that cares as much as the Suns community does.
Phoenix ends the week with a weekend back-to-back, hosting the Jazz and the Hornets on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
