The Phoenix Suns’ locker room is apparently boiling, and it’s all thanks to one glaring hole in their roster: a traditional starting point guard. NBA insider Chris Haynes dropped a bomb on NBA TV, revealing “some growing frustration within that locker room” because the team just doesn’t have a player to “organize that offense.” That’s a huge problem when you are 1-2 to start the season.
The Frustration is Already Real
Haynes didn’t mince words, pointing out that with Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks starting, there’s no “true traditional point guard that can get everybody looks and get everything organized.” It makes you wonder what the plan was, right? Haynes even said he doesn’t think the Suns are looking to address it right now, hoping they can just play the role “by committee.” But, as he concluded, “as of right now, it’s not looking like it.” This isn’t just locker room chatter, either; the team is off to a shaky 1-2 start.
Booker, who often ends up as the team’s main distributor by default, has had an absolutely wild ride on offense so far. He didn’t even attempt a three-pointer in their season-opening loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Then he exploded for 43 points in a win against the Golden State Warriors. And then, just to keep you on your toes, he was held to a measly three points in Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Talk about inconsistency. It almost feels like they are missing someone whose job it is to set him up. Remember, they signed forward Miles Bridges this offseason, but didn’t even take a swing at available point guards like former Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
GM’s Vision Versus Reality
General manager Brian Gregory, back in September, sounded pretty confident on Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo Show. He felt the Suns’ offense could be “more versatile” if other players stepped up to help Booker set plays. Gregory said, “Book doesn’t do a ton of that” in terms of initiating the offense. He talked about finding “the right balance of Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Colin Gillespie,” and how having “wings, and big wings, and forwards that can now initiate the offense” is where the game is headed. He even name-dropped Koa Peat and Miles Bridges, saying they can grab a defensive rebound and “lead the break.” The idea is to gain “versatility” and let scorers attack defenses before they’re set.
That’s a nice theory, but the early returns are looking pretty rough, aren’t they? The 1-2 record and Booker’s up-and-down performances sure make you question if that “by committee” approach is actually working as planned. It seems like the frustration Haynes is talking about is translating right onto the court.
The Suns are back in action for their second home game of the season Friday night. They’re hosting the Denver Nuggets, and whether Phoenix can actually live up to Gregory’s expectations and get some real offensive momentum going could seriously impact if this team considers adding to their backcourt down the stretch of the season. They need to figure this out, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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