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Phoenix Suns Sloppy, Unfocused In Loss to the Rockets

By Michael Dunlap

Oct 10, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek looks on against the Denver Nuggets during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek looks on against the Denver Nuggets during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Phoenix Suns lost 95-92 to the Houston Rockets in a game where they died by the jumper

If you’re going to be a team that predominantly shoots jumpers, you’ve got to be prepared for the nights when they’re simply not falling. Do you keep jacking them up, hoping one will eventually fall? Or, do you start going to the basket in an effort to get easy points at the line?

For the Suns, they just couldn’t get the 3-pointer to drop, going just 5-for-25 for the game. Anthony Tolliver made 3-of-9 but Goran Dragic was 1-for-4, Isaiah Thomas was 0-for-4 and Gerald Green went 0-for-2. Luckily, the team was able to get to the line 24 times but unfortunately — they made just 15 of them.

AT LEAST THE DEFENSE WAS…NEVERMIND

How did the Suns stay in the game with such ugly shooting numbers? They played solid defense, contesting shots and pressuring the ball. The Rockets shot just 40.5 percent from the field and the Suns — who were a top-3 team in defending the 3-pointer last year — held Houston to just 5-for-30 (16.7 percent) from the perimeter.

It doesn’t hurt that the Rockets missed 14 of their 36 free-throw attempts, either.

Facing Houston without James Harden and Dwight Howard on the court was supposed to result in an easier defensive task, but Terrence Jones and Isaiah Canaan had other ideas. The Suns committed 30 fouls and only forced 19 turnovers, which resulted in 23 points.

SPEAKING OF TURNOVERS

Oct 13, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) and Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) attempt to get a rebound during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) and Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) attempt to get a rebound during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

If you’re not making shots and your opponent can’t make shots, then what generally decides the final outcome? If you said “opportunities,” you win the imaginary prize. Although the Rockets only got one additional field goal attempt, they were a plus-12 at the foul line.

Those 12 extra free throws were the direct result of the 30 fouls we mentioned earlier, plus 25 Suns turnovers (that led to 34 Rockets points). It’s a recipe for defeat — and defeat is exactly what the Suns earned for their efforts in Houston.

TIME TO WORRY?

There’s no reason to panic over any preseason game that doesn’t involve a major injury. Sure, the Suns lost the game, but they also played Earl Barron 24 minutes, Archie Goodwin 17 and TJ Warren close to 21. That’s not going to happen during the regular season.

With that said, even though Dragic and Bledsoe combined for 25 points in 37 minutes of combined play, they also combined for five turnovers and six fouls. It’s been a bit of a theme early in the season for Dragic, who has 10 fouls in 62 minutes for the Suns. If he continues at a foul per 6.2 minutes, he’d be in serious foul trouble down the stretch of every game.

These are the reasons the Suns lost, and they’re also the reasons why the preseason is almost a month long. The team has to knock off the rust and become familiar with each other again. The boys will be OK come the season opener vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 29, but until then — we may have to watch more slop like this.

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