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Phoenix Suns Becoming NBA’s Punching Bags

By Michael Dunlap

Dec 20, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker reacts in the closing seconds of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Bucks defeated the Suns 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker reacts in the closing seconds of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Bucks defeated the Suns 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Phoenix Suns have the talent to compete on any given night, but lack the fight needed to become contenders.

As the final buzzer sounded, Phoenix Suns players slogged back to the locker room in much the same way they slogged through the final minutes of a brutal 101-95 loss to a Milwaukee Bucks team that had lost 12 straight on the road. There was little hope, little optimism and little reason to believe any of that would change.

In recent years, the Suns have never been considered a physical team, but they were led by Steve Nash — one of the toughest players in the business. Since Nash retired, the Suns have brought in talented players with varying abilities, but that aggressive veteran presence was missing.

This was on display again in the Bucks loss, with Milwaukee figuratively bloodying the Suns nose, without any fear of retribution. In the first quarter, O.J. Mayo and Markieff Morris got into a verbal joust, with both players receiving technical fouls. Early in the fourth quarter, Michael Carter-Williams wrapped T.J. Warren up from behind on an open fastbreak — dangerous, but not quite dirty. Finally, Mayo did his best WWE impression on Warren, with a clothesline that would earn him a flagrant one.

The first Warren foul led to a quick 4-0 spurt by the Bucks, but it was Mayo’s lariat that led to an 11-3 run for the Bucks that earned them their first lead of the fourth quarter.

It’s not the 1980’s, where this kind of play could have sparked a brawl or at the very least a sweet little Bill Laimbeer swat to the bridge of someone’s nose, but the Suns made the wrong decision by taking the Bucks punch and rolling over. This is what should happen if an opposing team decides to get physical:

Players taking it personally when they’re being beaten — to the point where they decide they’ve had enough — is something that’s missing from the Suns roster right now. Sure, guys were unhappy in the locker room. I have no doubts that all of those men feel the sting of losing, but at what point do they stop talking about it and start doing something about it?

P.J. Tucker talked about it after the game, referring to the team’s inability to set the pace early in games. Teams are learning that they can be physical with Phoenix and face little to no pushback.

Related Story: Will Jeff Hornacek Become The Suns Fall Guy?

Isn’t this why the organization brought in guys like Tyson Chandler, Mirza Teletovic and Ronnie Price? Aren’t they supposed to step up and defend their soft-spoken comrades? The Bucks taking liberties with Warren was no coincidence — he was 7-of-11 for 14 easy points through three quarters.

In the second half, the Bucks outrebounded the Suns 20-14. They forced Phoenix into 10 turnovers and held them to 37.5 percent shooting, while only turning it over seven times themselves (with 55 percent shooting). The Suns accumulated just four second-half assists, to 15 for the Bucks.

This isn’t some sort of revelation, either — the Suns have been horrendous late in close games all year long. They can play a finesse game against certain opponents and get away with it, but if this team expects to compete for a playoff spot (which was at one time realistic), they’re going to have to learn to punch back.

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