Phoenix Suns’ Super Team Fizzles in Playoffs, Highlighting Deep Issues

Earlier in the season, the Phoenix Suns were considered serious contenders for the 2023/24 NBA championship with their trio of stars: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. However, the Suns’ “super team” faltered in the first round of the playoffs, losing 4-0 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Overwhelmed by the Timberwolves, the Suns lost all four games by an average margin of 15.5 points per game. Despite finishing 6th in the regular season and facing the 3rd seed Timberwolves, Suns fans remained optimistic about their playoff prospects. According to BetMGM, the Suns were still rated higher than the Timberwolves despite being a lower seed, having won all three regular-season meetings. However, the playoffs told a different story.

The Timberwolves’ solid defense stifled the Suns’ trio of attacking stars. On the defensive end, the Suns struggled without Anthony Edwards. Their lack of offensive versatility was glaring when they couldn’t execute their primary strategies.

The 2023/24 season ended disappointingly for the Suns. Now, team management must address these issues and find solutions.

The Suns’ superstar offensive line was halted by the Timberwolves’ top-tier defense
In the regular season, the Suns scored over 125 points in two-thirds of their meetings with the Timberwolves. However, in the playoffs, they twice scored fewer than 100 points.

Averaging 103.5 points per game, the Suns had the third-worst offensive record in this year’s playoffs. This is a testament to the Timberwolves’ defense, led by Rudy Gobert, a top contender for Defensive Player of the Year. Gobert and his teammates formed the best defense in the regular season, which continued to shine in the playoffs against the Suns.

Edwards proved to be one of the best “two-way” players in the league, with Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also troubling the Suns’ stars.

Devin Booker averaged just 20.3 points per game by Game 4, closely guarded by McDaniels and Alexander-Walker. If Booker tried to drive past them, he had to contend with Gobert under the basket.

Bradley Beal averaged just 16.5 points per game in the first round. The former Washington Wizards star had more turnovers (6) and personal fouls (6) than field goals (4).

Although Durant scored 26.8 points per game, it was still the third-lowest playoff statistic of his career.

Edwards’ pre-series statement, “They have KD, but we have Jaden McDaniels,” initially seemed bold but proved accurate as McDaniels consistently challenged Durant.

Suns’ Defense Has No Answer for Anthony Edwards
Not only did the Suns struggle offensively, but they also couldn’t stop Edwards defensively. The 22-year-old was the Wolves’ standout player on offense.

Coach Frank Vogel assigned Beal to guard Edwards, but it quickly became clear that wasn’t working. Booker, Durant, and Royce O’Neale also tried, but none could contain Edwards.

In Game 1, Edwards had an explosive third quarter, breaking the game’s balance and leading the Wolves to victory. Durant tried to stop Edwards but failed.

In Game 3, Edwards scored 36 points, with 20 coming in the second half, helping the Wolves pull ahead and win.

Game 4 showcased Edwards’ talent with 40 points, including a block on Booker’s shot attempt and a dunk over Durant, two standout moments of the playoffs.

Defense has never been a strong point for the Suns, their 120.6 points allowed per game being the worst in the playoffs this year. Combined with an offense locked down by the Timberwolves, the Suns’ poor run and comprehensive defeat were inevitable.

Suns’ Team-Building Mistakes: Imbalance and Lack of Depth
Despite being considered championship contenders, the Suns’ problems were evident early in the season. Their roster imbalance and lack of depth were significant issues. Coach Vogel had only seven players capable of contributing at a championship level: Durant, Booker, Beal, O’Neale, Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, and Eric Gordon.

When Allen suffered an ankle injury in Game 2 and missed the rest of the series, Vogel turned to Drew Eubanks and Josh Okogie, but neither could fill the gap.

Offensively, the Suns relied heavily on their All-Star trio, while defensively, only Nurkic and O’Neale could offer support, and even they weren’t top-tier defenders.

These issues were apparent when the Suns acquired Beal from the Wizards. Approximately $131 million of the Suns’ salary cap is tied up in their three stars: Durant ($47.7 million), Beal ($46.7 million), and Booker ($36 million). After acquiring Nurkic and Allen, the Suns had little salary cap space left for other free agents, forcing them to rely on less skilled players. In the playoffs, these substitutes contributed minimally.

The Suns’ problems won’t disappear soon, as Durant (2026), Beal (2027), Booker (2029), and Nurkic (2026) are all under long-term contracts. It will be challenging for the Suns to address their roster imbalance, even though the issues are evident.