Can't win every game of course. Although it certainly doesn't help win we have multiple breakdowns both defensively and in terms of adjustments and rotations from our coach as well as blatantly egregious free throw discrepancy on top of our struggles.
In typical suns manner, we played down to the other team and didn't show enough respect to play hard the full game. Soon or later we were bound to relapse a bit. But what is really most disconcerting to me is that in the face of adversity we still have the tendency to get rattled and struggle when we should instead step up.our games and intensity to offset such things. It's bad enough that we still haven't learned from the same issues ( sense of urgency/ consistent effort) after multiple seasons now and we're still taking things for granted and assuming we'll just win!
The other factors I've mentioned ad nauseam are still on display in that the root of these issues being our aversion to young, athletic, long, aggressive players and that enforcer type of player that can be physical back and score through/ draw fouls and energize our team when we get passive at times ( STILL) regardless of the physicality. Opposing teams/ coaches know that we're a skilled But soft finesse team and the simple blueprint to beat us on most nights is by simply being physical and aggressive with us because we're not yet mentally equipped to overcome it. They muck things up with physicality and we get rattled and then we start struggling.
If these issues aren't addressed properly before the postseason, teams should have a field day with us. I have no problem with our regular starters, but fully believe that our roster composition should be built around:
Starters-
What we currently have (with the exception of a legitimate 3& D big, physical defensive 4 next to Ayton.
Bench players-
Proven vet contributors that are versatile and can be utilized in a variety of matchups. Both skilled AND long athletic energizers.
3rd rotation-
This should consist of long, young, strong, hungry, physically dominant, ultra athletic young talent either found in GLeague or via the draft. And they should primarily be high motor energizers or specialists via their talent/ skillset; Lockdown defenders, iso scorers, floor spacers, shotblockers. These skillsets that we can utilize in individual matchups as necessary. Having such athletes and long physically aggressive players will offset our lack.of efficiency when our skill abandons us.
