It wasn’t just Dave Pasch and Hubie Brown on the ABC call that were tough on Sunday, nor were the lying eyes of Phoenix Suns fans who had watched past uninspired performances.
A 140-129 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks was particularly alarming and limited the offense for parts of a game that, by the numbers, didn’t look that bad from the box score.
“I thought Sunday’s performance outside of the All-Star Game was probably one of the worst defensive performances I’ve probably seen in a long time,” ESPN analyst Bobby Marks said. Bickley & Marotta when he joined Arizona Sports Tuesday.
“I thought it was, to be honest, trash.”
Phoenix shot 59% at the end of the game but allowed Milwaukee to shoot 54% themselves. Bucks big man Bobby Portis entered the game and got going quickly, finishing with 31 points on 20 shots late in the afternoon.
The Suns’ efforts included botched coverages, lack of help and poor communication in transition plays, especially as the Bucks trailed by as many as 25 points in the second quarter.
Milwaukee set a season high with 82 points in the first half and 24 threes at the end of the game.
“Look, this Phoenix team can score with any team in the NBA and they can beat any team in the NBA on any day,” Marks said. “I think that’s why you’re going to wait to see what happens in the playoffs here. But if you play like that on Sunday in the play-ins, if you’re there or in the first round against Denver, Oklahoma City or Minnesota… you’ll have no chance at all.
Grayson Allen’s contract extension could be a ‘doozy’
Grayson Allen, the NBA’s best three-point shooter, is eligible for a four-year contract extension totaling $75 million beginning March 27 and ending June 30.
In terms of performance, it would be a no-brainer for Phoenix to sign Allen to a deal starting at $16.4 million per year. For the gamer, it’s also good value for money.
The problem here is that the Suns, with their salaries, will owe at least $65 million more in taxes next season alone. Again, this is just to re-sign Allen.
“He’s crazy. It’s crazy,” Marks said. “Basically, you’ll pay Grayson Allen $90 million next year with luxury tax implications.”
Eating that money gives Phoenix more flexibility in deals that wouldn’t otherwise exist. The Suns can only sign outside free agents on minimum deals and cannot consolidate salaries, so Allen could receive salaries just below his annual figure.
“What are your options?” » said Marks. “You’re already all-in.”
Isaiah Thomas signing about insurance
Phoenix’s announced addition of point guard Isaiah Thomas on a 10-day contract is a great story. He has long been looking to make a comeback after last playing in an NBA game in 2021-22.
Functionally for the Suns, this gives them a pace builder and shooter. Thomas could ultimately earn the final spot on the roster, but Marks was quick to point out that he’s on the market for a reason.
“What can he bring? If you’re Phoenix, can you see him making the top eight or top nine when you make the playoffs? He can give you points from the bench,” Marks said.
“Defense, what you’re looking for, probably isn’t there. It’s more of an insurance policy down the stretch if you have to rest some of your players, if you’re in a position where you’re comfortable where your seed is. … I’d be surprised if he’s even in a rotation early in the playoffs. It’s a good insurance policy…and it’s a good story for Isaiah Thomas to come back to this league.
Thomas could hold on to an open roster spot, although two-way guard Saben Lee is also another internal option to fill that spot.
