We are having problems on Planet Orange. Despair is in the air. Partly because there is very little desperation on the basketball court.
With 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Suns have reportedly taken a 10-day leave of absence for point guard Isaiah Thomas, one of the most stubborn underdogs in NBA history.
This is a crazy turnaround for a team with championship aspirations.
I hope it works. Thomas stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and is a born fighter. He defied all odds his entire life. The chip on his shoulder is permanent. It’s easy to root for a player like him.
He is also 35 years old. He hasn’t played in the NBA in two years. He’s a dominant point scorer, known for creating his own offense, and the Suns don’t need any more offense. They need advocacy, leadership and a greater sense of urgency.
Obviously, the hope is that Thomas will bring some of the intangibles that are sorely missing from the current group. They need someone with an edge. They need someone to push the pace and move the ball up quickly. They need someone to manage and organize the offense if necessary.
Regardless, it’s a marked change from March 11, when Suns head coach Frank Vogel was asked whether the absence of a traditional point guard was to blame for a team ranked 26th in turnovers.
“No,” he said.
Adding Thomas can’t hurt. But the news broke on Saturday afternoon, and his imminent presence did not really shake the Suns out of their lethargy. On the contrary, the Suns emitted a strange energy during a Sunday matchup on national television, where their body language was poor; the defense was laughable; the Bucks set an NBA record for three-pointers made in a half (18); while Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were unusually silent.
They were easily handled by a Bucks team that was missing two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was the kind of landmark performance that’s hard to dismiss.
The last time Antetokounmpo went down late (Jan. 17), the Bucks couldn’t work, losing to the Cavaliers by 40. Against the Suns, they did whatever they wanted while Durant only took only 10 shots in 41 minutes, playing with a notable lack of aggression.
So, what are we looking at here?
These are all signs of a basketball team that is losing confidence in the head coach. Or they are the signs of a team that is losing all hope, of a team with fatal flaws in its squad, of a team that never had a chance to start. Or maybe the Suns just had a really bad weekend.
I hope for the latter. And that the arrival of Thomas will be a burst of energy, shaking up the room and the mix in a positive way.
Contact Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.
