The Phoenix Suns started the season with off-the-roof optimism after forming a new big three: Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and mainstay Devin Booker.
They also added the Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 championship coach, Frank Vogel, to make things more exciting for them.
They were regarded as among the favorites to win the NBA title, just like how it was with every team that Durant was part of.
A regular season after, the Suns had to cram to get an instant playoff spot by going through the play-in.
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Then, they were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by up-and-coming superstar Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony Towns, and Defensive Player of the Year nominee Rudy Gobert.
It was a disappointing season, and the devil is in the details.
The team was built to score, but scoring is only the last stage of the process.
Two main reasons the Suns' season failed:
1. Not bringing in a PG
Booker, Beal, and KD are all great players in their own right. However, none of them are great playmakers.
They can attract defenders that will allow them to make great passes, but they would have been better off if they had someone who could take away the pressure of creating plays on the fly.
Rumor has it that coach Vogel requested to acquire a PG, but the Suns' front office did not grant it.
"Frank Vogel wanted a point guard on that roster, and the front office believed that bringing a point guard over would take the ball out of the hands of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant," said NBA reporter Chris Haynes by the Dan Le Batard Show.
They have two scoring guards in Booker and Beal, but neither can set up teammates in a set system, like their previous PG and future Hall of Fame member Chris Paul.
The lack of PG was apparent in the loss after the Suns committed 14.9 turnovers per game.
2. Misuse of KD
KD can score at will. He finished in the Top 5 in scoring during the regular season with 27.1.
He produced the same number in all four games they lost against the Wolves.
However, he believes he can do better.
Athletic writer Shams Charania, citing an anonymous source, said the Suns are now considering firing Frank Vogel, which might be related to KD's dissatisfaction with the offensive system.
"Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls," Charania wrote.
"At the same time, some teammates and people close to the organization believed Durant needed to voice his concerns more adamantly and directly with Vogel and his coaching staff."
Booker continues to be an offensive threat for the Suns. He even scored 49 in the Game 4 loss.
However, he has to bleed for everything. It is also not a good sign if your player has to score that much and still lose.
It is unclear whether the Suns will continue to have their current Big 3 next season.
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