Phoenix Suns are an 'embarrassment' says ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins

Perkins on the Phoenix Suns:

“They are an embarrassment, not only to the Phoenix organization, but to the rest of the NBA, because you have so many guys that are going to be Hall of Famers on their team, especially Kevin Durant and Devin Booker,” Perkins said. “What I’m seeing is a lack of passion. It’s no more rankings in the locker room, meaning there’s no more franchise guys. I’m playing the guys that are going to compete for me, and if that means Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal’s minutes get diminished then dammit, so be it at this point”

In its last 22 games, Phoenix is 7-15 and has allowed 120.6 points per game. Perkins is calling out the lack of defensive identity on the roster. The team has been decimated with injuries to key role players and Beal. Regardless, the Suns’ late-game execution and defense intensity are disappointing for a team with winning players like Booker and Durant.

Perkins believes that Budenholzer is likely gone by the end of the season, so there’s no reason to cater to the star players that have led to a mediocre season thus far. Phoenix does have the toughest remaining schedule by a large margin, with a .616 strength of schedule.

The Mavericks have the 14th hardest remaining SOS, but the injuries to star players Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving make holding the 10th seed much more difficult. The Suns are coming off a dominant win over the Toronto Raptors and face a much-win game against a Chicago Bulls team that isn’t trying to compete for the postseason. After the game against Chicago, Phoenix doesn’t play a team under .500 for the rest of the season. Budenholzer has his work cut out for him with three players out against the Bulls. Read more about that below.