Suns Know They Must Defend Home Court Better

The Phoenix Suns used to have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA. 

Just take a quick look back at their run to the 2021 NBA Finals, where the Footprint Center was a mecca of chaos and noise for opposing teams to deal with. 

Now, you could argue the loudest the home crowd has gotten for this team was the introductions of Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson when Phoenix played host to the Brooklyn Nets. 

It's unknown exactly what changed in the Valley since then - the Suns announced Wednesday's game marked the 100th consecutive sellout for the team - so attendance isn't the issue. 

Some would say attending games has become more of a status symbol, though we're not here to tell fans how to act when they enter the arena.

The product on the court could certainly be better: That's an opinion fans and players share. 

"They came in, they threw the first punch tonight. We got to be better, especially in our own court. Protecting our home court. Let us be the ones to decide how the ref's going to call the game and make the other team complaining about foul calls and physicality. Tonight that was us," Booker said following the loss to L.A. on Wednesday. 

Bradley Beal agreed, especially on the defensive end. 

"We've got to guard our yard a little bit better, help each other, help the next man, rotate. Everybody, we all have to be a little better."

The Suns themselves are 18-16 on the year but are just 10-10 at home, falling quite short of the monstrous expectations placed on the star-studded team this season. 

Phoenix plays host to the Miami Heat tonight.