The Phoenix Suns are now 21-21, ranking 10th in the Western Conference, following a lopsided 118-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Durant scored 23 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the Cavaliers’ strong performance.
The Suns struggled with their shooting. They attempted 77 field goals, while the Cavaliers took 95 shots.
From three-point range, the Suns made 10 out of 26 attempts, while the Cavaliers converted 19 of 46.
After the game, Durant acknowledged that the Cavaliers’ defense was tough to break down and mentioned that the Suns didn’t have a zone strategy in place yet.
In a clip shared by Duane Rankin, Durant stated: “It’s a tough defense to score on if you think a shot is going to open up without you pressing the issue. We could’ve driven more, but we don’t play against zone defense every game. We don’t have a zone package yet.”
Durant’s comments didn’t sit well with Suns fans, many of whom were perplexed by the lack of a zone package at this point in the season.
This situation has fueled speculation about the Suns potentially pursuing Jimmy Butler, who is reportedly looking to leave the Miami Heat before the trade deadline next month. Butler could be a strong addition alongside Durant and Devin Booker, and at 35 years old, he might help push the Suns in the right direction.
However, whether a trade can be reached with the Heat remains uncertain, as they are also eager to resolve the Butler situation before the deadline.
It’s likely that Bradley Beal would need to be included in any trade, although the Heat have shown little interest in taking on the 31-year-old, who has struggled since joining the Suns and has a no-trade clause.
Discover more from SuperD24
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.