Suns Struggle with Turnovers, Can They Regain Control?

The Phoenix Suns are facing a familiar foe in their playoff matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves - themselves. As the team prepares for Game 3 at home, the focus has shifted to a glaring issue that has plagued them throughout the season: turnovers.

During the regular season, the Suns were ranked 25th in the NBA in turnovers, committing an average of 14.9 per game. As a result, they were also 25th in opposing points off turnovers, allowing a staggering 18.2 points per game directly off their mistakes. This accounted for a whopping 16.1% of all points scored against them.

One would have thought that the Suns would have learned from their regular-season struggles and cleaned up their ball-handling in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. In the series against the Timberwolves, the Suns have been dead last among all 16 playoff teams in turnovers, coughing up the ball a staggering 17.5 times per game.

The primary culprits have been the Suns’ two best players, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, who have combined for 7 turnovers per game. Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic aren’t far behind, each contributing 2.5 turnovers per game.

The irony is that the Timberwolves aren’t even an elite offensive team. They were ranked 16th in offensive rating and 18th in points scored during the regular season. Yet, they’re managing to capitalize on the Suns’ carelessness, with 24% of their points coming directly off Phoenix’s turnovers.

The Suns’ fanbase has recognized the issue, with 64% of respondents in a recent Suns Reacts survey identifying the turnover battle as the key to righting the wrongs. It’s a simple fix, yet one that the Suns have struggled to implement consistently.

As the Suns prepare for Game 3 at home, the focus will undoubtedly be on ball security. Head coach Monty Williams and his staff will need to instill a renewed sense of discipline and attention to detail in their players, ensuring that the Suns don’t continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

The Suns have the talent to overcome the Timberwolves, but they’ll need to take care of the ball if they want to have a chance. It may seem like a simple solution, but in the high-stakes world of the NBA playoffs, the little things can make all the difference.

The Suns’ emo phase has lasted long enough. It’s time for them to reclaim control of the series and prove that they’re more than just their own worst enemy. The fans will be there, cheering them on, but the real test will be whether the Suns can finally put their turnover troubles behind them and show up with the focus and discipline needed to win.

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