The Phoenix Suns’ locker room is experiencing growing frustration over the team’s lack of a true point guard, Chris Haynes reported on Oct. 29, as Phoenix opened the season with a 1-2 record.
“There’s some growing frustration within that locker room for the simple fact that that roster does not have a point guard that can organize that offense,” Haynes said.
He added that the Suns were not looking to address the situation immediately and were instead hoping to handle the point guard responsibilities by committee.
The early-season numbers highlight the challenge. Devin Booker is averaging 23.0 points and 5.3 assists through three games, while Collin Gillespie is averaging 4.3 assists in 24.3 minutes per game.
Booker has taken on much of the playmaking responsibility, but the Suns also need him to lead their scoring. He is shooting 55.6% from the field through three games, including 43 points in the Oct. 24 win over the Golden State Warriors, while recording seven assists in that game.
Gillespie has provided another option, averaging 4.3 assists, but he has also committed 2.7 turnovers per game. Jordan Goodwin, another guard in the rotation, is averaging 2.0 assists in 19.7 minutes per game.
Phoenix has scored 109.3 points per game through its first three contests, ranking 26th in the NBA. The Suns lost their season opener 124-83 to the Portland Trail Blazers, beat Golden State 131-122 and fell 125-114 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 26.
The Suns will have another opportunity to work through their offensive issues when they host the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 p.m. ET in their next regular-season game and Emirates NBA Cup opener.
