Running Dry: Inside the Suns’ offensive slump

The numbers since the All-Star break are difficult to ignore.

Phoenix has not scored more than 100 points in regulation in four straight games: 94 against San Antonio, 96 against Orlando, 77 against Portland, and 81 tonight against Boston. In a league built on pace, space, and scoring, that stretch stands out for all the wrong reasons.

The Suns have lost 6 of their last 8 games. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks aren’t returning anytime soon. And don’t forget Jordan Goodwin, who is also out and without a timetable. They have won games while being down a key piece or two all season long, but this time it feels different.

As Grayson Allen stated: “There is work to be done on that end of the floor.”

Shorthanded Suns

Injuries are part of the story, so no, we will not ignore that.

Booker and Brooks have been sidelined through essentially all of this stretch, and their absence reshapes the entire offensive ecosystem. Booker’s presence bends a defense before he even attacks. Help defenders shade in his direction. Weakside shooters gain airspace. Driving lanes feel wider. Brooks brings that force and edge that defenses can’t ignore. When both are unavailable, roles shift, and responsibility becomes more evenly distributed across the roster.

That context matters. It also exists alongside other issues that have surfaced over the past several games. It’s no coincidence that the Suns’ offense has fallen off a cliff without their top two scorers.

The overall shot quality has gradually eroded. Against Boston, possessions frequently stalled into late-clock attempts over length. The Celtics dictated tempo and forced Phoenix into contested jumpers after actions failed to generate an advantage. The 11-point third quarter was damning. This graphic below is damning.

At least they’re league average in free-throw shooting? Right? This is Bright Side of the Sun, afterall.

Portland presented a different challenge, yet the result was similar. The ball stuck and early actions fizzled. Possessions turned into isolation without rhythm. Orlando’s size crowded the paint and disrupted driving angles, and the Suns struggled to counter with purposeful cutting or quick reversals. Are we giving too much credit to the opponents here? Probably.

There is a rhythm component that has slipped. Paint touches have declined. Free-throw attempts have dipped. Assisted field goals have become less frequent, and those elements are often connected. When the ball moves side-to-side and attacks north-south, the defense rotates. When the ball stays on one side and the attack comes late, the defense settles in. This offense has gotten away from all the things that made them work earlier this season.

Slump Solutions?

The tempo has lived in an uncomfortable middle ground. Phoenix has not consistently pushed off misses to manufacture easier points, and the half-court execution has not been crisp enough to thrive in slower possessions. That gray area can feel manageable when elite shot creation is available. It feels heavy when it is not. Right now, the slowed pace combined with rough, stagnant offensive possessions are stacking.

Rebounding has offered an opportunity, because there have been second chances. The conversion on those extra possessions, however, has not always followed. Resetting into another deliberate set can allow the defense to reorganize. The window for advantage closes quickly in today’s league. If you aren’t pushing in transition and your half-court offense is stalling, you are in deep trouble.

There is also the emotional weight of scoring droughts. Jalen Green’s return has thrown him into the wolves with Phoenix’s top two scoring options out as he gets his legs back under him. The efficiency has… not been there to say the least. Over his last three games, Green is shooting just 29.3% from the field.

When shots rim out early, confidence tightens. The extra pass becomes less instinctive. Open looks feel amplified because the team is searching for momentum. Against Boston, once the early attempts failed to drop, the pressure seemed to build possession by possession. It truly is a snowball effect that works against you.

Solutions exist, even within the current constraints. The ball movement HAS TO increase. Weakside activity, early-clock actions, and decisive cuts can create angles without requiring isolation heroball. Transition opportunities must be emphasized to generate easier looks before defenses are set. Making shots can be contagious, especially for role players. Teams go through slumps. It happens. Phoenix needs to find a way to snap out of it quickly, or things can get really ugly.

A clear role definition can stabilize lineups, so players operate with confidence rather than hesitation. Consistent rim pressure can produce free throws, which slow the game and steady an offense searching for footing.

The injuries remain real. Booker’s gravity and Brooks’ force change the geometry of the floor. At the same time, the Suns have defensive tools and connective pieces capable of helping the offense rediscover balance.

This stretch has revealed how delicate rhythm can be. It has also presented an opportunity. The coming games will show whether Phoenix can recalibrate, lean into structure and pace, and turn a difficult run into something instructive rather than defining.

Jordan Ott, it’s your time to shine.