Charles Barkley didn’t mince phrases when requested about his former group, the Phoenix Suns, this coming season. On an look on the Invoice Simmons Podcast, Barkley talked about most of the Western Convention contenders. He was extremely important of most of the playoff groups from final season, except for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. What he needed to say concerning the Suns although actually raised some eyebrows.
“My Suns,” Charles Barkley started. “They acquired no identification and no management. You gotta have a mode of play. You gotta have management. The Suns haven’t confirmed they’ll do this but.”
“[Booker] is a terrific participant,” he continued. “The entire dynamic of the group modified when KD and Beal got here there. Now, they gotta have management. He’s (Booker) gotta take the management position. I believe he’s reluctant as a result of assume that KD’s the very best participant. Kevin has mentioned he don’t wish to be a frontrunner. He simply desires to play basketball.”
“I challenged Booker final 12 months. It’s gotta be Booker. He’s gotta take a critical management position. Individuals are gonna take heed to him as a result of he’s an amazing participant, however he’s gotta turn out to be extra of a frontrunner. Gotta be extra of a vocal chief. Then we’re gonna see what occurs with the Suns.”
Whereas some would argue that Barkley is spouting nonsense, there may be additionally advantage to the management argument.
Charles Barkley Questions Phoenix’s Identification
Can the Phoenix Suns Put the Items Collectively This Yr?
The Phoenix Suns seemed stacked on paper going into final 12 months. With a brand new trio that featured Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant, many thought their offensive output can be an excessive amount of for the remainder of the league to beat. Nonetheless, their lack of a real level guard, defensive inefficiencies, and lack of a ground chief was their eventual downfall. It confirmed within the sequence in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A sequence that noticed the Suns get swept by mentioned Timberwolves group.
With a brand new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, a ground common in Tyus Jones, and Devin Booker coming off a summer time the place he frolicked round his fellow Olympians, the Suns are hoping to silence many critics this coming 12 months. If Devin Booker does take the following step to be a vocal chief, then Phoenix may very well be one of many surprises of the Western Convention. It is going to be tough with the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets all projected to be within the top-four vary. Nonetheless, the large three of the Suns has sufficient expertise to guarantee them as a playoff lock. Like Charles Barkley mentioned although, somebody has to step up because the chief on the ground.
