👋 GOOD MORNING

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 — Happy Wednesday! We’re almost halfway through the week (or over halfway, depending on when you’re reading this), and I must say it’s been pretty crazy to have such a quiet sports week so far. Yes, the Sun Devils have been the talk of the town (as well as Kevin Durant’s injuries), but today marks the third consecutive day none of the major sports beats — including the Valley Suns and Tucson Roadrunners — have not been on the schedule.

That’s not to say there’s been a lack of talking points, and the Sun Devils Volleyball team took home more hardware following its incredible 30-3 season. The Big 12 champions had four players named to the AVCA Pacific All-Region team (Geli Cyr, Claire Jeter, Mary Shroll and Argentina Ung), and coach J.J. Van Niel was named the AVCA Pacific Region coach of the year for the second straight season.

Van Niel’s teams are now a combined 58-10 over the past two years.

On to the show!

Durant’s Absence is Stunningly Evident for Suns

The Phoenix Suns are 3-9 over their last 12 games.

Get a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets! (Use Code: PHNX365)

Claim $1,000

21+ only or 18+ in KY and present in AZ, CO, IA, IN, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, VA. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ, CO, IN, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). T&Cs and restrictions apply.

Read more

Yikes.

Their incredible 9-2 start feels like it was decades ago, and though the rough patch that followed directly coincided with the loss of both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, minor alarms started going off. Still, it seemed reasonable to chalk it up to two of the team’s Big 3 being out of the lineup, and fans were more than willing to offer up a free pass based upon that. (to be fair, starting center Jusuf Nurkić has not played since Nov. 27),

The last three games, however, have been a different story, and there’s one common denominator: The absence of Durant, in which the Suns have won just once in 10 games without the superstar.

Third Quarter Woes Have Proven Concerning

Durant’s prowess is truly missed in crunch time. It seemed like the 36-year-old was consistently knocking down clutch shots in late-game moments, erasing the memory of the Suns’ fourth quarter struggles from a year ago.

There’s just one problem — recently it has been the third quarter wreaking havoc on the team. Phoenix has been outscored 106-77 over its last three games in the third, a troubling trend that started against the then-4-18 New Orleans Pelicans. That marked the team’s first game without Durant, and though Devin Booker and Beal combined for 52 points in the game, no one was able to step up to help stop the bleeding after a 11-point halftime lead turned into a six-point deficit heading into the final quarter.

The Suns were outscored 45-28 in the third quarter.

It was rinse-and-repeat in Miami the very next game. Phoenix led by five at the half, and trailed by five after getting outscored 34-24 by the Heat in the third quarter.

“I think the third quarter, this is the second game, I can’t speak to say if this has been a recurring thing,” coach Mike Budenholzer said after that game. “You go through stretches where you see something happen a couple of times. I think we’re all frustrated with the third quarter.”

Royce O’Neale has been a bright spot, averaging 19.3 points over the last three games, but it has not been enough to get the Suns over the hump in Durant’s absence.

Longterm Help is Unlikely Unless the Suns Pay Handsomely

There have been (gasp) rumors of Phoenix potentially shopping for some longterm help, but that also seems unlikely considering the price of such a move. One such example revolves around veteran Jimmy Butler, but while the six-time All-Star would be an impact player, he’s not getting any younger at 35 years old, either.

The Heat have been rumored ​to be shopping Butler​, but our very own Erik Ruby pointed out why that’s likely not a feasible option. First of all, the ask would almost assuredly include Beal, who would need to waive a no-trade clause to make it happen.

But logistics aside, Butler’s track record isn’t exactly stellar when it comes to his own health: He has appeared in fewer than 65 games in each season since 2018-19, including 60 last year.

In fact, the oft-injured Durant played in 75 last year, compared to Butler’s 60.

Is that really a trade worth pursuing, especially given the cost?

No. The answer is no.

Durant Needs to Be Healthy, Full Stop

The hard truth remains — there is no quick fix. There is no band-aid. The answer is simple, and it’s that the Suns need Durant to be healthy. He’s has shown an uncanny ability to lead by example throughout the course of his career (despite what Stephen A. Smith has to say), and Phoenix needs that on the court when it matters most.

He not only makes those around him better, but he also has the uncanny scoring touch and strong defensive awareness as a game wears on.

“We have to stay together, keep our heads up, and keep pushing,” Budenholzer said. “They’re frustrated, they’re competitors, they want to win … We have to be able to do it for 48 minutes. We have to be able to do it for four quarters.”

That’s a heck of a lot easier when a guy like Durant is in the lineup, and the only way the Suns can get their season back on track.

ICYMI:
The Suns should be better than this without Kevin Durant
Stephen’s Notebook, Volume 3
Full PHNX Suns Coverage

🧢 TIP OF THE HAT BY BRANDED BILLS
Congrats to Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour Player of the Year for the THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR!