The Phoenix Suns took a resounding loss against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers, who got off to a massive 20-point lead in the first quarter.
Third-year phenom Devin Booker made no excuses for the team's lackadaisical performance and the slow-moving growth of this team in what's considered a rebuilding season.
“I think right now is an evaluation period for us. We know that as a team, and we’re not treating it like that,” said Booker, according to Craig Grialou of Arizona Sports Radio. “I think our whole team has been spoiled enough, including myself, with playing time at a young age to where we get to play through mistakes.”
“Sometimes there’s punishment, sometimes there’s not. You look at teams like Cleveland, they make one mistake and you’re out of the game. We’ve been babied a little bit and it shows sometimes. We need to look ourselves in the eyes, all together as a team, and understand that this game isn’t given to you.”
“We just need to be humbled a little bit.”
Booker pointed to Shaquille Harrison, a G League player who earned himself a multi-year deal thanks to his strong showing through a pair of 10-day contracts, despite going undrafted.
The Suns have had no reason to celebrate, only beating equally poor competition in the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks in the last 23 games, losers of six straight games.
“I look at some kids from my draft class that are really talented that still haven’t got a real opportunity to actually play through mistakes… and our whole team gets that chance,” Booker added.
Losing teams often have a wider margin for error and are allowed to grow through experience, but these Suns players have grown accustomed to such mistakes, given the very little consequences that await them.
The organization is zoned into playing through the youth, giving young players the edge of making as many mistakes as they can. The Suns will have another chance at making things right during the offseason, when players will battle for minutes and the coaches will be a lot less forgiving with in-game mishaps.
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