In their most recent game, the Los Angeles Clippers shocked both fans and players throughout the league, including the Phoenix Suns. The Clippers launched on a run of their own while the Suns, despite boasting their “Big Three,” were limited to just 10 points in the opening quarter. Charles Barkley, the legendary player for the Suns, was asked to weigh in on this Phoenix team after the game, and he did not hold back.
During an interview with 12News, Charles Barkley was questioned if the Phoenix Suns could resolve their issues by the playoffs. Barkley made a clear statement, indicating that it is unlikely to occur.
“No, they’re not gonna figure it out. They don’t have any mental toughness, the leaders are not leading. So, you’re not gonna turn it on this late in the season. So, I’m not sure what you’re expecting but their mental toughness, they’re weak mentally and it’s not going to go good for them.”
How right is Charles Barkley about the Suns ?
Throughout the entire season, the Phoenix Suns have underwhelmed. Initially, it was attributed to the star players’ injuries and the fact that they hadn’t had time to train and compete together on the court. But after a while, the Suns appeared to suffer all season long, particularly in circumstances that came up late in the fourth quarter, even after their stars returned. Additionally, Charles Barkley addressed that as well.
He held the team captain accountable for failing to guide the group on the court. But there was still hope that Phoenix could work things out in the postseason. However, Barkley and possibly a large number of fans have also lost hope in the wake of tonight’s performance.
In the first quarter, the Clippers scored 35 points while the Suns were restricted to only 4. Phoenix attempted to rally and ultimately lost the game with a more acceptable score of 92-105, but Suns supporters’ dreams of any success in the postseason were swiftly dashed after witnessing the “Big Three” struggle so miserably in the first game.
There was a pitiful difference in shooting %. According to Statmuse, the Clippers shot 47.1% from the field at the end of the game compared to the Suns’ 33.7%. The Suns were only 22.9% from three, while the Clippers hit an incredible 46.2% from beyond the arc. The Suns only managed to crash the board 38 times during the game, compared to the Clippers’ 63 total rebounds at the end of the game.
