Charles Barkley didn’t beat across the bush when requested about his former staff, the Phoenix Suns, for the upcoming season. Throughout an look on the Invoice Simmons Podcast, Barkley spoke about most of the Western Convention contenders. He was extremely important of a lot of final season’s playoff groups, aside from the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. What he needed to say concerning the Suns, nevertheless, actually raised a couple of eyebrows.
“My Suns,” Charles Barkley started. “They haven’t any identification, no management. It’s important to have a mode of play. It’s important to have management. The Suns haven’t confirmed they will do this but.”
“[Booker] “Kevin is a superb participant,” he continued. “The entire dynamic of the staff modified when KD and Beal got here in. Now they must have management. He (Booker) has to take the management position. I feel he is reluctant as a result of he thinks KD is the perfect participant. Kevin has stated he does not need to be a frontrunner. He simply needs to play basketball.”
“I challenged Booker final 12 months. It is acquired to be Booker. He is acquired to take a severe management position. Persons are going to hearken to him as a result of he is an ideal participant, however he is acquired to grow to be extra of a frontrunner. He is acquired to grow to be a extra vocal chief. Then we’ll see what occurs with the Suns.”
Whereas some might argue that Barkley is speaking nonsense, there’s some reality to the management argument.
Charles Barkley questions Phoenix’s identification
Can the Phoenix Suns put the items of the puzzle collectively this 12 months?
The Phoenix Suns gave the impression to be on a roll heading into final 12 months. With a brand new trio of 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. Nevertheless, their lack of a real level guard, defensive inefficiencies and lack of a flooring chief proved to be their final downfall. This was evident within the sequence in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A sequence through which the Suns had been swept by stated Timberwolves staff.
With Mike Budenholzer as new head coach, Tyus Jones taking up the sector and Devin Booker spending a summer season together with his fellow Olympians, the Suns are hoping to silence many critics this 12 months. If Devin Booker takes the subsequent step to grow to be a vocal chief, Phoenix could possibly be one of many surprises of the Western Convention. It is going to be powerful with the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets all projected within the high 4. Nonetheless, the Suns’ massive three have sufficient expertise to make sure a playoff slot. As Charles Barkley stated, somebody has to step up as a frontrunner on the courtroom.