We analyze Mike Budenholzer's failure with the Phoenix Suns

If there was one thing true about this Phoenix Suns team, it was that they were not living up to their expectations. With a revamped roster and a new head coach, Mike Budenholzer, many thought they were heading in the right direction. However, that was not the case, as they currently sit at the eleventh spot in the Western Conference, with no sense of happiness surrounding them.

Comparing to last season, where the Suns, still disappointing and plagued by injuries, managed a total of 49 wins and finished sixth in the conference. The season ended heartbreakingly as they were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but this season stings even more. Despite all these new additions, the Suns have faltered, and many are to blame. The coaching carousel has continued with the Suns for three seasons now. The question remains, will this be the fourth?

With a disappointing season for the Suns, fingers are already being pointed at the culprits. Some blame the front office. They believe the team's moves since the 2021 finals or after the addition of Kevin Durant have not helped this team. Then, some point fingers at the coaching staff. We've seen the Suns use this as their usual scapegoat, as the team has had three coaches in three seasons, each with an excuse as to why they didn't fit. Some blame the players and the productivity they bring on the court.

Everyone has a part to play in this, but some more than others. Given that the Suns have been through this process before, it is expected that Mike Budenholzer, the head coach of the Suns, will bear the brunt of this blame. However, there have been key mishaps that might lead the Suns to explore the possibility of hiring another head coach.

With the former head coach, Frank Vogel, being a defensive-minded coach and the Suns having three players primarily focused on offense, they felt the fit wasn't ideal. Wanting to address that aspect of the game, they opted for Budenholzer. While Bud was a solid offensive coach, the defensive issues were meant to be rectified. We haven't seen that shine through this season, and ultimately, the blame falls on Coach Bud.

The rotations he has made for this team have been abysmal. For a head coach, that's not entirely his fault, as the Suns have had numerous injuries across the roster throughout the season. The first change we saw was removing Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic from the starting lineup. This was a needed addition as rookie Ryan Dunn brought the necessary defensive pressure for the team.

That said, many wonder why Beal was benched and not Tyus Jones. Was it because they promised Jones a starting spot when they initially signed him? With Nurkic out, this also allowed another rookie, Oso Ighodaro, to showcase what he could offer in a limited role. How were both rewarded for their excellent play? Simply by sitting them on the bench and not seeing them in games for long stretches this season.

There's also talk about Mason Plumlee, the Suns' backup center. He was prominently featured in the Suns' rotation before receiving two consecutive ejections, unleashing the rookies' vigor. However, Plumlee wasn't the best big man to play with but still overshadowed Ighodaro. It was evident Ighodaro had more talent and would benefit from development. Nevertheless, there were moments where Plumlee had a positive impact, but most of the time, it was either nonexistent or negligible. The question remains unanswered as to why Plumlee received such a substantial contract for his limited production.

Another player whose rotations need discussing is Tyus Jones. As mentioned earlier, when the Suns decided to bench Beal and Nurkic, Jones continued to start in this rotation, and it wasn't until the last twenty games that he was benched for the team's benefit. This change reflected in the two-way player Collin Gillespie. He fit better than Jones in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, this was something fans recognized months ago but was only recently put into practice.

The last player Budenholzer has hindered in developing is Bol Bol. The center has sadly been mistreated league-wide without finding a home to make a clear impact. Suns fans hoped it would be in Phoenix after Bol's new signing with the team. Unfortunately, once again, we only saw occasional, albeit scarce, minutes from Bol. That was until Durant went down against the Utah Jazz. Here is where Bol made his mark as a scoring threat, despite Durant's absence.

Bol excelled over games and then found himself in the starting lineup, even with Durant back. The Suns used this big lineup to counterbalance defense with size, and that didn't work out in the best way. Since the rookies have been kept out, Bol has been relegated to the starting role early in the year, which is regrettable.

Internal Issues with Mike Budenholzer

Budenholzer not only had some poor rotations and post-game responses but also strained relations within the team. We all know he had a falling out with Nurkic, leading to being benched, receiving DNP, and eventually being traded to Charlotte. An article mid-game was also published about his relationship with Coach Bud, revealing they hadn't spoken for months. Regardless of which side one stands, or if one believes the truth in this, it was a sign of distrust.

Not to mention, star Devin Booker was surrounded by rumors involving Coach Budenholzer. The rumors pertained to leadership issues within the team. Booker has spoken, saying he and the coach are still on good terms, but it's another hint of a potential disaster.

The latest update on relations shows that Suns' owner, Mat Ishbia, and Mike Budenholzer are allegedly on good terms. Ishbia said this about Budenholzer in an interview with Tim McMahon of ESPN: "I still believe in our team. I still believe in Coach Budenholzer."

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