The Phoenix Suns are going to do everything they can to make it a series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the contrast in quality between both sides is already painfully evident.
Suns' impressive roster construction not built for postseason run
By far one of the most impressive aspects of the Suns' season is how the front office managed to pivot away from the Kevin Durant era and find value around the fringes.
Bringing Jordan Goodwin back for a second stint with the team was a brilliant decision, while Jamaree Bouyea and Collin Gillespie proved their worth frequently during the regular season.
But having guys who would ordinarily be excellent eighth or ninth men step into larger roles is never going to get it done in the postseason, and the Suns are discovering that right now.
Royce O'Neale on Suns injuries as Mark Williams (foot), Grayson Allen (hamstring) and Jordan Goodwin (cal) are listed as questionable for tonight's Game 2 at OKC: "It's basketball. Injuries happen. You don't want them to, but I think it's just how we bounce back from them. Guys… pic.twitter.com/sVVWqlRflv
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 22, 2026
They should bring Gillespie back this offseason, he is a wonderful backup floor general who will win you games during the regular season, but he can only do so much against an elite opponent who is locked-in to his every move.
The same is true of Bouyea, Amir Coffey and Haywood Highsmith. All capable of randomly going off in Utah in November, but not who you want to rely on when it comes to an actual series.
Which makes the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo interesting. Suns' owner Mat Ishbia talked a big game earlier in the campaign about learning from past mistakes.
But if he can combine the front office' ability to unearth value around the fringes with another superstar in Giannis, it may be hard to say no.
One of the failures of the Kevin Durant era was an inability to provide him with high level role players alongside Devin Booker.
To be fair to the Suns, the Houston Rockets also have that same issue right now, down 2-0 to a weakened Los Angeles Lakers team and having to rely on another former Sun in Josh Okogie.
But if Ishbia and company can keep the likes of Gillespie and Bouyea around while also going out and adding a superstar, then that may be a better way to approach the remainder of Booker's prime.
It only took one game for the Thunder to show the Suns what their postseason future is going to look like if they don't make changes, and it is grim.
They still deserve a ton of credit for continuing to find guys who can play bigger roles than expected in the regular season though, it is what helped get them to the playoffs.
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