From Nov. 12 "The reason for a team to employ an offense geared towards extra possessions (pace) is that by doing so, coupled with an offense that shoots the ball well (scores efficiently), that team can have a better chance of outscoring their opponent. This is the philosophy the Suns have chosen to implement this season according to all reports from their organization. There's only one problem. The Suns can't shoot. The Suns were never lower than 4th in the league in the league in pace (# of possessions per 48 minutes) during Mike D'Antoni's tenure (they were 1st twice). They were even 4th during the Porter/Gentry season. The team slowed a little bit over the last thee seasons finishing 4th, 7th and 8th, respectively. The Suns push the tempo. This year the Suns are in high gear so far, currently standing at 2nd in the league in pace. So far that hasn't been good. By only posting meager shooting numbers of 42.3% from the field and 30.3% from three, while benevolently yielding 46.1% from the field and 43.5% (yikes!) from three, the Suns attempt to run and gun has been self-defeating. They are creating extra possessions for opponents who are scoring far more efficiently than they are. The eFG% numbers make a clear cut case. The Suns are shooting 45.6% and allowing 50.7%. Good, or even decent, teams don't have a net -5.1% in this comparison. That's atrocious. As horrific as the overall drop in field goal percentage has been, it seems it has been trending this way. After a seven year stretch that saw the team average nearly 49% and never dip below 47%, the team dipped to 45.8% last year and has bottomed out (I hope) at 42.3% to start this season. The FG% has in fact decreased (depending on the much larger remainder of this season) each of the last five seasons." Read more: http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...ing-woes-derailing-new-era-of-suns-basketball
