Empire of the Suns

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the first half of Game One of the Western Confere...
Kevin Zimmerman

Offering Devin Booker supermax contract extension is no-brainer for Suns

Here's one move that should not take more than a second's worth of brain energy: Extending Devin Booker to a supermax contract.
2 years ago
Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns shoots against Robert Covington #33 of the Portland Trail Bla...
Kellan Olson

Suns’ offseason questions: Deandre Ayton’s future, luxury tax concerns

Empire of the Suns looks ahead to the biggest questions for the Suns this offseason, starting with Deandre Ayton's restricted free agency.
2 years ago
Head Coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns watches the action against the Dallas Mavericks durin...
Kevin Zimmerman

Phoenix Suns’ flaws piled up well before flop in Game 7

The Suns put together 82 games to set up higher expectations. It was a bar so high that Phoenix got clotheslined by it.
2 years ago
Cameron Payne #15 and Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns react during the fourth quarter against t...
Kellan Olson

Suns’ best chance at title in franchise history ends in unimaginable fashion

A month ago, the Phoenix Suns were the odds-on favorites to win the NBA championship. A month later, their season is over. What happened?
2 years ago
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks in the second quar...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavs Game 7 preview: Chris Paul’s struggles, Dallas’ winning formula

With a surprising series against the Mavericks going seven games, the Suns' season is on the line, and they need to get Chris Paul going.
2 years ago
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns walk off the court while ...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns’ latest befuddling loss in Dallas brings on Game 7

There is no way to explain what is happening to the Suns beyond their biggest strength, consistency, becoming their biggest weakness.
2 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball around Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks ...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks Game 6 preview: A stage for stars or more of the same?

Will Game 6 between the Suns and Mavericks be about star power or is the series going to keep being determined by depth?
2 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball past Dorian Finney-Smith #10 and Maxi Kleber #4...
Kellan Olson

Devin Booker unearths Suns’ signature style for win, 3-2 lead vs. Mavs

The Phoenix Suns got back to their brand of basketball and it was the face of the franchise that got them there.
2 years ago
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during Game T...
Kellan Olson

Monty Williams’ care for players makes Suns’ HC rightful Coach of the Year

Monty Williams was named the Coach of the Year on Monday and it's an award he has earned thanks largely to how close he is with his team.
2 years ago
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass around Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns ...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks Game 5 preview: Can Phoenix get back on track?

The Phoenix Suns haven't been themselves for large stretches of this postseason and they'll need to snap out of it to get by the Mavericks.
2 years ago
Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, left, greets, Chris Paul (3) at the bench after Paul fouled...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns need to rediscover identity after Game 4 loss to Mavericks

It's time for the Phoenix Suns to prove they are who they and we thought they were after a Game 4 loss to the Mavericks tied the series 2-2.
2 years ago
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball as Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns defen...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks Game 4 preview: Winning the battle inside the paint

The biggest adjustment the Phoenix Suns have to make after a 103-94 loss to the Dallas Mavericks is a mental one.
2 years ago
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) battles Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Chr...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns overwhelmed by Mavericks’ spirit, drop Game 3

The Phoenix Suns had a big-time chance to take a dominant 3-0 series lead over the Mavericks but squandered that opportunity in Dallas.
2 years ago
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, right, and Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) scramble for...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks Game 3 preview: 0.5 excellence, kitchen sinks

Do the Dallas Mavericks have it in them to bounce back against the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 and make this a series?
2 years ago
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks ...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns ruthlessly attack Luka Doncic, blow Mavericks out in 4th

The Phoenix Suns played a sensational second half against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday to take a 2-0 series lead.
2 years ago
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Sun...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks Game 2 preview: Tightening screws, chess moves

The Phoenix Suns are in good shape after Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks and have forced their opponent to improve on a lot for Game 2.
2 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the fi...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns deliver strong 1st punch to Mavericks, take Game 1

It's hard to react too much to Game 1 of a playoff series but the Phoenix Suns looked like the far better team against the Dallas Mavericks.
2 years ago
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks preview, Pt. 3: Locating Dallas’ edge; battle on 3-point line

The Phoenix Suns look like strong favorites against the Dallas Mavericks but Dallas has a way it could turn this into a real series.
2 years ago
Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks series preview, Pt. 2: Can Dallas stop Deandre Ayton?

Deandre Ayton was tremendous offensively in the first round and the Phoenix Suns will need that guy against the Dallas Mavericks too.
2 years ago
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives the ball past Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns at...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Mavericks series preview, Pt. 1: Phoenix’s success vs. Luka Doncic

It has been over two years since Luka Doncic has beat the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks guard has had issues with the matchup.
2 years ago
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball over Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the New Orleans Pel...
Kellan Olson

Chris Paul’s latest closeout masterpiece advances Suns past Pelicans

The Phoenix Suns are moving on in the playoffs after finally finding their style of play and dominating crunch time on both ends.
2 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts from the bench during the first half of Game Five of the...
Kellan Olson

Suns-Pelicans Game 6 preview: Booker’s return? Keys for each side

In a first-round series that got hairy real quick, the Suns now have to just win one out of the next two games to advance past the Pelicans.
2 years ago
Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans during ...
Kellan Olson

Mikal Bridges puts his ironman suit on, Suns go up 3-2 on Pelicans

Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges is the NBA's ironman and he played like the superhero in Tuesday's Game 5 win.
2 years ago
Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans attempts a shot over Landry Shamet #14 of the Phoenix...
Kevin Zimmerman

Suns’ Game 5 tweaks breathe life into defense, relieve Chris Paul

Aaron Holiday and Bismack Biyombo made rotation debuts for the Suns in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Pelicans.
2 years ago