Apr 1, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer reacts in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Suns Coach Disagrees with Player's Criticism

Originally posted on Phoenix Suns on SI | By Brendan Mau | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 1:22 PM ET

Before Sunday’s 112-98 loss to the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer made an interesting comment when asked about Tyus Jones saying that Phoenix has been lacking in terms of energy and focus.

“I don’t know if I agree with him,” Budenholzer said (via The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin). “I think we just got to play with each other. We've got to get in and out of actions. We've got to move together. We've got to cover for each other, do other things.”

"Don't know if I agree with him."

Mike Budenholzer when told Tyus Jones said the Suns having been lacking in terms of energy and focus and was asked how can the Suns get back to that.

"I think we just got to play with each other. We've got to get in and out of actions. We've… pic.twitter.com/wFlTtdjEVV
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 6, 2025

With the loss to New York, Phoenix has now lost six games in a row, all being by 10 or more points.

This losing streak has come at the most pivotal point of the year, as the Suns now have a 35-43 record with only four games left and are 2.5 games back of the final play-in spot.

This is some of what Jones said after Friday's 20-point loss to the Boston Celtics (via Rankin):

“We can't afford to lose any games moving forward, honestly, when you're playing catch-up, but we've been saying that for a couple of weeks now. Something has got to change. We've got to play better ball on both ends of the floor. The level we're playing at right now just isn't cutting it.”

"We were obviously trying to run them off the 3-point line, trying to make them play inside the 3-point line, but we just ended up just giving them straight lines to the rim, too many layups."

Tyus Jones after Suns 20-point loss to Celtics.

On play-in chase: "We can't afford… pic.twitter.com/22pYVc8A8c
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 5, 2025

Phoenix will now begin a three-game homestand after concluding their three-game road trip with the loss to New York. The Suns will host the Golden State Warriors (46-31), Oklahoma City Thunder (64-14) and San Antonio Spurs (32-46) in this stretch.

They will also hope to get back Kevin Durant, who missed the entire road trip with a left ankle sprain.

Safe to say, the Suns pretty much need to win every game from here on out to give them any shot of making the play-in.

No matter what happens, it's clear there will most likely be big changes coming this offseason.

This article first appeared on Phoenix Suns on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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