If the first three quarters were all that mattered, the Phoenix Suns would be the best team in the world.

Unfortunately, the fourth quarter is also counted.

This season, the Suns have been outscored by 61 points in ten fourth-quarter games and are near the bottom in practically every offensive metric.

Last night’s performance was potentially the most depressing, as Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant were the only players to make field goals in the final frame.

Many of these troubles may be ascribed to Beal and Booker’s absences, putting more on the role players than is generally expected of them.

While that is a valid argument, the Suns just seem to fall short when it comes to closing games, a big cry from Monty Williams’ days when it was normally to start halves.

The new appearance The Suns’ basketball discipline is far too lax for their roster’s relative talent and basketball IQ. There are simply too many sluggish reads, possessions with little off-ball movement, and far too many decent chances that go unconverted.

“I think tonight’s fourth quarter is different than some of the other fourth quarters we’ve had,” Frank Vogel stated following Sunday’s loss.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into our execution over the last 48 hours.” Our execution, in my opinion, was superior. Many of our shots simply did not fall. And it was a difficult night. I believe you have Bradley (Beal) battling his back problem and attempting to get his legs beneath him. KD (Kevin Durant) has carried a huge load for us, appearing in every game this season and logging significant minutes. However, I believe the execution was better than it was against the Lakers, and with some of the other fourth-quarter breakdowns, we simply did not make shots.”

Whatever you want to say about the teams headed by Williams, they frequently took care of the ball and played a cautious, measured type of basketball that resulted in more success than failure.

Furthermore, Phoenix has increased its ability to get to the rim but has underperformed from beyond the arc. The team’s three-point percentage is at 36.3%, with a few players like Grayson Allen consistently shooting well and a lot of unpredictability elsewhere.

The inability to consistently take care of the ball, unpredictability behind the arc, and perceived predictability of closing offensive sets make this a more serious problem than “just” getting Booker back.

The unfortunate reality is that the Suns are not yet a decent basketball club. The team consists of good players, a decent coach, and excellent management/ownership.

So, why is this team unable to play a whole 48-minute game?

“It just comes down to missed shots,” Durant explained.

“We can’t win games like that.” You can’t win if you don’t make shots that night, no matter who is on your roster or how many points they have scored in the history of the game. Jalen Williams was 11-of-16 from the field and 3-of-4 from three, Chet (Holmgren) was 3-of-6 from three, and Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) was 13-of-22. That’s the game; they made eight more baskets than us.”

The answer is likely to be a combination of elements, including those mentioned above, but this will not be a simple remedy. Phoenix will most certainly face some struggle this season, as they did last, with the hopes of peaking at the perfect time.

Until then, Suns fans must remain optimistic and trust that the team can recover.