The single biggest reason why the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns flipped the script from a team 10 games under .500 to a 45-win playoff team was its defense. Jordan Ott’s crew finished 10th in the league in defensive rating after the Suns ended up 28th in the category the season prior, but the defensive issues are back in force to begin 2026-27.
Through a 1-4 start to the new season, the Suns rank 30th (dead last) in defensive rating by allowing 124.5 points per 100 possessions, according to Basketball-Reference data.
Suns' opponents are shooting a lights-out 41.1 percent from 3-point range, which gives Phoenix the worst 3-point defense in basketball through those five games.