Goran Dragic Questions Phoenix Suns’ Desire to Make the Playoffs

Following a dreadful 115-99 loss to the player hating Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, Suns guard Goran Dragic ripped into his team as they blew an opportunity help secure a Playoff spot in the hyper-competitive Western Conference. Phoenix (44-30) is deadlocked with the Dallas Mavericks for the 7th and 8th seed, with the Memphis Grizzlies just a half-game back. Per the AZ Republic:

For a while, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek had thrown out a win target total of 47 for what postseason entrance would require.

“I might have to change that,” Hornacek said before Sunday’s game. “Forty-seven is not looking good anymore.”

Neither are the Suns.

After looking like they were hitting a season apex with their first six-game winning streak in four seasons, the Suns had one of their worst performances of the season Sunday night at Staples Center. Lakers center Chris Kaman played like it was his All-Star season of 2009-10 by piling up 28 points (one off a career high) and 17 rebounds to lead the Lakers (25-48) to an upset win two days after they took a 143-107 loss at Minnesota.

The Suns were buried twice, digging a 26-13 hole in the first quarter, before rallying behind a hot shooting stretch for a 37-36 lead. Kaman re-entered and the Lakers ripped off a 21-2 run in which the Suns could barely muster a stop for the rest of the half.

“That killed us,” said Suns guard Goran Dragic, who was 3 of 5 from field to his teammates’ 3 for 20 when the Suns trailed 26-13. “We didn’t know how to stop them. Our intensity was really bad. I don’t know why but it’s like nobody wants to play playoffs. It seems like that.”

The Lakers shot 53 percent after the Suns had allowed 42.6 percent shooting during a six-game win streak.

The Suns shot 38.5 percent, their fourth worst shooting game of the season.

“When you’re barely hitting the rim on a 3-point shot, it’s probably time to do something different,” Hornacek said. “It’s not like these shots were going in and out. They weren’t even close.”