It’s a recurring theme for the Phoenix Suns all season and it’s getting glaring in the first round of the playoffs. Charles Barkley once again repeated what every NBA analyst has been saying about his favorite team. The Suns have a point guard problem. That is, they don’t have one. The strategy of positionless basketball is not stretching in this series as the Suns lost to the Timberwolves 105-93 in Game 2. They’re 2-0 which is unexpected for a combination of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. But Chuck reiterates this superteam is also missing a key point.

Until they address the void of a point guard, “My Suns in trouble,” Barkley said after Game 2. He further added, “they never addressed the point guard situation which they definitely needed.” 

He brought up their past discussion on Inside the NBA in the lead-up to the trade deadline. “They need to have those guys those three guys finishing instead of initiating their offense,” he said referring to Book, Beal, and KD. In contrast, Minnesota is looking like a much fuller team to get past.

Everyone from the TNT crew to Kevin Garnett has spoken about the gamble the Suns have taken without clear roles in the team. They make up for it with undeniable pace but Barkley believes they need a “serviceable” point guard and a big man to get them through.

Charles Barkley wants the Suns to be stronger

Barkley laced up for the Suns from 1992 to 1996. And even though he ended his career in Houston, he loved the city enough to make his post-retirement home in Arizona. He could even be the tourism ambassador for the state with how much he promotes it as a golf destination. It’s why he’s always referring to the home team as “My Suns.” And Chuck is nothing if not tough on the team he loves.

Ahead of the playoffs, he called out his old team for underperforming all season. He said the team lacked “mental toughness” as a whole. He caused the biggest stir when he said that Kevin Durant isn’t a leader and doubled down saying there’s no leadership in the team. To that, KD outrightly said, “I don’t respect your opinion.”

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Though it doesn’t look like it, he stood up for his team too. Especially when Booker got into a shoving match with Wolves’ forward Jaden McDaniels. On TNT, he yelled, “Leave Booker alone. He’s a great kid,” to anyone criticizing him.

Clearly, Chuck is at a crossroads. He doesn’t see the Suns’ current strategies working. But he wants them to succeed too. Is he right about the Suns’ future in this series?