Foul calls not going the Suns’ way
Team near bottom in getting to free-throw line
The Phoenix Suns feel as if they’re not getting a fair shake when it comes to the whistle — and there are numbers to support their feelings.
According to basketball-reference.com, Phoenix is averaging 24 fouls a game going into Friday’s games. Only Atlanta (24.1) and Detroit (24.2) are averaging more.
San Antonio is committing the fewest fouls per game at 18.7.
The Suns are 28th in free-throw attempts (19.9). Only Boston (19.3) and Orlando (18.0) are attempting fewer per game.
The Clippers, who made more free throws than Phoenix attempted in Wednesday’s 116-99 win over the Suns, are first at 29.6 attempts a game.
So not only are the Suns being called for fouls at one of the highest rates in the league, they’re shooting fewer free throws than nearly everyone else, too.
Freedom of movement factors into these equations, but Kokoskov has talked with his team about those defending without fouling and drawing fouls.
On defending without fouling: “We need physicality and pull the chair or show the referees, flopping is part of the game,” Kokoskov said before Sunday’s game at Detroit. “We always get upset when they call it against us . ... (It’s about being) a gamer, being smart and being physical. It’s a learning process. There’s no recipe for that. You have to be smart and know your personnel. It’s a process for all young guys.”
In short, Phoenix has young players learning how to guard in the NBA.
On drawing fouls: “We can complain about not really have the respect coming from the referees, but we have to pressure on the rim, too,” Kokoskov said before Friday’s game against Orlando.”
After Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers, Kokoskov pointed out how the Suns settled for jump shots on their first or eight possessions.
“We have to be more aggressive and more relentless when it comes to attacking the rim,” he concluded.
Much has been made about Phoenix’s opponents making more free throws than the Suns have attempted. That happened twice in Phoenix’s first six games, but Golden State and Memphis barely outscored them from the line.
❚ Dallas 14-20. Phoenix (H) 14-16. — Won by 21.
❚ Denver (H) 24-29. Phoenix 22-35. — Lost by 28.
❚ Golden State (H) 19-26. Phoenix 16-18. — Lost by 20.
❚ L.A. Lakers 17-23. Phoenix (H) 15-21. — Lost by 18.
❚ Memphis (H) 20-22. Phoenix 1519. — Lost by 21.
❚ Oklahoma City (H) 24-35. Phoenix 26-27. — Lost by 7.
Then in its five-game homestand, Phoenix had two games in which their opponents attempted more free throws than it attempted.
❚ San Antonio 24-26. Phoenix (H) 14-18 — Lost by 30.
❚ Toronto 13-21. Phoenix (H) 10-18. — Lost by 9.
❚ Memphis 21-29. Phoenix (H) 22-26. — Won by 2.
❚ Brooklyn 13-19. Phoenix (H) 17-20. — Lost by 22.
❚ Boston 24-31. Phoenix (H) 16-19. — Lost by 7.
Now check Phoenix’s last 10 games. New Orleans, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Indiana and the Clippers made more free throws than Phoenix attempted.
❚ New Orleans (H) 24-29. Phoenix 19-20. — Lost by 20.
❚ Oklahoma City (H) 19-20. Phoenix 16-19. — Lost by 17.
❚ San Antonio 19-24. Phoenix (H) 7-8. — Won by 20.
❚ Oklahoma City 27-32. Phoenix
(H) 14-21. — Lost by 10.
❚ Philadelphia (H) 31-42. Phoenix 13-24. — Lost by 5.
❚ Chicago (H) 21-24. Phoenix 10-10. — Lost by 6.
❚ Milwaukee (H) 20-30. Phoenix 1722. — Won by 2.
❚ Detroit (H) 16-25. Phoenix 15-21. — Lost by 11.
❚ Indiana 22-29. Phoenix (H) 12-18. — Lost by 5.
❚ L.A. Clippers 24-32. Phoenix (H) 13-18. — Lost by 16.
The 76ers and Clippers both had almost double the number of free-throw attempts the Suns, as Philadelphia outscored Phoenix by 18 points at the line in a five-point victory.
Then again, the Spurs had triple the attempts — and lost by 20 to Phoenix.
Referees’ discretion aside, through 21 games, the stats show the Suns aren’t being nearly as aggressive as Kokoskov would like and are struggling to defend without fouling.
Warren out: The Suns played Friday’s game without second-leading scorer TJ Warren, who is out with ankle soreness. Warren is averaging 17.7 points in 20 games.
“It wasn’t something that happened last game,” Kokoskov said. “It was a few games ago. He’s dealing with that. It’s in significant pain. We decided that he shouldn’t play.
Josh Jackson will started in his place. Jackson scored 15 points in Wednesday’s road loss to the Clippers. That put Trevor Ariza at the four where Warren’s been starting.