The Phoenix Suns fanbase experienced a whirlwind of emotions over the past 24 hours—a stark reminder of the long journey that lies ahead for both the team and its supporters.
The Suns undeniably have a history scarred by near-misses and heartbreak. Heck, I wrote an entire offseason series on the franchise’s “what ifs”. Season after season has ended short of the ultimate goal, with losses that have reinforced an “oh no, here we go again” mindset.
This lingering sentiment was on full display over the weekend. After the Suns opened their season with a solid win against the Los Angeles Clippers, they faltered with an off night in a loss to the Lakers, reigniting old fears and expectations. For countless fans, that loss felt like the breaking point, sparking an outpouring of frustration on Twitter. Two games in…
That’s right. Two games in!
I get it. I understand how being a fan of this team can make you guarded. How any moment something feels off, the negativity starts to creep in. But are we really already talking about wanting Ayton back? Do we not remember those five years, save one playoff run? How much we paid him only to see a lack of engagement? Right now, he’s averaging just 10 points on 38.5% shooting in Portland!
My own DM’s were flooded with justification for wanting to take a long walk off a short bridge. Why this team ain’t it.
I like to say it’s okay to react, but man, two games in and I’m scared. I’m scared because this franchise’s fan base appears to be hanging on by a thread. That toxicity should be the mascot and negativity should be every theme night. Perhaps I’m part of the problem, as I wrote a piece questioning what was wrong through the first two games, noting size, rebounding, and defense. But in no way am I ready to jump off a cliff.
And would you look at that? The Suns downed the Dallas Mavericks last night and everyone feels better.
I’m sure it’s none of you fine readers but tell your friends. Relax. It’s a long year. Some teams struggle at times. The good ones rebound. The sky isn’t always falling. The Aytonists have been waiting a year to poke their heads out again. Don’t give them any gasoline to fan the flames of that fire. It was put out a year ago.
I will continue to write what I think about this team. And perhaps I’ll stay off the socials.
