And to a first-round exit. No. 20 in shooting percentage, particularly with zone defenses coming into play. The Suns either need to shoot better or else acquire better shooters. The Suns now are in the position of relying on Hardaway to get healthy and produce. There are those in Orlando, however, who aren't putting much money on Hardaway.
Shooting is far from the only deficiency.
The Suns' rebounding was so-so. Yet their absolute pounding they took on the boards by the supposedly rebounding-poor Sacramento Kings was a huge disappointment. But those guys don't grow on trees. Showalter may have been a solid baseball manager, but he lost support in part because of his downbeat demeanor. Skiles leaves himself open at times for similar criticism.