While mathematically still alive, the Phoenix Suns can safely start looking to next season, as the 109-97 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder has the Suns a full four games back with just eight to play. The proverbial fat lady has sung, so it’s time to look back at what went wrong this season — I’ve broken it down into three main categories.

CONSISTENCY

This has been an issue in my eyes all season, in a couple of different areas. First, bench consistency has been brutal. Minute distribution and defined roles have been nearly non-existent in coach Jeff Hornacek‘s gameplan this season. I’ve argued back and forth with other writers on this one, but my opinion is that players need to know what their role is and the coach needs to give that player an opportunity to play.

We can call this the “Gerald Green” rule. Earlier in the year, Green was getting pretty consistent minutes alongside Isaiah Thomas as the first two scorers off the bench. Then, Green got a mysterious DNP-CD on January 30th against the Bulls and since then his minute distribution looks more like this:

In my eyes, one of the most dangerous things you can do to a player like Green is cause him to look over his shoulder. Coach Hornacek has been using his bench players based on matchups and “feel.” He’s also been quick to pull guys who aren’t performing well, which sounds normal in theory, but in practice it causes guys to play tighter and force the issue, fearing they’ll be benched after their next miss.

Since that benching, Green has been a healthy scratch six more times. In the 19 games he’s appeared in since then, he’s averaging 6.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists with a shooting line of .358/.236/.625. For some contrast, in the first 19 games of the season (when he was playing more consistently), he averaged 14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists with a shooting line of .432/.373/.881.

Eric Bledsoe reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. The Thunder defeated the Suns 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This inconsistency isn’t unique to the rotations, either. Guys like Eric Bledsoe and Markieff Morris have been all over the board for the better part of the season. The 6-foot-10 Morris is capable of pulling down 8-9 rebounds per game and has done just that over his last six (8.2 per game), but his previous nine he averaged just 4.6. Bledsoe has been the best player on the team, but he’s not exempt here either.

To be fair, Eric’s been burning the candle at both ends. He’s expected to be the main playmaker on offense and he’s often guarding the ball handler on defense. When he’s at his best, he’s crashing the glass hard and sprinting 90 feet the other way. He’s averaging 36.6 minutes per game in March with 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game, but he’s also shooting just 43.5 percent and is turning the ball over 4.4 times.

Consistency in rotations is part of that, because Eric hasn’t been able to get the rest he needs and he looks exhausted out there. Again, let’s be fair — Brandon Knight has been hurt and Archie Goodwin hasn’t been great, so Hornacek has gone back to the Bledsoe well early and often. It’s not like he has too many options.

CHEMISTRY

I wrote earlier in the year how the Suns seemed to finally be getting closer as a team. Instead of 15 individuals showing up to work, doing their duties and then going home, it looked on and off the court that they were enjoying being together. Bledsoe and Goran Dragic were smiling and embracing, they were joking in the lockerroom and it felt like a much more jovial atmosphere. Then, the bomb dropped.

Nobody saw it coming, but apparently behind closed doors there was a lot of tension. Isaiah Thomas came out and talked about how it wasn’t him doing the complaining and how he was just going out, doing his job, being as professional as he could be.

I. Thomas on reportedly complaining about playing time, "The guy that complained, you seen it in the media. I didn't say anything." #Suns — Jeffrey Sanders (@JeSanders11) February 24, 2015

So, instead of dealing with one or the other, the Suns sent both Dragic and Thomas away in separate deals — a real head-scratcher if I’ve ever seen one. They went from a surplus in point guards to a gaping hole of a deficit that ultimately cost them the chance to make the playoffs this season.

The Suns sugarcoated the deals as looking into the future, trying to bring in guys who could compete for championships instead of just pushing to sneak into the playoffs. They traded away their most consistent, affable player and their best fourth-quarter closer for upside and risk. So far, it’s looking like the degenerate gambler who put all their money on red, when we all know what the best play is:

Since trading Dragic away, the Suns are just 9-11, they’re shooting just 30 percent from the 3-point line (29th in the NBA) and are averaging just 97.9 points. For the season, the Suns are just 6-21 when scoring under 100 points. When trailing heading to the fourth quarter, they’re just 8-26. That chemistry and familiarity among teammates is something that crops up late in games, when players need to understand and trust each other. Phoenix just doesn’t have that right now.

Blowing a 20-point lead last night against the Thunder wasn’t the first time it’s happened and probably won’t be the last. In close games, Phoenix has the least wins and the most losses of anyone in the conference, going just 3-10 in games decided by three points or less. In the NBA, you need an offensive superstar or strong team play to win those games — Phoenix has neither.

COACHING

Who’s most likely to take the blame? If an axe were to fall, I’d guess it would fall on Hornacek (though I think he deserves another season, after all the turmoil from this one). The fact is, watching Hornacek all year has me a bit confused. You’d think he’d have his team’s ear, as a guy with pretty impressive playing credentials. Instead, he’s consistently frustrated on the sidelines, urging his team to do something they’re obviously not doing.

Here’s what happened when Hornacek challenged Marcus Morris, after picking up a technical for arguing with referees. Now, this is the extreme — but I can tell you from watching closely that it’s not uncommon to see guys barking back at Hornacek throughout the game.

Watch a veteran coach like Gregg Popovich and see how often his players do that to him. I don’t want to hear “they’re just passionate” or anything like that. It’s a blatant sign of disrespect — and that disrespect is bred by how coach Hornacek allows his players to act. The old adage “you teach people how they can treat you” applies here, and Hornacek has allowed this to go on too long.

The frustration seems to be centered around a common theme — miscommunication. Plays aren’t being run the way Hornacek wants them to be. Defenders aren’t making the proper rotations. Players are losing focus and are giving points away due to being mentally exhausted. When we look at all the problems this team has faced, it’s a bit of a miracle that they’re still over .500.

After last season’s 48-34 finish and this season’s 40-42 win pace, things can still be on the upswing in Phoenix. Bledsoe, Knight, Markieff Morris and Alex Len give the Suns four solid starters for years to come. T.J. Warren and Archie Goodwin have come a long way since the beginning of the season. P.J. Tucker and Brandan Wright have filled their roles nicely. From here, it’s about growth as a team.

The talent is there — they just need some quality control. Coach Hornacek needs to lay down the law and ensure his messages are clear, concise and with purpose. The players need to stay focused and sharp, and they will with more consistency in their games. An offseason together gives the team a chance to grow as teammates. This may go down as a lost season that started with great promise, but there’s always next year.