Empire of the Suns

Arizona Sports

ArizonaSports.com's Kevin Zimmerman and Kellan Olson break down the storylines surrounding the Phoenix Suns every week. From in-depth analysis to breaking news reactions, the Empire of the Suns podcast has you covered for everything Suns.

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Suns get a full playoff series vs. the Wolves. How favorable is it really?

Suns get a full playoff series vs. the Wolves. How favorable is it really?

The Phoenix Suns somehow find themselves in a full playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who they swept in the regular season. Can they continue stopping Anthony Edwards? And are Devin Booker and Kevin Durant able to trend in a positive direction with Bradley Beal already hitting the postseason playing well?

Episodes

Suns get a full playoff series vs. the Wolves. How favorable is it really?

Suns get a full playoff series vs. the Wolves. How favorable is it really?

The Phoenix Suns somehow find themselves in a full playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who they swept in the regular season. Can they continue stopping Anthony Edwards? And are Devin Booker and Kevin Durant able to trend in a positive direction with Bradley Beal already hitting the postseason playing well?

The Suns are still getting worse

The Suns are still getting worse

In the final week of the season, it looks like the Phoenix Suns have continued to get worse, whether it's due to basketball things or more.

How much are we buying the Suns' spurts as the regular season nears its end?

How much are we buying the Suns' spurts as the regular season nears its end?

The Phoenix Suns have shown signs of growth but haven't lost those periods of the bottom falling out. How are we judging them with six games left?

It's looking a lot like the Phoenix Suns will be a play-in team

It's looking a lot like the Phoenix Suns will be a play-in team

We take a peek at the Western Conference standings after an up-and-down week-plus for the Phoenix Suns. Plus, extended Cats Talk after the Arizona Wildcats tumble out of the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16.

The we-don't-think-the-Suns-are-contenders podcast

The we-don't-think-the-Suns-are-contenders podcast

It would appear the Phoenix Suns are that inconsistent team with too many holes to plug for good. We talk expectations, drastic last-minute changes, the Isaiah Thomas signing with a quick episode of Cats Talk to end things.

Ranking the Phoenix Suns' toughest playoff matchups

Ranking the Phoenix Suns' toughest playoff matchups

We run through the top teams in the Western Conference to see if we agree on whether certain teams are good matchups or not against the Phoenix Suns if they were to meet in a playoff series.

Bradley Beal gets some PG runs for the Suns

Bradley Beal gets some PG runs for the Suns

Devin Booker is out, but Grayson Allen is going off and Bradley Beal is working the point as the Phoenix Suns strung together a pair of wins after a concerning rough patch.

It's go-time for the Suns as Bol Bol emerges

It's go-time for the Suns as Bol Bol emerges

Bol Bol has forced his way into the Phoenix Suns' rotation. We cover the talent out in the Western Conference to explain why the Suns have to turn it up -- and now.

What do the Phoenix Suns need to do to become true title contenders?

What do the Phoenix Suns need to do to become true title contenders?

We go over what the Phoenix Suns need to do to get back into title contender status out of the NBA All-Star break, take questions about the roster and look at the daunting schedule.

Suns get a G League team, Royce O'Neale shines, Phoenix found an ID

Suns get a G League team, Royce O'Neale shines, Phoenix found an ID

Did the Phoenix Suns find an identity in a win against the Sacramento Kings? We also touch on the first looks at Royce O'Neale, the Thaddeus Young reported signing and a G League team coming to Phoenix.

Suns nab Royce O'Neale, David Roddy at the trade deadline - Feb. 8

Suns nab Royce O'Neale, David Roddy at the trade deadline - Feb. 8

The Suns traded four players and picks to add Royce O'Neale from the Brooklyn Nets and David Roddy from the Memphis Grizzlies. We react to that and give an NBA-wide peek of deadline day.

A road trip is over: Now, a Phoenix Suns trade deadline preview

A road trip is over: Now, a Phoenix Suns trade deadline preview

Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic had big games in the back half of a long road trip that ended on a positive note before the Phoenix Suns enter the week of the NBA trade deadline. What assets and needs do they have?

The Suns' fourth quarters make for a copy-paste podcast - Jan. 31

The Suns' fourth quarters make for a copy-paste podcast - Jan. 31

We discuss Dave King's lasting legacy, touch on Devin Booker's past struggles to make the NBA All-Star Game even as a reserve and dive into the perplexing fourth-quarter struggles.

Kevin Durant is going off as Suns begin 7-game road trip - Jan. 24

Kevin Durant is going off as Suns begin 7-game road trip - Jan. 24

Kevin Durant put together a pair of 40-pieces as the Phoenix Suns enter a seven-game road trip on a six-game winning streak.

What to take from the Suns' historic comeback against the Kings

What to take from the Suns' historic comeback against the Kings

The Suns burned through a 22-point deficit in eight minutes to beat the Kings thanks to a small-ball lineup. What are we taking from that run and what are we taking from the poor three-plus quarters before it?

If it walks like an average basketball team and quacks like an average basketball team ... - Jan. 10

If it walks like an average basketball team and quacks like an average basketball team ... - Jan. 10

The Phoenix Suns have been perfectly average. Their roster has mostly underperformed on an individual level. Two losses to the Clippers over their last four games reflected how far they have to go.

Suns hit a hard stretch after the Big 3 gets run - Jan. 3

Suns hit a hard stretch after the Big 3 gets run - Jan. 3

Kevin Durant is out against the Los Angeles Clippers, but he gave the Phoenix Suns a two-game stretch alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to give fans a peek at the offensive boost when the Big 3 is healthy.

Did the Suns' win against the Rockets settle things down?

Did the Suns' win against the Rockets settle things down?

The Suns ugly loss to the Mavericks on Christmas Night came along with a vague report from Woj about Kevin Durant's frustrations. A win against the Rockets settled the noise, but did it mean much?

The Suns probably need to be in urgent mode

The Suns probably need to be in urgent mode

The Phoenix Suns' loss to the Blazers and a near-loss to the Wizards lead to concern. Can they fix things? Sure. But the team hasn't made progress and is now forced with playing catchup, so long as it can plug the many holes shown over the last week-plus.

The nuance of why the Phoenix Suns aren't in urgent mode yet - Dec. 15

The nuance of why the Phoenix Suns aren't in urgent mode yet - Dec. 15

The Phoenix Suns' Big Three debuted, but let's not let that loss to Mikal Bridges and the Nets send anyone into panic mode.