Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns Defenseless in the Preseason

It's only the preseason, but the Suns are already back to their old bad habits on the defensive side of the ball.

Through five preseason games the Suns are 1-4, including two straight losses to the Utah Jazz.

The most alarming statistic from those five games comes in the form of points allowed.

Phoenix has allowed over 108 points per game, which isn't that much more than they have allowed in past seasons, but nonetheless, still very concerning for a team that made the conference finals a year ago.

This lack of defensive consistency from the Suns puts constant pressure on the offense to produce in order to win, problematic.

Looking at the trades the Suns completed this off-season, we quickly find that very little focus was placed on the defensive side of the ball.

Hedo Turkoglu is a very poor defensive player, and well known for taking plays off on that end every now and then.

Hakim Warrick is somewhat undersized and lacks great one on one defensive ability.

Sure, Amar'e Stoudemire wasn't a defensive ace by any means, but his increased focus on that end of the floor last season was vital in the Suns' success.

Even energy guy Lou Amundson, now with Golden State, brought a much needed defensive presence to the Suns last season off the bench.

Steve Nash and the rest of the Phoenix Suns, with the exception of Jared Dudley and Robin Lopez, are all offensive minded players that rely on effort and basketball IQ to succeed at slowing opponents.

That is what made them so successful last season, and a large reason why they were two wins away from the NBA Finals after being predicted to miss the playoffs.

One can only hope that this ridiculous defensive effort thus far is a product of rust and preseason intensity rather than a sign of things to come, because if not, the Suns are in trouble.