​One of the hallmarks of the success that the Phoenix Suns found in the 2025-26 season rested in meticulous ball movement, precision shot-making, and a team defense that was rarely out of sync.There is some hesitation from the outside world when discussing expectations in the campaign ahead despite the 45 win season and a possibility for players within the youth movement to break out in the months to come.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOne of the pointed concerns rests in the perception that franchise player Devin Booker has become more passive in recent years, which in turn can ultimately lower the ceiling of the Phoenix offense.Former NBA star Iman Shumpert is one of those with concerns about Booker’s passiveness and the manner in which the Phoenix offense operated in crunch time.Shumpert spoke about how the Phoenix offense operated with a “searching” mindset too often late in games last season during the Suns’ Summer League game on Wednesday – ultimately claiming that Jalen Green was slotted as the alpha on too many occasions due to the typically logical process.There is certainly validity to this claim, as there is a fine line between getting a “good” shot and the “right” shot – the highest quality look on paper may not be the most optimal shot. While an open Green three-ball or floater off of a dribble drive isn’t a poor look in this scenario, any shot that Booker could muster is very likely the right shot in various late-game settings.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis practice obviously won’t ever be a perfect one, but historical context and maximizing chances of winning a regular season game are crucial. Booker relegating a pull-up mid-range jump shot late in the game would very much mirror Steve Nash handing the reigns of the offense away to a teammate during his peak. Nash’s selflessness was so pronounced that it became a predicament for the Suns at times, and the organization certainly doesn’t want one of the best pure scorers in the league today to become a passive scorer – especially not with the clutch shotmaking pedigree that Booker has.The moral of the story – the Phoenix offense shouldn’t compromise the structured, principled exploits that head coach Jordan Ott has brought to the organization over the last year, but the principles also shouldn’t take away from how the franchise player operates in the biggest moments of the most impactful games over the next season.Join The SunsRoundtableHead over to the SunsRoundtable page and hit the “Join” button under the featured story… it’s completely FREE! You’ll have the opportunity to engage with other Suns fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you’re asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app… that’s free too.Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.