The Suns are taking nearly as many 3-point attempts this season but are not getting the transition 3s they like to take when they catch defenses scrambling to retreat, undermanned and unbalanced.

"The tempo has to change," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry, whose team is averaging about four fewer possessions per game compared with last season. "We haven't got as many transition 3s as I'd like. We've got to get that back. That's where JD (Jared Dudley) has been really good and that's where Grant (Hill) has been good shooting the corner one. We've got to get teams on their heels. Our defense has improved to where we're top 10. If we're rebounding the ball, there should be opportunities to run."

The Suns shot 37.7 percent from 3-point range last season to rank fourth in the NBA and that was their worst clip in seven years. The Suns are shooting 32.6 percent this season to rank 17th.