The Phoenix Suns have won seven of their past ten games to turn things around after a poor first half, and Kevin Durant feels it’s just the beginning.
“I simply believe in the skill and coaching that we have. I believe that, regardless of what happens, we’ll play very hard, with that mindset of togetherness, and find our stride,” Durant said, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. “There will be some ups and downs while we work things out. But if we stay in the saddle and keep knocking them down and locking in, each day counts. Improve individually and figure things out as a team. That’s the grind we’re talking about.
Bradley Beal’s injuries hampered Phoenix’s performance in the first half of the season, as the All-Star guard appeared in only 15 games. As a result, the Suns have struggled to find their groove and are currently 21-18, good for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Fortunately for the Suns, this is not a season with many dominant teams at the top of the conference. They are only two games behind the fifth-seeded Sacramento Kings before Tuesday night’s game, and they are ready to start on a winning streak that might propel them up the standings. Phoenix’s next 11 games will not be against teams currently ranked in the top four of their respective conferences.
Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker remain the NBA’s top three scorers. No team can compete with them when they’re all healthy and firing, but staying healthy will be critical to keeping the top-heavy roster on track to win.
Durant hasn’t played more than 55 games in a season since tearing his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals. Booker was limited to only 53 games last season and has not played more than 70 games since 2016-17. Beal is already on track to miss more than 30 games for the third consecutive season.
We’ve already seen the Suns struggle without Beal, who is the least important of their three All-Stars. If Durant or Booker miss considerable time, as they have in recent years, Phoenix may become the league’s most costly play-in club.
As it stands, Durant is confident that this Suns roster can turn things around.