The Phoenix Suns are currently 15-17 and struggling with multiple injuries, raising concerns that this team, which had championship hopes, might miss the playoffs.
Just a few months ago, in November, Suns legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley praised the team, believing they would be the second-best in the Western Conference with the addition of Tyus Jones and the ongoing excellence of Kevin Durant.
After starting the season strong with an 8-1 record, Phoenix has since gone 7-16, dealing with injuries to Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker.
Now outside of both playoff and play-in positions, the Suns are trying to figure things out, and Barkley no longer has faith in the team. On the show “NBA on TNT,” he expressed his disappointment, saying, “I have zero faith in the Suns and the Sixers [Philadelphia 76ers]. That hurts my heart to say that. I watched the Suns play last week. They stink. They stink.”
The injuries to Booker, Beal, and Durant have hurt the team’s chances. Each time one of them returns, another gets hurt. Beal returned from right knee swelling against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 19, only for Booker to leave the game in the third quarter with groin soreness. Booker came back this past Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, but Beal suffered a left hip contusion.
With Beal’s status uncertain, the Suns may be missing four important players for Saturday’s game against the Pacers. Jusuf Nurkić will serve the final game of his three-game suspension, Royce O’Neale is out with a left ankle sprain, and Grayson Allen is dealing with left shoulder soreness.
It’s unclear when the team will return to full health, but they are currently on a three-game losing streak. Phoenix is 11th in the Western Conference, far below expectations, especially with one of the highest payrolls in the NBA.
With the NBA Trade Deadline coming up on Feb. 6, things may get more interesting if the Suns can’t turn things around. The team is currently outside of the postseason picture, and with all the injuries to key players this season, there is a strong possibility that major changes could happen to the roster in the coming weeks.
