The slide continues for the Phoenix Suns, and a Friday home meeting with the Miami Heat doesn’t warrant a ton of hope of that stopping.
Across the NBA landscape of power rankings, the league now views Phoenix has a very middle of the table squad with Devin Booker and Cam Johnson still missing in action due to injury:
“This is now a full-fledged collapse for the Phoenix Suns, who’ve lost four straight and 12 of their last 16.
“Of course, the absence of Devin Booker has a lot to do with the slide, but Phoenix was just 2-4 in his last six appearances (although he only played four minutes in one of those losses).
“This is more about compounding issues. For what feels like the first time in his career, Chris Paul is showing signs of age. Starting forward Cameron Johnson has been out since early November. And Jae Crowder, who’s refused to play at all because Johnson took his starting spot, has been away from the team for the entirety of this campaign.
“This season has hit a danger zone that felt impossible a few weeks ago. And if this keeps up much longer, Crowder won’t be the only one in trade rumors between now and the deadline.”
“Phoenix’s nightmarish road trip hit its nadir with an 11-point first quarter at the Mecca of basketball in New York City. The Suns went 1-4. And while the win in Memphis was notable, Devin Booker can’t return soon enough from his left hamstring injury as his team slips in the standings. — McMenamin”
“You know the wheels are coming off in Phoenix when Deandre Ayton is the voice of reason calling out the team’s focus and effort. The Suns are 2-6 since Devin Booker went out (he tried to play on Christmas but that lasted four minutes) and since then they have been bottom 10 in both offense and defense.
“While Cameron Johnson also remains out, this is a team that needs a shake up and some energy and the trading of Jae Crowder is the fastest and best way to do that — if they can get Robert Sarver to sign off on bringing in a little more money in the trade. The Suns have slid to eighth in the West and things don’t get easier this week with two games against the Cavaliers, plus the Heat and Warriors.”
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