Phoenix has lost three straight games and won only once since a rolled ankle sidelined Kevin Durant. The Suns (37-32), only one game ahead of Golden State (36-33) and the Los Angeles Clippers (36-33), have also lost their cushion on the fourth seed.
To make matters worse, Phoenix is in danger of falling into the play-in for teams that finish seventh through 10th.
Durant’s injury has shined a light on Phoenix’s lack of depth.
Before Phoenix’s 116-104 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Suns bench had been outscored in its previous two games, 104-61. Besides Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, the Suns don’t have another player averaging 15 or more points.
On ESPN’s “First Take,” former NBA player Kendrick Perkins said, “What do you need to be a contender for an NBA championship? You need depth.”
He’s right.
In Phoenix’s only win without Durant, against the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-35), Booker dropped 44 points on 17-for-23 shooting from the field. Ridiculous numbers. But for the Suns to win without KD, Booker must be almost perfect.
The Suns could use Mikial Bridges and Cameron Johnson, but they are shining for the Brooklyn Nets (39-30), who acquired them in the Durant deal with Phoenix.
Per ESPN, Durant is expected to miss between two and three weeks, which could sink the Suns. Falling into the play-in after having a secure hold on the fourth seed recently would be nothing short of devastating.
FS1’s Nick Wright said, “Kevin Durant’s injury might crush the Sun’s title hopes.”
Neither Booker nor Ayton has played in a playoff series without homecourt advantage. Anything less than a fourth seed would put Phoenix’s second- and third-best players in unfamiliar territory.
Because of the potentially season-altering loss of KD, Booker and the Suns must do everything they can just to hang on to a playoff spot.
Source: yardbarker.com
