The Suns slipped to 12th in the West at 1-3, with a net rating of -11.5 through four games. Nearly everyone is cleared, so the defense now carries the blame.
Slipping down the table. Phoenix moved from 11th to 12th on Sunday after the 127-120 home loss to Denver in Cup play. The Suns trail sixth-place San Antonio, 4-2, by two games and sit one game behind tenth-place Golden State, 3-3.
The gap on defense. This season, over four games, Phoenix scores at a 114.3 offensive rating and allows 125.8. That is a net of -11.5. The offense is respectable, and the defense is where the games are slipping away.
Booker is doing his part. Devin Booker averages 22.3 points and 5.3 assists across four games, though he is shooting 31.3 percent from three. By our count he is 71 assists short of 4,000 for his career, about 14 games away at this pace.
Health is not the excuse. Oso Ighodaro was cleared Friday, so Mark Williams is the only listed absence, with an estimated return of February 3. By our count the Suns have lost 367 minutes to injury since opening night, 18th most of 30 teams.
More minutes, more tests. With a teammate out, Ighodaro has played 12 more minutes a night and Jalen Green 13 more, over the last three games. Both samples are short. Hoops Rumors also posted Suns notes from Duane Rankin on Brooks, Green, Ighodaro and Dunn.
The open question. Can a group that allows 125.8 fix it with rotation tweaks? Valley of the Suns wrote Saturday that the Suns have no choice but to change their starting lineup. Jordan Ott has not said whether he agrees.
What is the Suns' record this season?
Phoenix is 1-3 and 12th in the West. The only win came against Golden State on October 24.
When do the Suns play next?
The Suns play at the Warriors on November 2. Their next home game is against the Trail Blazers on November 4.
