What’s keeping me up at night when it comes to the Suns this week? Read on and find out.
I tend to burden myself with worries, and Sunday nights are usually when my thoughts become especially chaotic. After a four-day break from Suns basketball, it feels even worse. The Suns’ inability to provide closure following Wednesday night’s loss to the New York Knicks has left me unsettled, with no reassurance that everything is okay. Spoiler: things aren’t okay.
This week, the Suns have a tough schedule ahead. On Tuesday, they face the Los Angeles Lakers, currently fourth in the West. It’s Brooklyn the following night. Then, they go up against the top-seeded Golden State Warriors. These games will be critical for the Suns to regain the momentum lost over the past two weeks.
But beyond the matchups, what else about this Suns team keeps me up tonight?
Here are three things I’m worried might happen in the upcoming week. I’m trying not to manifest them, but the thought of them still lingers.
Will Allen disappear Again?
Before Kevin Durant’s injury, during his first seven games out of the Suns’ first nine games this season, Grayson Allen took some time to find his rhythm. Part of this was due to him missing two games for the birth of his child, which is an understandable struggle. However, the lack of playing time during this stretch was surprising. Over those seven games, Allen averaged just over 19 minutes per game, contributing only 8.1 points per contest.
We all know that last season, Allen started in 74 of the 75 games he played, logging a career-high in minutes with just over 34 per game.
With Durant out for seven games and Bradley Beal also missing time, Allen stepped up during a five-game span, averaging just over 25 minutes per game. During that stretch, he nearly matched his scoring average from last season, putting up 13.4 points per game, just 0.1 points shy of last year’s mark.
With so much of the offense focused on Beal and Durant, will Allen see his role diminish in the rotation? Will he grow frustrated? I know many players on this team are willing to do whatever it takes to win, but will Allen be okay with losing another 6-7 minutes off his average once the Suns are fully healthy? I hope not. His value increases with the minutes he plays, and his presence could help stabilize a team that’s already shown streaky tendencies.
I am on my knees for this one. Please, Allen, don’t seep back into the shadows of the bench.
Allen is ready to come and, and shoot threes. In three out of his last four games, Allen has hit four threes. The Suns need this man on the court as much as possible for the rest of the season.
Grayson Allen on coming off bench shooting more 3s (was a Suns starter, NBA’s 3PT% leader last year):
“I practiced deep 3s all summer and it’s helped my volume so far … Because I’m able to space out a little bit more I can get an extra one or two up if I’m being out there.” pic.twitter.com/BDtdSxAxdF
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) November 22, 2024
Nurkic Trade
A new name has emerged as a trade target for many teams: Washington Wizards center Jonas Valančiūnas. With Suns fans seemingly ready to move on from Jusuf Nurkić — or at least including him in fantasy trade scenarios for other assets — it feels like the Valley is prepared for a change.
Jonas Valanciunas is available for trade, per @JakeLFischer
(Via @BleacherReport ) pic.twitter.com/N56M39CXiy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 22, 2024
Nurkić has been sidelined for a few games this season but has shown resilience, playing through pain while Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant have missed significant time. However, has he been effective? In my opinion, he’s a good center, but not great, just good enough to help the team win games, though perhaps not a championship.
The Suns’ championship aspirations shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of their center. The burden to win it all lies with Devin Booker, Beal, and Durant, who need to be the best players on the court when it matters most.
I’m concerned that Suns fans might overhype this idea by the end of the week, especially if the team continues to struggle. Personally, I’m not a fan of Big V, but do you think this move is worth considering for the Suns?
Booker
I get it, it’s tough not to feel like the Suns are stuck in a never-ending cycle of injuries. Every time they seem close to getting healthy, it feels like another setback is just around the corner. Writing three pieces this weekend, with 25% of it focused on injuries, really drives home how much of an ongoing issue this has been.
It’s understandable to feel anxious about Devin Booker potentially being next, especially with Durant and Beal set to return. It might feel like his “turn” to sit out is looming. While it’s true that injuries are part of the game and rest is necessary, the inconsistency in having the core players on the floor together is frustrating. You want to see this team gel and prove they can reach their potential as a unit, but the injury bug keeps getting in the way.
It’s okay to feel the weight of this as a fan and as someone covering the team. It shows how much you care. Hopefully, this will be the last Sunday this season where this worry feels so heavy. Let’s hope for better luck moving forward.