SALT LAKE CITY — The Phoenix Suns appeared like a championship contender when their Large 3 have been on the courtroom collectively.
It hasn’t been usually.
The Suns have solely performed 10 video games with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal this season. They’re 8-2 in these video games as Booker has but to overlook a sport.
Phoenix (12-11) hopes to have Durant again for Friday’s sport in opposition to Utah (5-18). The Suns are 1-9 with out him, shedding their final three video games with Durant sidelined with a sprained left ankle suffered in final week’s win over San Antonio.
Booker, Durant and Beal have logged 175 minutes collectively out of Phoenix’s 1,114 minutes performed thus far this season. The Suns performed two extra time video games in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers and the Sacramento Kings.
“Expertise is the very best instructor, however on the identical time you wish to be sure that everyone seems to be wholesome. You do not wish to worsen accidents on one thing that will get worse if you happen to had simply taken a couple of extra days .”
Devin Booker because the Suns look to return to full energy. #Suns pic.twitter.com/wxJxLzr9b5
– Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 11, 2024
“Expertise is the very best instructor, however on the identical time you wish to be sure that everyone seems to be wholesome,” Booker mentioned after Wednesday’s follow. “You do not wish to worsen accidents on one thing that will worsen if you happen to had simply taken a couple of extra days. You simply take the hits, preserve going, preserve combating they usually’ll get higher ultimately.”
To place these 175 in perspective, 9 completely different three-player mixtures have performed extra minutes collectively than Booker, Durant and Beal – beginning with Tyus Jones, Royce O’Neale and Booker with 301 minutes in all 23 video games.
The Suns are taking pictures 51.3% from the sector with their Large 3 collectively on the courtroom.
Because of a complete of $150 million this season, Booker, Durant and Beal are thought of the deciding issue on whether or not the Suns will end the season as NBA champions or fall brief as soon as once more with the first-ever crew within the $400 million league.
The Suns have a payroll of $226.2 million and an estimated tax invoice of $188.4 million this season.
Booker, Durant and Beal solely performed in 41 video games of their first 12 months collectively final common season. Phoenix went 26-15, however Minnesota swept the Suns within the first spherical with Booker, Durant and Beal enjoying in each playoff sport.
With 59 video games left within the common season, the Suns might at finest deliver their Large 3 collectively for 69 video games this season.
It appears unlikely that these three will play each sport for the remainder of the season given their harm historical past. Booker has by no means performed all 82 video games in an everyday season.
He performed in a career-high 78 video games in his second NBA season in 2016-17.
Durant, 36, performed in 75 video games final season, probably the most since struggling a torn Achilles that sidelined him for all the 2019-20 season. As for Beal, 31, he hasn’t performed greater than 60 video games in a season since recording 82 in back-to-back seasons (2017-19).
The Suns are greater than only a trio, they’re a greater crew when Booker, Durant and Beal play.
The perfect purpose is to have all three wholesome by playoff time, however the Suns want them to play to enhance their playoff place or no less than qualify for the play-in event. If the playoffs began right now, Phoenix could be the tenth seed and would want to win two video games within the play-ins to clinch the eighth seed in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Suns have been held to a season-low 83 factors of their 99-83 loss Nov. 15 at OKC. Each Durant and Beal have been out with calf accidents, however the Thunder are a troublesome matchup for Phoenix.
Oklahoma Metropolis is younger and athletic, has the very best protection within the NBA and nearer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder completed 3-0 in opposition to Phoenix final season. They final misplaced to the Suns on April 2, 2023.
Do you’ve got any ideas on the present state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Comply with him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This text was initially printed on Arizona Republic: Booker, Durant and Beal did not play collectively sufficient for the Phoenix Suns
