In late November, Charles Barkley mentioned that Phoenix Suns have been the “second finest staff” within the Western Convention behind the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder whereas debating with Shaquille O’Neal.
Barkley enters the brand new yr with a unique view of his Suns.
The Corridor of Fame criticized the Philadelphia 76ers and the Suns, two of his former groups, throughout halftime of Thursday’s Philadelphia-Golden State sport on TNT.
“I’ve no confidence within the Suns and the Sixers,” Barkley mentioned. “It hurts my coronary heart to say that. I watched the Suns play final week. They stink. They stink.
Losers of their final three video games, Phoenix (15-17) is 2 video games beneath .500 for the primary time since beginning final season 4-6. Devin Booker solely performed in two of these video games and Bradley Beal solely appeared in three of them as a consequence of accidents.
“My Suns, the ship is sinking,” Barkley mentioned in a while TNT’s Inside The NBA.
“I’ve no confidence within the Suns and the Sixers. It hurts my coronary heart to say that. I watched the Suns play final week. They stink. They stink.”
Charles Barkley criticizes two of his former groups, the Phoenix Suns and the Philadelphia 76ers, on @NBAonTNT . #Suns #76ers pic.twitter.com/0iOhWLV5LX
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 3, 2025
The Suns are as soon as once more coping with accidents, however see a change within the calendar yr with a recent begin in Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Indiana Pacers to start a three-game highway journey.
“Yeah, that is precisely what (Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer) mentioned, 2025, let’s make issues higher in 2025,” Suns wing Josh Okogie mentioned.
Phoenix concludes the journey with a back-to-back Monday in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers and Tuesday in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets.
“We’ve got quite a lot of distractions at dwelling,” Okogie mentioned. “I hate to make use of the phrase distractions as a result of it might be household, like a canine might be a distraction, however on the highway you just about have your self and basketball. It is time to deal with basketball, your teammates and the mission. So, hopefully we will type of proceed this streak down the highway.
The Suns have not gained three straight since their 8-1 begin.
Since then, they’ve been 7-16 years outdated.
“The frustration stage is excessive,” Suns star guard Devin Booker mentioned after Tuesday’s 117-112 dwelling loss to Memphis. “We’re all rivals right here. We’re all conscious that these matches will price us dearly on the finish of the season. So that you wish to do your job early, earlier than the All-Star break, earlier than you get all the way down to enterprise. You by no means know what may occur. Accidents may additionally happen presently.
The Suns are 11th within the West. If the playoffs began Friday, Phoenix, a staff with championship aspirations, would miss the play-ins and any likelihood to make the playoffs.
“We wish to acquire floor, get out of play-in place and simply win each sport we will,” Booker concluded.
Phoenix is with out Royce O’Neale, who will probably be re-evaluated subsequent week due to a sprained left ankle suffered within the first half of the Dec. 28 loss at Golden State.
Jusuf Nurkic will serve the third of a three-game suspension with out pay on Saturday for his involvement in an “on-court” altercation with Dallas Mavericks forwards Naji Marshall and PJ Washington Jr. on Dec. 27 on the Footprint Middle.
Grayson Allen and Bradley Beal are recovering from their accidents.
Allen seems to be nearer to returning than Beal after lacking Tuesday’s loss with left shoulder soreness after taking part in in a 5-on-5 scrimmage throughout Monday’s apply.
He was a “full participant” in Thursday’s apply. Budenholzer mentioned after Thursday’s apply.
As for Beal, Budenholzer mentioned he had no contact in apply and was “restricted” after struggling a bruised left hip within the first quarter Tuesday.
Beal didn’t play the ultimate three quarters after taking part in all the first quarter.
“I feel possibly it began on the primary play of the sport,” Budenholzer mentioned after Tuesday’s loss. “I feel he obtained to the basket. I feel he had a fall there. Then I feel there was a second fall sooner or later. There have been tender footsteps, indicators that he may be, however he by no means informed me he needed to come out. He fought.
Beal scored simply three factors on 1-of-5 taking pictures within the first quarter because the Suns trailed 36-26 after one.
“I type of rode him as a result of I felt like we wanted him and Kevin (Durant) was staying in contact within the first quarter,” Budenholzer continued. “I feel as soon as it got here out, I feel it tightened up or grew to become apparent that it was one thing extra severe.”
Do you could have any ideas on the present state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Observe him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This text was initially printed on Arizona Republic: ‘They stink’: Charles Barkley criticizes struggling Phoenix Suns
