Phoenix- If there is any song that would perfectly describe where the state of the Phoenix Suns (29-27) are, it would seemingly be “Free Fallin” by Tom Petty.
The Suns have lost seven of eight games, including two losses on Friday and Saturday to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves and playoff bound Chicago Bulls. Throw in the whole Goran Dragic saga, and the major roster upheaval and you would think the Suns would be doom and gloom.
That is not the case, in fact, it is the complete opposite.
Shoot-around on Monday was the most upbeat I have seen since last season, and players echoed that sentiment, saying that chemistry is already improving.
“I thought it went perfect despite the loss,” Suns guard Eric Bledsoe said on how the team played with the new look. “We took steps in the right direction and everyone came out hard. It was the first time I think that everybody felt good about the game even though we lost.”
Bledsoe also added that, “the vibe was like two years ago with everyone cheering for each other.”
The big emphasis from the Suns front office and coaching staff since the trade deadline has been to get back the chemistry from last season that made this team so much fun to watch.
Whether the exit of Channing Frye or the unhappiness of Dragic soured the mood in the locker room over the course of the season, the team is starting to take steps in the right direction as new leaders are stepping up to the plate.
“It is just the guys you have, they have to be in it for each other,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “The guys off the bench, with the enthusiasm they had in Chicago, that is how you get there. It is tough because some of the guys are quiet, but if you have four, five guys that will do it then others will start doing it do.”
Tonight, the Suns come home to play the Boston Celtics (20-33) and get to show off their shining new toy, guard Brandon Knight, for the first time in front of the home fans. Knight scored 13 points on 6-12 shooting and dished out five assists off the bench against Chicago in his Suns debut off the bench. Knight is expected to make his first start as a Sun.
Talking to the local media for the first time today, Knight had nothing bad praise for being in Phoenix and being able to play with Bledsoe. He also got some good advice from a former Suns player about the team and city.
“Jared Dudley told me a good amount and had nothing but high praise for the city and organization, I don’t know a lot, but I have heard nothing but good things,” Knight said.
Let’s take a look at some things to watch out for as the Suns try to get back on the winning track.
The “IT” man returns
Isaiah Thomas makes his homecoming just four days after being traded for a first round pick and Marcus Thornton. In the Celtics 118-111 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, Thomas came off the bench to score 21 points in 25 minutes, and also got ejected for two technical fouls in his Celtic debut.
Suns coach Jeff Hornacek knows what Thomas can do and is putting an emphasis on not letting his former guard get the revenge he will be out to get.
“Just what he always does, he is a scorer,” Hornacek said on what he expects out of Thomas. “He puts points on the board and we have to be alert to where he is at. We have to eliminate him and not let him have easy shots because that is automatic for him.”
Thomas is seen as a culprit in the chemistry being downgraded from last season, and the reason behind Dragic’s exit. Any negativity that is seen from outside the Suns locker room, is not shared by the players that used to call Thomas their teammate.
“It was great,” Bledsoe said on his relationship with Thomas. “He was a wonderful team-orientated and great guy. People look at him different, but everyone in the locker room got along with him and he is a team player.”
Thornton helping out
The 6-foot-4 guard out of LSU should be in line to make his Suns debut tonight against the team that recently traded him, which has turned Thornton into a scout. He was averaging 8.9 points a night in 39 games with Boston this season and he is looking forward to playing his former team.
“I became a coach today and yesterday, helping the coaches scout the team and give us a good chance of winning the game tonight,” Thornton said.
Needing to take advantage of depleted team
Tonight is a game the Suns have no business losing, plain and simple. The Celtics are without two important pieces in Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, meaning the Celtics will be playing small. Phoenix has a chance to get themselves back in the playoff picture with five of their next seven against sub .500 teams, and the other two games against a Kevin Durantless Thunder team and the Spurs at home.
It is now or never if the Suns are going to make a push for the playoffs, and tonight is a perfect night to get that started.