3 numbers that are contributing to the Suns' losing streak

The Phoenix Suns are in the midst of their worst stretch of the still young season, having lost five straight games. A far cry from the 8-1 start that had fans dreaming big, and there doesn't appear to be any quick fixes to get out of this current situation either.

If we're looking at positives here - and really there aren't many - the roster the Suns have put together is so much more equipped to turn things around, which was not the case last year. The loss to the New York Knicks simply can't happen again for one very good reason, but there is legitimate depth and options here to help.

The Suns need to also change these three numbers to starting winning.

When you go below the surface of simply not playing hard enough and injuries taking their toll on the roster, there are a few numbers that stick out as to why the Suns are in their current position. The hope being that some more time off - plus another four games at home before heading out on the road again - can get them back to winning ways soon.

3. 121.1 (Defensive Rating)

The Suns are 1-6 in their last seven games, and during that period they have not been good defensively. This isn't even totally on center Jusuf Nurkic either - as although he is limited in that area of the court - he has sat a couple of these losses as a result of ankle soreness.

It is obvious this organization has a Nurkic problem that is only growing, and when he is on the court, the Suns are getting scored on inside the paint easily. Take Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks for example. Not exactly an intimidating big - and his own defensive shortcomings have been evident this season - but he easily got around and through Nurkic en route to 34 points recently.

That the Knicks hung 138 points on The Valley in their win largely explains the 121.1 defensive rating the Suns have in their last seven games. The second worst mark in the league behind only the Washington Wizards (122.7). You can forget about making the NBA Finals if you're being scored on like that, they'd be lucky to make the play-in tournament.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer was onto something when he started two bigs in a pair of games recently - and although both were losses - it did make the Suns harder to break down. Nurkic and Mason Plumlee started against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a buzzer-beating loss and more spirited display, while Oso Ighodaro started again the Knicks. Trying this again could lead to some success.

2. 0 (Zero)

That would be the amount of games that both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have played during this period. Both are missing with left calf strains, and it is unclear at this point if either will be available when the Suns next suit up, an Emirates NBA Cup game versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

Durant was one of the most clutch players in the league prior to going down, giving the Suns 27 points each night. Offensively the two All-Stars are missed massively, although their contributions on the other end are really needed at this stage as well.

Beal was having easily his best run defensively since landing in Phoenix, while Durant continues to be massively underrated in that area. Playing next to both of them also appeared to give rookie Ryan Dunn a boost, as he had been excellent in covering for his teammates and switching onto all manner of opponents when the Suns are at full strength.

The space created by that duo also allowed the likes of Dunn and Tyus Jones to get much more open shots off. It is no coincidence that - since neither have been available - Dunn's 3-point shooting has fallen back down to earth. He now sits at 33.3 percent for the year so far, below league average. Until even one of these players are back - the Suns won't be treading water - they'll be submerged.

1. 73.8 percent

The Suns need to score points any way that they can while their down two stars, but shooting 73.8 percent from the free-throw line in unacceptable. That's the percentage of makes this team has in the last seven games, while they've managed to take the 11th most at 22.9 each night.

The Suns need only look at the Lakers and their own shortcomings at the charity stripe recently, to see how important it is that they spend some extra time in the gym to bump that number up. The Lakers recently lost their first game at home this season - a 119-118 heartbreaker to the now legitimately good Orlando Magic - and their inability to put their opponent away was why.

Anthony Davis somehow missed a pair of free-throws - and one prior to that again in crunch time - before Franz Wagner sauntered down the court and hit the game-winning three. The Lakers went 17-of-24 at the line, and went cold at the worst possible time to let a game they were in control of slip away.

We say all of this because if the Suns could make some more shots from this area themselves, it would give opponents a tougher time putting them away. As it is they're not playing with the desired effort defensively to win games - and although they're taking care of the ball a lot better than last season - they now need to add the next piece to the puzzle. Let the makes equal the attempts.