Kevin Durant somehow catches strays as Cavaliers' win streak ends

The Phoenix Suns have lost four straight games, and the absence of Kevin Durant is a major reason why. The 36-year-old starting the season in fantastic form, and helping to lead the Suns to what at the time was a brilliant 8-1 start.

The organization have since come crashing down to earth - the loss to the Orlando Magic delivering some harsh truths - and at 9-6 have dropped down the pecking order in the Western Conference. Luckily they have an extended home stand to steady the ship, and the hope is that both Durant and Bradley Beal will be back soon.

Yet even when not playing Durant's name is being brought up.

Somehow the future Hall of Famer was mentioned in the aftermath of the Cleveland Cavaliers' having their 15 game win streak to start the season snapped in an entertaining Emirates NBA Cup loss to the Boston Celtics. A contest that should worry Suns fans for one reason, and that is that both the Cavaliers and Celtics are just better than their team right now.

The game was broadcast on ESPN, and the always outspoken Charles Barkley had plenty to say about the Cavaliers and their fantastic start to the season. They are playing under first year head coach Kenny Atkinson, who previously coached Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden on the Brooklyn Nets.

That experiment ultimately failed - Atkinson was shown the door in favor of Steve Nash - but Barkley hasn't forgotten how a top coach was cast aside as soon as the Nets got some superstars to come and play for them.

"Three or four years ago we were bragging about Kenny Atkinson doing a great job in Brooklyn, he was doing a fabulous job. We're like this guy might be the next really, really good coach. Then KD (Kevin Durant) and Kyrie (Irving) came there, and they kicked him off the ship... you know what? He didn't complain."

Barkley does have a point - Atkinson was moved on for Nash in a decision that backfired - but to place that blame squarely on Durant seems unfair. It is an unspoken rule that if a team is not performing, the head coach is unfortunately usually the person who makes way.

That's exactly what happened to Frank Vogel with the Suns last season, and Durant didn't appear to have much to do with that. Neither did Devin Booker, and really most fans were happy to see him go. The Philadelphia 76ers are not in a good place right now, but you can bet Nick Nurse will be shown the exit long before Joel Embiid is.

Really this should be viewed as a celebration of how good a coach Atkinson actually is. It is clear he's been influenced some by his time as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors - the Cavaliers play with an up-tempo style - while the decision to empower Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen with more responsibility offensively has already paid off.

This just feels like a cheap shot at both Durant and Irving, both of whom have done none but put their heads down and play basketball for a couple of years now. Yes Durant ultimately forced his own way out of Brooklyn - but given the Suns profited and he's unlikely to ever do that again given his age and what it would mean for his legacy - do you really care about what he did with the Nets?