3 numbers that explain the Phoenix Suns' change in fortunes

The Phoenix Suns are in the midst of a four-game winning streak, which couldn't have come at a better time for the organization. They are currently playing six games at home - the longest remaining homestand of the season - and have won the first three of those six games in The Valley to make up the bulk of their wins.

It is no surprise that the return to winning ways has coincided with the return of Bradley Beal to the lineup, as he looks to round himself into midseason form quickly. The 15.2 points per game he is currently averaging is way down on previous seasons, but something to keep an eye on is the impressive 39.3 percent he is shooting from deep, his best mark since 2016-17.

Beal's return alone does not explain the change in fortunes for the Suns at an important time, with three numbers from their win streak doing a better job instead.

To have achieved these wins while playing a young and hungry team like the Orlando Magic, and also to have easily brushed aside the Portland Trail Blazers with Kevin Durant missing through injury, should fill head coach Frank Vogel with confidence for the rest of the season. The Suns have also gotten help from parts of their bench that they didn't expect to during this run.

Maintaining the following numbers is going to be tough, but there is now growing evidence to support the case that this Suns group actually can be as good as many predicted they would be during the offseason. They are still a long way from being true contenders, but if nothing else, thanks to these numbers they have not only steadied the ship, they are now moving in the right direction.

3. 54 percent

Over the last four games, the Suns have had a field goal percentage of 54 percent. Not only is that a number that they should be aiming to replicate as often as possible, it is the best mark in the entire league during that time span.

It would be easy to say the the introduction of Beal alone has caused this number to go up, as for the season as a whole the team ranks 12th in this category at 47.8 percent per game. Having Beal certainly helps though, because it gives 3-point specialists such as Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon even more room to get their shots off.

Really though this number reflects the balanced offensive scheme the Suns are trying to implement every night. Which is where center Jusuf Nurkic comes in, because his abilties on that end are exactly what the front office had in mind when they traded for him to pair with Durant, Beal and Devin Booker. In his last three games, Nurkic also has 24, 19 and 18 points in winning efforts.

In December, he shot 49 percent from the field, which is the best monthly mark he has averaged so far this season. So when you combine Nurkic's abilities around the basket, the aforementioned 3-point shooting of their key role players, and the fact Durant (sixth, 29.9) and Booker (11th, 26.4) are two of the top 11 scorers in the league right now, this impressive number makes sense.

2. 42.9 percent

This is the number that the Suns are shooting from deep throughout their current win streak, which is good for third in the league. It is again a notable improvement on their season average, which has them sitting 11th (37.3 percent). The roster was designed to have knockdown shooters around the team's three stars, and that is becoming a more regular occurance after a shaky start.

The Suns currently have five players who are shooting over 37 percent from beyond the arc. A sixth in Drew Eubanks has the best numbers of all from 3-point range, but doesn't meet the criteria to qualify. Of those five, Booker is the least efficient at 37.3 percent, although at over five attempts per game, he is taking the third most shots from there of anybody on the team.

Durant continues to defy logic at 35-years-old, with the 47.7 percent he is averaging not only leading the team, but it is also the best mark of his incredible career as well. Having Durant hit so many of these shots (4.6 attempts per game) has opened the floor up for everybody else, and it is Allen and Gordon who have really benefitted.

Gordon is shooting just over 40 percent, while Allen remains unconscious and is hitting a ridiculous 45.6 percent on over five attempts per game. The Suns always had the firepower to blow opponents away, and being able to score from all over the court, but especially beyond the 3-point line, was a key part of that. It is no surprise then that as the team have collected wins, this number has improved.

1. 14.6

The Suns were supposed to be a great offensive team, which is why the previous two numbers have been a welcome, but also somewhat expected, change of pace now that this roster is mostly healthy. Which makes the 14.6 nat rating the team have had over the last four games by far the most impressive number of all right now.

This has again been built on their offensive play, which during that period has ranked third (123.2), but it is on the other end where unexpected gains have been made. As a result of the team's 108.7 defensive rating - the fourth best mark in the league - the Suns have a league leading net rating of 14.6 throughout their win streak.

The belief for this team has long been that scoring wouldn't be a problem, but that they would struggle to contain opponents who were even ok offensively themselves. The Suns have beaten the Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Magic and Trail Blazers recently, which admittedly is hardly a whose who of star players and scoring threats throughout the league.

But you can only beat what is in front of you, and in fact in the same four game span, the Hornets have the second best 3-point shooting percentage from deep (43.2 percent), while the Magic have the fifth ranked defensive rating (110.9) of any team all season. It's hardly a seven game series against the Denver Nuggets as a sample size, but it is encouraging stuff from this group.

Of all of the positive numbers the organization can point to during this period, this is the one they need to maintain as much as possible. Beal has only played nine games all season, and already there is a difference offensively when he is out there with Booker and Durant. Continue to show improvement on the defensive end, and the Suns may enter true contender status again.