The Phoenix Suns might not be the talk of the NBA right now, but some people have caught on to what's going down in The Valley. Head coach Jordan Ott having turned what many perceived to be a random collection of veterans, role players and youngsters around Devin Booker into a cohesive unit.
Their schedule is about to get a lot harder, but they've played above average basketball on both ends of the court for much of the season. That is going to translate to some more wins, even against more fancied opponents.
Rival scouts reveals blueprint to Suns making playoffs.
ESPN recently broke down each team after the first month of action around the league, and it was good news for The Valley. They spoke to one rival scout who admitted that "they've got enough pieces around Devin (Booker) where they'll win the games they should win. (Coach Ott) has them playing the right way and competing".
Sounds so simple when you put it like that - team puts right pieces around star player and competes - but that was painfully lacking in Phoenix during the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal experience. We also know that this formula will only get them so far, but with expectations so low it is a nice surprise.
Charles Barkley is proud of how the Suns are playing, especially their second unit led by Collin Gillespie.
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 25, 2025
But he wants more out of Devin Booker, who has struggled against strong opposing game plans in the past few games.
Watch the full interview with @Bickley_Marotta:… pic.twitter.com/FxJVRcPLQh
That same scout summed up the Suns this season best in a single sentence, going on to say that "they've been way better than I thought". But will catching some below average teams by surprise early be enough to actually make the postseason?
That should obviously be the goal given the lack of draft capital they have at their disposal in the coming years, a fact none other than Bill Simmons was quick to ram home recently.
They have enjoyed wins over good teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves recently, and both were achieved without Jalen Green on the court. Really though it is beating up on the teams around them that is going to decide if they make it or not.
This group will still sneak out the occasional win against a superior opponent - they play too hard not to - but it is taking care of business and proving they're the best of the perceived weakest bunch of teams in the league that will see them through.
Right now Cleaning The Glass has the Suns on pace to win 53 games, which we know won't happen. But in the last two weeks they have the seventh best point difference and rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings, so you can see why that outlet believes in this group.