The Phoenix Suns have been enjoying an unforeseen five days off between games right now, and in theory this break came at the best possible time. Losers of five straight and with some key players to get healthy, this was a chance to catch their breath and have some needed training sessions together.
The Los Angeles Lakers will next be in town in the Suns' third Emirates NBA Cup game, and the hope is that they'll be fully healthy for that one. The latest on Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal a positive one for the organization. Win that and all of a sudden things will be looking up in The Valley.
But all this early season time off will catch up to them later.
It is great to be able to reflect on why the season has gone off the rails - although really the missing Durant and Beal are the reason why - but that won't be the case later in the campaign. That's because despite having already played in three back-to-back contests, the Suns have a whopping 13 left in the regular season.
We're not sure whose job it is to plan this schedule out - and the aforementioned NBA Cup certainly does not help with logistics - but that seems a cruel joke to play on this group in particular. If there is one thing head coach Mike Budenholzer needs to do with this roster, it is find the balance between winning games and going on a run, but also giving his stars a breather every once in a while.
"You're going to pay for it for the rest of the year."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 22, 2024
Grayson Allen on Suns 5 days w/o games.
"I'm sure we've got a few extra back-to-backs."
16 total, 13 left, but he has time with 1st child.
"I'll take all the extra hours and minutes I can while I'm home with her." #Suns pic.twitter.com/LxKxXF5bbr
Durant was playing roughly 40 minutes each night before going out with a left calf strain, and the organization are surely going to try and reduce his workload when he does return. Only in a competitive Western Conference and having lost their place near the top of the pack, the Suns will also need Durant to be at his best as soon as he comes back.
It is not quite the same for Beal, but his injury history at 31-years-old means he too should be kept out of back-to-backs where possible. Only much like Durant, the team needs Beal to produce almost every night, even as their third best player. This is a top-heavy roster, and we've already seen what the likes of Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro do with an expanded role.
They're both very willing, but that kind of elite play consistently is currently beyond them. The Suns have also not had to worry about Devin Booker's health so far this season either, but so many games in a short space of time is going to be a gauntlet for them to get through in one piece.
If Durant and Beal are back healthy for the Lakers game - and better yet if the team wins - then this period of inactivity is going to look like it came at the perfect time. That might be correct, but with the Suns needing to be fully healthy once the playoffs start above all else, let's see how fortunate they feel about this time off come April of next year.