The Phoenix Suns are losing games right now because of injuries to their key players, but it is the manner in which these defeats are piling up that is the most alarming.
Their desire to fight for every possession has suddenly vanished, and it is now being coupled with a dreadful offensive stretch which is easily their worst of the campaign.
Suns won't be piling up points again until fully healthy
In their last two games, losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, the Suns have put up 77 and 81 points respectively. Their worst two scoring performances of the season so far.
Those last two words are important, because there is every chance that the Suns are going to get worse in this department before they get better.
Having Devin Booker back would go a long way to papering over the cracks here, but that's exactly what they are.
The reality is this group has overperformed massively all season, and on the offensive end in particular thanks to the magic of Booker and Dillon Brooks playing like an All-Star.
Grayson Allen and Collin Gillespie have both also been excellent in how they have helped Phoenix to win games by getting hot at key times, while Royce O'Neale keeps chugging along.
But with head coach Jordan Ott now being forced to seriously play three rookies, and with the results immediately speaking for themselves, the Suns are in real trouble.
They might still sneak into the playoffs if they can get bodies back quickly, but if that happens as currently constructed they would have the worst offense in the postseason.
This could also grow into a long-term problem, with the franchise giving major minutes to Jordan Goodwin (also currently injured) and Jamaree Bouyea.
Both fine veterans, but you can't play both of them plus Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro and expect to having a flowing offense every night.
It has been Booker, Brooks and a sprinkling of Jalen Green that has gotten them through, and that was being backed up by brilliant defensive play.
These last few games have been a slog, and it is not going to get any easier. You know it is bad when Deandre Ayton might just have a statement game against you.
There is no remedy except getting healthy either, and that looks like it is still some time away from happening. In the meantime enjoy some ugly offensive basketball against superior opponents.