Why do other Suns flourish when Bradley Beal is injured?

The Phoenix Suns find themselves five games below .500 - and after another dreadful loss to a supposedly inferior opponent in the New Orleans Pelicans - face an uphill battle even to make the play-in tournament. Quite why they'd even want to at this point is up for debate - as even if they do somehow make the playoffs - they're not going to last very long.

Then again - with the Houston Rockets taking their first round pick this year anyway - there is no incentive to make it as appealing as possible by not trying. Which leaves the organization stuck in a difficult spot, with no clear way to improve. On top of that, it is looking more likely that Kevin Durant is going to move on this offseason as well.

But why do other players only thrive when Bradley Beal is out?

A strange question - and even stranger pivot when discussing what a wreck this season has been - but it now feels worth questioning. This is also not a dig at Beal either, all he has ever done since landing in Phoenix is play when available, while also appearing to enjoy living there. Not that there were any suitors for him at the deadline, but he seems content living in The Valley.

A combination of his no-trade clause and his ridiculous contract are the main drawbacks here - but when looking at what Beal the player gives the Suns each night - it is actually alright. In no way worth the money he is making - and he remains too injury-prone - but whether starting or coming off the bench, Beal does what he can. It is just unfortunate that that alone isn't nearly enough.

Last season - Beal's first with the Suns - he was limited to only 53 games as a result of a myriad of injuries. In his place Grayson Allen stepped up and not only led the entire league in 3-point shooting at 46.1 percent, he earned a new contract with the organization as well. Beal being unavailable also put the ball in Devin Booker's hands more, with Allen doing his best work without the ball.

Yet this season and with Beal shuffling between the starting group and the bench, Allen has regressed badly. Obviously there's less touches to go around, but it feels like Allen's groove and delight at being the team's third best player - which he was last season - are greatly impacted when Beal is out there.

Obviously you can't go out of your way to accommodate Allen - not when Beal is making all that money - and t is also worth mentioned that Royce O'Neale is a similar type of player to Allen, and has taken some of his duties away with is own stellar play. But a strange thing happened in that aforementioned loss to the Pelicans.

Beal was again missing through injury, and this time point guard Tyus Jones had one of his best performances in a while. What was also notable was that Booker came out after the game and mentioned that the team had been putting Jones in some "tough situations" over the last several months. Jones was everything this group needed to start the campaign, before dropping off badly.

These comments were also not a subtle blow to Beal either - none of this is - it is just another example of other players being at their best and having the most impact when Beal is not playing. The reason for this is simple, although there is no way to fix it either. The fit has always been uneven between Beal and the Suns, and it is especially evident when is not around.

Yes the Suns did still lost to the Pelicans - and it is also true that Bol Bol was out there playing big minutes - but there is more structure without Beal. Jones handles the ball, Booker and Durant are the stars, while Allen can be the 3-point sniper who doesn't need the ball to have a large impact. He also works as both a starter and off the bench.

This was never a comment on Bradley Beal the person, while Bradley Beal the player continues to give the Suns 18 points per night and offensively is what you would expect him to be. It just feels like evidence is mounting that would suggest that - in order for Beal to be at his most effective in Phoenix - other role players are diminished.