The Phoenix Suns have struggled to gather up wins over the last month of the season and they’re now currently on a four-game losing streak and losers of 7 of their last 8 after losing in the last seconds of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers by a final score of 90-88. Over the last two games the Suns failed to score over 90 points as they’re averaging 85.5 PPG on 39.3% shooting from the floor. Over the last month going back to their blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Suns’ record is 4-12.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!One of the key things to note from their record over the last month is all-star and franchise player Devin Booker has been out of the lineup with a groin injury in 10 of those 16 games while also being out the majority of the Denver Nuggets game and half of the New Orleans Pelicans game during that stretch. In the last month, the Suns’ record in games where Devin Booker has missed or didn’t start is 2-8, and in games where he was healthy or started they were 2-4 and in two of those games he exited with an injury.
This has been a theme all year long with the Suns minus Booker as the team has never been able to get in a rhythm or play to the best of their abilities with him on the floor. In games, this entire season where he has played, the Suns winning percentage is .621. In games where he hasn’t played the Suns winning percentage is .222 according to Statmuse. Back on December 7th, 2022, the Suns were sitting as 1st seed in the west at 16-8 getting ready for their matchup against the Boston Celtics. Move forward to today on January 5th, 2023, the Suns currently sit at 8th seed in the West at 20-19 with Booker missing 10 of those games.
Suns win percentage this season:
.621 — With Devin Booker
.222 — Without Devin BookerSuns are 1-7 in their last 8 games. pic.twitter.com/O5BGsIfng2
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 5, 2023
To add more fuel to the fire, the Suns +/- with Booker on the floor is +120 and without Booker, it’s a -25. Kendrick Perkins’s tweet during last night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers sums up the entire month with him, not on the floor for the Suns.
Devin Booker better hurry up and get back and I mean ASAP!!! The way the Suns look without him right they’re going to find themselves in the Lottery. Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 5, 2023
Report: Suns Are In the Mix For Pistons Forward Bojan Bogdanovic
With the trade deadline looming, it’s paramount that the Suns not only find anything for Jae Crowder but that the person they do find can help out the Suns even if Devin Booker is out of the lineup. Until then, the Suns got to still wait a few more weeks before his return to the hardwood.
