The Suns are struggling, the Kings are rolling under a new coach

On By Littum

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NBA fans got a big treat — and a potential NBA Finals preview — Wednesday night with the Cavaliers-Thunder matchup, which Cleveland won in thrilling fashion.

But there is another Oklahoma City game this weekend that is elite, with the Thunder heading to Madison Square Garden on Friday night to face the Knicks.

And New York will need to turn things around quickly to face a Milwaukee Bucks team Sunday that has gone 17-8 over the past two months. And Sunday also offers another exciting Eastern Conference showdown, with the Indiana Pacers looking to upset the red-hot Cavs in Cleveland.

Here are some takeaways from the 10thth week of the NBA regular season.

Is it time to blow up the sun?

The answer should be yes, but Phoenix (16-19) might be stuck. The Suns battled early injuries, but even with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal each healthy, the team’s play has nonetheless cratered.

The overwhelming problem is an oppressive salary cap situation and poor fit, especially with Beal, who has a team-low net rating of -8.9 this season. When Beal is on the court, Durant, the team’s most effective scoring threat, has to work harder to get scoring opportunities. The same goes for Booker in what may be a case of too many mouths to feed.

The Suns looked to turn the tide by moving Beal — and center Jusuf Nurkić — to the bench for Monday’s win against the 76ers. Beal scored 25 in an efficient 10-of-15 performance to help shut out Philadelphia.

The following night, with Beal coming off the bench again, Phoenix lost to a Hornets team that entered the night with seven wins.

The ideal scenario would be to package Beal in a trade. In practical terms, it can be a dream. His contract is onerous, he has a no-trade clause, and his production simply makes him an unwanted asset. If Phoenix wants some salary cap relief, it may have to make a much more difficult decision to potentially ship Durant or Booker.

The Suns have lost 17 of their last 24 games and are currently No. 12 in the west. They sacrificed depth for a Big Three that carries the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-highest cap hits in the NBA. It seems to have been a massive failure.

The Kings are 5-1 under Doug Christie. Was Mike Brown the problem?

The answer is frankly nuanced and complicated. And even though Sacramento (18-19) is on a five-game winning streak, Mike Brown remains a very good coach, one with a track record of success.

Still, the Kings have taken down solid opponents during their streak: Heat, Warriors, Grizzlies, 76ers and Mavericks. And the difference over that span has been defensive effort, intensity and an intent to force turnovers; over the last five games, the Kings are fifth in defensive rating (106.1) compared to their 16thth-ranking (112.5) for the rest of the season. Sacramento also generates 2.2 more deflections per game. game in January compared to the season average.

Uber-athletic guard Keon Ellis, who emerged late last season, has blossomed into a bigger role. Ellis has started the last four games and has collected 12 steals in that span while averaging 12.5 points per game. battle in this stretch.

The sample size is far too small. But over the past week, Sacramento’s investment in defense suggests the Kings could become more competitive, at least in the short term.

Thunder, Cavs can win it all

Just because the Cavaliers defeated the Thunder in a thrilling matchup Wednesday night doesn’t mean we should dismiss Oklahoma City as an inferior contender.

Both of these teams have an inside-out offense, which is notable, especially since Chet Holmgren has been out since mid-November. Both teams spread the ball around, thanks mostly to their excellent point guard play. And both are efficient and the ball, with Oklahoma City leading the NBA in turnover percentage (11.9%) and Cleveland third (12.9%).

The most compelling case for both teams is that they converge to play complete team basketball, communicate on defense and play together on offense.

A lot can change between now and the NBA playoffs. But as long as both teams stay healthy, it’s a safe bet to expect at least both teams to make a deep run.

NBA fans won’t have to wait long for another glimpse either; next game is next week, scheduled for January 16th.

The Stamps are over .500 in January

Detroit (19-18) has won eight of its last nine games, and you’d never think its second-leading scorer went down with a potential season-ending injury just a week ago.

This team, no longer defined by its inexperience, responds to adversity and finds different ways to win. On Wednesday against the Nets, Detroit had more players on the injury report (10) than benched (eight), but still took down Brooklyn by 15 points.

The culture new coach JB Bickerstaff has installed is already producing tangible returns. That Detroit is doing this just one season after its worst campaign in franchise history shows how sharp the turnaround has been.

The Pistons are tied for fourth in the NBA in rebounding percentage, dragging them down at a 51.6% clip. Center Jalen Duren, who is 21 but already in his third season in the NBA, sets the tone on the glass and defensively in the paint.

Cade Cunningham is a rising star averaging nearly 25 points per game. match. And role players like Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris have contributed in spurts.

Detroit, which is currently No. 8 in the East, is fully in play-in position and could make its first trip to the playoffs since 2018-19.