The NBA is a brutal league, simply ask Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. He has been via the wringer via this season alone. Most notably, Durant was concerned in a Suns commerce rumor with out his data.
Whereas he is remained adamant on staying with Phoenix, that is solely a microcosm of what has occurred. Solely 24 hours earlier, Devin Booker dropped an eerie remark about his relationship with head coach Mike Budenholzer.
A rumor on Friday morning reported that the top coach instructed Booker to “tone it down vocally.” Whereas the group did not play with any resentment throughout the 125-108 win to the New Orleans Pelicans, the season continues to be a wrestle.
For example, the Suns are two video games behind the Sacramento Kings for the ultimate play-in spot. Once more, it is solely a glimpse of the tumultuous highway that is forward of them. After Friday’s recreation, Durant defined that the fixed chatter won’t cease.
“It is a lot noise that is going to be round us,” Durant mentioned by way of AZCentral’s Duane Rankin. “It is a lot pressure round whether or not we will win or lose the subsequent recreation. So many individuals wishing that we do not win video games.
“It is simply a number of BS round us, however I feel if we perceive that is simply the character of the beast and we go on the market and play with extra pleasure and extra vitality, extra enthusiasm, I feel that issues can flip round, however you bought to really feel that.”
Earlier than Friday’s win, the Suns had been 1-4 following the All-Star break. Thursday’s loss to the Pelicans was a brutal one which left lots of the identical questions. As Durant talked about, the noise was a bit an excessive amount of and trickled over into the locker room.
Kevin Durant is aware of what’s at stake for the Suns
Associated Phoenix Suns InformationArticle continues under
In all of Durant’s seasons that he is been within the league, this may be probably the most tumultuous. Even final season’s Suns group had a 49-33 file and snuck into the No. 6 seed.
This season’s group has been worse. Regardless of the group becoming extra into Budenholzer’s system, the proof is not within the pudding.
For example, the Suns benched Bradley Beal. A part of it was to spark a change within the struggles. A part of it was to attempt to land a deal for Jimmy Butler. Both manner, it did not finish effectively for the media frenzy that circled the franchise. Most not too long ago, he has been the goal of a barrage of commerce rumors.
NBA insiders have predicted that that is Durant’s final season with the Suns. Nonetheless, the Phoenix All-Star talked about that he by no means mentioned something about leaving Phoenix.
Nonetheless, there’s a likelihood for the franchise to make the play-in event. It goes all the way in which from the No. 7 to the No. 10 seed. They nonetheless path the Kings however might have a better time in the event that they get again on monitor.
Regardless of that, the Suns have the hardest remaining schedule within the league. It is a level of emphasis and one that’s a part of the ‘nature of the beast’ that Durant talked about.
It doesn’t matter what, the Suns have some work to do in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Splitting a two-game sequence in opposition to the injury-riddled Pelicans wasn’t an excellent look. They’re going to have the possibility to proper the wrongs and construct on Friday’s win. If not, the character of the beast generally is a bit too overwhelming, because it has been in latest weeks.