The Phoenix Suns are shaking up their starting lineup in their upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, a decision that puts Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic on the bench at the starting whistle. This move comes as a surprise, especially for Beal, who has been a mainstay in the starting five throughout his career, having started 95.6% of his games since joining the NBA. Notably, this will be the first time Beal has come off the bench since the 2015-16 season.
Head Coach Mike Budenholzer hopes the lineup changes will address the Suns' recent defensive struggles. "We gotta be better at [the defensive] end of the court, give ourselves to get out and play," Budenholzer states, underlining the need for improvement. Currently, the Suns rank 24th in overall defense and 28th in half-court defense, metrics that have undoubtedly influenced these roster adjustments.
The Suns, despite starting the season strong with an 8-1 record, have encountered difficulties that have led to their current 15-18 standing. They have slumped to 12th place in the Western Conference following a string of losses; specifically, they have dropped four consecutive games and lost seven out of their last eight. The team's most-used starting lineup has been a significant part of the problem, allowing an alarming 122.3 points per 100 possessions and being outscored by 17.7 points per 100 possessions.
Beal, averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season, will yield his starting role to Ryan Dunn, while Mason Plumlee takes Nurkic’s place. While Beal’s performance has been steady, the Suns aim to leverage his energy and experience off the bench to inject life into their lagging second unit.
Jusuf Nurkic, returning from a three-game suspension, finds himself in a particularly uncertain situation. As whispers of a potential trade before the February 6 deadline grow louder, the benching could be part of a broader strategy to increase his market value. Nurkic, now in the third year of a four-year, $70 million contract, might be seen as a movable piece in a bid to strengthen the team's defensive capabilities. He has made attempts to expand his offensive arsenal, averaging 4.8 three-point attempts per 100 possessions, albeit with a 30.4% success rate. Yet, his current role and contract might make him a viable trade candidate for a squad striving to regain its early-season form.
As the Suns navigate these changes, they face an intriguing schedule ahead, with only one of their next eleven opponents boasting a winning record. This stretch of games presents a golden opportunity for the Suns to recalibrate and claw their way back into playoff contention. However, the pressure mounts as they seek to halt their downward trajectory and restore the defensive tenacity that Budenholzer so desperately demands.
The coming weeks will reveal whether these adjustments can halt the Suns' woes and guide them back to the early promise they showed at the beginning of the season. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as the reshuffled Phoenix roster takes on the challenge, with hopes that a blend of strategic change and individual performance might reignite their campaign.