The Phoenix Suns have misplaced their final 5 video games and have slid to fourth seed within the West, their most up-to-date loss coming from fifteenth seed Houston on Tuesday.

Devin Booker is day-to-day with a hamstring damage, as is DeAndre Ayton with an ankle damage and Cameron Payne with an injured foot. It appears as if with out these key gamers, Phoenix can’t get it collectively.

Devin Booker has averaged 27.6 factors, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 24 video games with Cameron Payne this season and Chris Paul is in determined want of his level and capturing guards.

Huge man Deandre Ayton has averaged 17.0 factors, 9.5 rebounds and a pair of.2 assists in 26 video games this season and believes groups are competing even tougher than traditional towards his facet.

“Groups are utilizing smaller guys at completely different positions, they usually’re placing the ball on the bottom, making our protection transfer and getting within the paint,” Ayton advised The Athletic.

“After I go, there’s one other huge dude rebounding the ball and simply crashing the glass and ending within the paint. And we’re doing quite a lot of fouling. Enjoying quite a lot of protection and it’s placing stress on our offense. It’s form of onerous to get right into a rhythm on offense as a result of we play a lot protection and we’re fouling. All that stuff is deflating, man, and psychological as hell.”

Their subsequent two weeks will probably be essential in the event that they need to be in contact with the highest 5 and they’re dealing with some robust opponents together with the Clippers, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Lakers, Wizards and Nuggets.

“Let’s imagine loads. However actually man, we simply gotta method these video games realizing that groups are coming to knock our head off our physique, bro,” Ayton mentioned. “Defensive-wise, I simply assume we have to talk extra and play onerous. We simply gotta be extra related. The groups we see on movie aren’t the groups we play — they’re taking part in tougher and with a chip on their shoulder towards us.”

Their first check will probably be towards LAC at Crypto.com Enviornment on Thursday evening, earlier than they’re graced with 4 consecutive house video games.