PHOENIX -- The Suns get their first NBA Cup group play test tonight against the Nuggets, and it arrives at a time when almost everything in Phoenix feels like a work in progress.
A 1-2 start has left the Suns looking for answers, and they’ve had extra time to search for them after not playing since Monday night’s 125-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That break may come in handy now, because Denver is coming in having won the last five meetings between the teams.
One possible lift for Phoenix is on the injury front. Oso Ighodaro has been upgraded to questionable after missing the last two games with a right oblique strain, and his return would give the center spot a needed boost.
For the Suns, the fix starts with getting back to what made them successful a year ago. They do not look like the same group that won 45 games last season, and the biggest difference so far has been on the defensive end. Phoenix enters the night with the worst defensive rating in the league, and that has to change if the Suns want to get moving in the right direction.
That means coming out with force on defense and trying to set the tone early. When the Suns are at their best, they pressure opponents into turnovers and difficult shots, then turn that into a faster offense. So far this season, that chain reaction hasn’t shown up nearly enough.
This feels like the kind of night where Phoenix needs to find some rhythm from the jump, especially after a long layoff. A strong defensive start could spill into the rest of the game, and the Suns have enough depth on the bench to benefit if they can create that kind of momentum.
The point guard questions are already swirling, but the Suns have to keep working with what they have and build chemistry within the group they have on the floor. The bigger focus, right now, is on fixing the issues that have already surfaced: defense, rebounding and connectivity on offense.
Coach Jordan Ott often talks about using players’ “superpowers,” and Phoenix needs that idea to come together tonight. That becomes even more important after Devin Booker scored just three points against Oklahoma City.
The matchup also brings a familiar problem into focus. Since the end of last year, the Suns have been pushed around by bigger teams, and Denver fits that bill with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way.
Phoenix has to hold up better in the paint and avoid another night where offensive rebounds become a major problem. The Suns are allowing an NBA-high 15.7 offensive rebounds per game, and that number has to be cleaned up fast.
Getting Ighodaro back would help the center rotation, but he can’t do it alone. Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges also need to bring more on defense and on the glass.
Tipoff is set for shortly after 7 p.m. MST.
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