Kevin Durant is the rudder of the Phoenix Suns’ ship, and without him, the team often appears adrift. Saturday night’s loss to the Miami Heat was another glaring example, dropping their record to 12-10 on the season and a dismal 1-8 in games Durant has missed.
It’s puzzling. With two maximum-contract players on the floor, you’d expect better results. Yet when Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combine for just 36 points and shoot a combined 1-of-12 from beyond the arc, success feels out of reach. The Suns lack an edge, a killer instinct that championship-caliber teams exude.