On January 2, the NBA regular season continued, and the Suns beat the Trail Blazers to make it four wins in a row. Durant was absent from this game, and he came to the sidelines to watch the game, in a good mood. Booker and Beal led the team, Booker didn't feel good, only an embarrassing 4-of-16, with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Fortunately, Beal played very well, he shot 8 of 16 in this game, scored 21 points and 4 rebounds, and also hit a three-point shot that sealed the victory, leading the Suns to a wave of 4 consecutive wins.
Previously, the Suns' Big Three played together for a short time, and even Durant had a bad mood in the later period. Now that Beal is back and doing well, the Suns' record has improved, and they are gradually coming out of the slump around Boxing Day. Even Durant said that Beal's comeback is key, and the more games he plays, the easier it will be for the whole team to play, and it will also bring confidence.
Booker is better at shooting, but he has not been consistent enough recently, Beal is characterized by super breakthrough ability, can tear apart the opponent's defense, and make layups, throws or passes by himself, so if Beal can stay healthy, it is too important for this Suns team, and Beal's play is very passionate and can drive the play of his teammates.
Of course, the Suns still have shortcomings, such as the team's offense is well-organized, but defense is a big problem, and facing the Celtics, Nuggets and other comprehensive teams is the opportunity to test the Suns. At the same time, the Suns' bench thickness is not enough, and they have formed a big three and sent a lot of substitutes, which also affects the depth of their bench.
After beating the Trail Blazers, the Suns won a wave of four straight games to 18-15, and although they are still in eighth place in the West, the gap between them and the Mavericks in sixth place is already very small. According to the rules of the NBA, the 1st-6th place in the West can go straight to the playoffs, and it is also the focus of competition for each team.
Looking forward to Durant's return next, it takes more time for the Big Three to play together, and then the victory brings confidence, and the Suns still have a long way to go if they want to rely on the Big Three to hit the first championship in team history.