The Phoenix Suns have dropped in several NBA power rankings following a challenging week that included losses to strong opponents. Despite a statement win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the team struggled against the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets. Various outlets placed the Suns between No. 7 and No. 14 in their latest assessments.
The Phoenix Suns experienced a dip in NBA power rankings after a demanding stretch of games. According to multiple sources, the team went 0-3 against the Rockets, Thunder, and Nuggets last week, contributing to their slide. However, they secured a significant victory over the Lakers on Monday, which some analysts highlighted as a positive sign.
In The Athletic's rankings, the Suns fell to No. 14 from No. 8. Analyst Law Murray noted the team's backcourt challenges, referencing a trade involving Jalen Green for Kevin Durant and praising Dillon Brooks for his increased production: more points, free-throw attempts, field goals, steals, and fouls than ever before. Murray added, "The Suns aren’t necessarily at their best with Brooks on the floor, and this was a bad week for Phoenix against stiff competition. But Brooks’ overall presence has certainly been notable."
ESPN ranked the Suns at No. 14, down from No. 13. Dave McMenamin spotlighted third-year point guard Collin Gillespie's breakout season, with scoring up to 13.4 points per game from 5.9, assists doubled to 5.0 from 2.4, rebounds at 3.8 from 2.4, steals at 1.2 from 0.6, and a career-best 44.2% from three. Gillespie scored a career-high 28 points against the Lakers, going 8-for-14 from beyond the arc.
CBS Sports placed the Suns at No. 10, down from No. 7. Brad Botkin emphasized their resilience, stating, "The Suns have won 10 of their last 14. In the last week they played the Nuggets tough and took the Thunder to the wire. Those are probably the two best teams in the league, and then they beat the Lakers, one of the five best teams." He praised players like Brooks, Grayson Allen, Mark Williams, and Gillespie.
NBA.com kept the Suns at No. 7. John Schuhmann mentioned a win in Sacramento on Wednesday but noted the tougher schedule and 0-3 record against top Western Conference foes, sliding them out of the top six.
Overall, the rankings reflect a balance of recent performance, season trends, and future expectations, with the Suns showing promise amid setbacks.