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Phoenix Suns Look to Get a Win Against the Struggling Hawks

By Griffin Fabits

Apr 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles past Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Suns 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles past Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Suns 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks are not playing their best basketball as of late. The Suns could add to the Hawks struggles with a fourth-straight loss tonight.

The last time the Phoenix Suns recorded a win came last Wednesday, when they just managed to skate by Orlando Magic for a 92-87 win.

One week and two losses later to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets, the Suns will host the Atlanta Hawks tonight looking to bust out of the skid they’re currently in.

Earl Watson’s Suns have struggled in the first month of the regular season. They’re 5-13, only winning three of their previous twelve contests. They began the season with four consecutive losses. They’ve been playing catch-up since opening night on October 26.

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The match-up with the Hawks wouldn’t normally be ideal for a team desperately in need of a win. Atlanta has been an elite Eastern Conference team in their run of nine-straight playoff appearances. They were swept in the Conference Semifinals last year to the champions-to-be Cleveland Cavaliers.

But eighteen games into their pursuit of a tenth-consecutive postseason berth and Mike Budenholzer’s Hawks are really struggling.

After opening the season with a three-game winning streak, Atlanta followed back-to-back losses with another hot streak, this time making up six-straight wins.  The Hawks were 9-2, and arguably the hottest team in all of basketball.

And then they stumbled. They dropped two close games to the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks, and then a ten-point loss to the reeling New Orleans Pelicans. The win against the Hawks was just the third win of the season for Anthony Davis’ Pelicans.

Even against their win against the Indians Pacers that halted a four-game skid, the Hawks failed to score more than 100 points. Dating back to November 18, the Hawks have scored more than 100 points just once.

Before their meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers on November 27, Atlanta held a players-only meeting. Several players did not disclose the exact details of the meeting, according to ajc.com. One player did explain that it was just to reassure the players that everyone had each other’s backs, and they wouldn’t point any fingers during the stretch of poor play. It is just a matter of figuring it all out, the player noted.

The Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks, for the time being, are playing some bad basketball. The Hawks are clearly a good team, but they’re slumping early. Every team is bound to have their ups and downs over the course of an 82-game season.

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The Suns could use the Hawks recent play to their advantage. They know they’ve had trouble scoring lately and the duo of Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe could add to Atlanta’s woes, and make life tough for Budenholzer and his squad.

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