Phoenix Suns Manage Injuries and Strategies During Preseason Lull

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are navigating a unique challenge in their preseason schedule, which offers them a nine-day window with only one game before the regular season commences. The team is using this time to focus on strategy and recovery, though Coach Mike Budenholzer admits it is a long stretch without competitive play. “Trying not to have the players kill me. That’s a lot of days without games for an NBA guy,” Budenholzer joked, acknowledging the restlessness that can set in during such periods.

During this time, the Suns have concentrated on scrimmaging, aiming to refine their execution and add to their defensive repertoire. Budenholzer emphasized the importance of honing special game situations and maintaining players’ readiness. “There’s some execution stuff that we tried to clean up today,” he explained, highlighting the need to continue building their defensive toolbox.

Key players are using this period to recover from injuries. Devin Booker, who missed the last two preseason games due to a sore right ankle, is now fit to participate. However, Jusuf Nurkic (left middle finger) and Grayson Allen (Achilles soreness) remain on the sidelines, with Coach Budenholzer noting their slow progression to full contact practice. Nurkic, in particular, has been working on maintaining his conditioning while recovering.

The extended break has also been a period of notable development for rookie Ryan Dunn, who has shown a remarkable improvement in his 3-point shooting ability. “I put in a lot of work on my shot, so it was good to see the confidence in myself just taking them,” Dunn stated, attributing his success to consistent practice and strong footwork. His performance has been a highlight of the Suns’ preseason activities.

As the final preseason game approaches, the Suns are focusing on perfecting their lineup and ensuring players are fully ready for the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Budenholzer has expressed cautious optimism about the physical readiness of the team, particularly with relation to Nurkic and Allen’s potential participation. “We’ll see how everybody reacts to (Wednesday’s practice),” he said.

As the final preseason contest nears, Devin Booker affirmed his readiness to face the Los Angeles Lakers. “It feels 100%,” he assured, signaling a hopeful start to the season for the Suns. As the team prepares for their upcoming challenges, maintaining health and confidence appears to be top priorities in the lead-up to the 2024-25 season.