NBA Power Rankings: What exactly is wrong with the Clippers?

25. Phoenix Suns

For the Suns, they’ll likely look mostly at the 90 points they gave up in the first half against the Rockets in Chris Paul’s return. (Could Paul have asked for better return opponent? Maybe the Bulls and Jose Calderon-starting Cavaliers would have been better.) That game is a reminder of how bad this group is on defense (only the Cavs are worse for the season, per nba.com/stats) and that there’s nothing this year that is going to fix that.

But if there is a positive, it’s that there are some good things happening under interim coach Jay Triano. The ball seems to be moving more than it did, which better suits what they have on their roster. Against the Bulls, for example, they had a season-high 32 assists on 45 made baskets.

They also seem to be playing harder than they did under Earl Watson, even after the post coach firing rub has likely worn off. For a team headed nowhere, building some habits is a good thing.

”I think we’re getting better, we’re getting more familiar with each other,” Triano said after the Suns beat the Bulls last week, per Fox Sports. ”And I think our guys are understanding that it could be a variety of players in there. … I think everybody is starting to figure out where they’re supposed to be, therefore we’re passing the ball a whole lot better.”

If they can do that while still losing games, that’s probably for the best.