The Phoenix Suns’ Bold Move for Bradley Beal Falls Short
In a stunning trade last summer, the Phoenix Suns acquired Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, hoping to form a formidable superteam. The trio of Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker seemed unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. However, the Suns’ dreams of dominance have yet to materialize, largely due to Beal’s frequent injuries this season.
Despite currently having a healthy lineup featuring the Big 3, Beal is struggling to find his rhythm on the court. This was evident in his lackluster performance against the Atlanta Hawks. Beal expressed his disappointment in a tweet shared by Duane Rankin, stating, “It sucks man. I’d be naive if I said it doesn’t have a little effect. Still got to go hoop.”
Beal’s struggles can be attributed to a broken nose he sustained earlier in the season. Unfortunately, the injury was aggravated during the recent matchup against the Hawks, further hampering his performance. While it’s understandable that a nose injury can distract any player, it doesn’t excuse Beal’s poor shooting night.
In the game against the Hawks, Beal managed only 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists. His shooting was abysmal, going 5-16 from the field and missing all seven of his three-point attempts. The Suns’ defeat against the Hawks has dropped them to the sixth seed in the Western Conference, with a 28-21 record for the 2023-24 NBA season.
