Kellan Olson

PHOENIX — As a way to preview the Phoenix Suns’ opening night on Wednesday and continue our look at how bonkers-loaded the Western Conference is, the Los Angeles Clippers have the highest odds of anyone to drop out of the playoffs completely. While it’s a solid roster not worth overlooking, L.A. is incredibly top heavy, a rickety balancing act thanks to the uncertainty that constantly surrounds Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Leonard is already out indefinitely.

The process of building is always going to be unforgiving in basketball, even in an offseason full of promising change, and that was the lesson (if you needed it) within the Phoenix Suns' 116-113 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime.

It was never going to be a snap of the finger after producing a new head coach here and point guards there for the Phoenix Suns. The growing pains that will be required were evident in their season-opening victory and more will be waiting for them on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Phoenix Suns' 123-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers was the second time in two tries they were unsuccessful in attempting to put the past behind them.

The Phoenix Suns showing fight and focus through the process of growth is what's needed at the start of the year, and Saturday's 114-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks was a proper step back in that direction.

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are 3-1 with plenty to improve on after a 109-105 win on Monday over the Los Angeles Lakers, and their ability to win through that with real resolve speaks to the potential this group has.

Once the Phoenix Suns figure out how to stop being who they once were, they have the potential to terrorize the NBA.

It's only been a month, but it feels like if you are waiting for Phoenix Suns rookie Ryan Dunn to turn into a pumpkin, you are going to be stuck waiting.

While the Phoenix Suns are 5-1 and showing lots and lots of potential, they haven't been able to patch together elongated stretches of great play.

PHOENIX — Last offseason, Kevin Durant referred to it as “The KD Button,” when media outlets would sprout up headlines featuring his name, based off of little to nothing. There is another version of the button, though, and one we saw the Phoenix Suns spam in Monday’s 118-116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.