NBA: 7 teams that must flip the switch as the push toward the playoffs approaches

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns decided to go all-in on a move for Kevin Durant at the NBA Trade Deadline. With how inconsistent the team was playing before the deadline, it was probably the smart all-around move in an attempt to salvage the season. And now that Kevin Durant has made his return from injury, the next few weeks will be huge in determining how much of a contender the Suns will be heading into the playoffs.

The team will need to gel quickly. The good news is that Durant is generally a player that fits relatively easily on any team that he’s joined. I don’t believe the Suns will be an exception. And he looked good and the fit looked seamless during his first game with the team.

There is still plenty that the Suns will have to prove over the course of the next few weeks. But this is a team that will have to find that next gear relatively quickly. If they want to be viewed as a contender heading into the playoffs, that’s something that has to happen soon.