A quick quiz. The Phoenix Suns are:
A) A hot mess
Any or all of those would've been correct. But aside from being a mess, a wreck, and a fire, the Suns can motor.
Sure, Phoenix ranks 28th in the league in offensive efficiency, 25th in defensive efficiency, and dead last in point differential (-14.7...gross), but when it comes to pace, they're right up there.
| Ranking | Team | Pace | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn Nets | 107.4 | 3-4 |
| 2 | Phoenix Suns | 107.0 | 2-4 |
| 3 | Orlando Magic | 106.4 | 5-2 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | 106.0 | 2-4 |
| 5 | Indiana Pacers | 103.8 | 3-3 |
The interesting thing about pace -- at least at this early point in the season -- is that you can't pin down its impact on team record. The top-five pace teams run the gamut from really good (Orlando) to okay (Brooklyn, Indiana) to yucky (Phoenix, Lakers).
Hopefully the Suns will keep things brisk on the court, because a fast dumpster fire is way more fun to watch than a slow dumpster fire.