The Suns are sitting in 11th place but the season is far from over.

The Phoenix Suns have reached the halfway point of the season with a 21-20 record. If you had told me before the season started that this would be their standing, my first question would have been, “What went wrong?” Even now, it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what happened.

But instead of dwelling on the past, it’s time to look ahead. Despite their record, Saturday afternoon’s win against the Detroit Pistons has left me feeling cautiously optimistic about what’s brewing in Phoenix.

The Suns still have some character and focus issues to address, but in their win against the Detroit Pistons — where Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 71 points — they showed a glimpse of the team they were meant to be. Interestingly, it wasn’t about their three-point shooting, as they connected on just 28% from beyond the arc and made a season-low seven threes. Instead, for the first time in recent memory, the Suns balanced finesse with physicality.

Perhaps the difference was the addition of Nick Richards, who delivered an impressive debut with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Against a Pistons team I respect — gritty, young, and trying to claw their way up — the Suns on the road finally showed some tenacity. For once, they avoided the boneheaded blunders that usually script their own demise. It wasn’t just a win; it was an entertaining battle that ended with the result we all wanted.

The Suns, sitting in the 11th seed of the Western Conference, are just two games out of sixth and four games out of fourth. A whole half-season stretches ahead like a blank slate waiting to be filled. There’s time. Time to flip the script, to shake off the mediocrity. And you know what? Call it hope, call it lunacy, but I feel the tide starting to shift.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

The rook does it again! Ryan Dunn has been hitting his stride lately, finding comfort in his starting role and bringing the hustle and defense this team needs.

Despite a shaky game against the Wizards, Dunn delivered a career-high 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, a performance strong enough to earn 43% of the vote and secure his 4th Bright Side Baller award.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Quite a night in the Motor City. Here are your nominees:

Kevin Durant

36 points (13-of-27 FG, 2-of-8 3PT, 8-of-12 FT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers, +12 +/-

Devin Booker

35 points (11-of-22 FG, 1-of-5 3PT, 12-of-13 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -5 +/-

Nick Richards

21 points (7-of-8 FG, 7-of-9 FT), 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, +22 +/-

Ryan Dunn

12 points (5-of-13 FG, 2-of-5 3PT), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 turnovers, -11 +/-

Grayson Allen

7 points (1-of-4 FG, 1-of-2 3PT, 4-of-4 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 2 turnovers, +3 +/-

Voting time!