The Suns are 3-2 through five games. Just as they were each of the past two seasons.
Every season, obviously, is its own and has little to no bearing on the next. But still, it's worth looking at a couple numbers for comparison -- even with such a small sample size.
The Suns averaged 97.4 points in the first five games in 2013, coach Jeff Hornacek's first season at the helm, and 101.4 points in 2014. The Suns finished each of those seasons averaging 105.2 and 102.4, respectively. They're averaging 104.0 so far this year.
On the defensive side, Phoenix averaged 95.0 points against in 2013 and 102.8 in 2014. The year-end numbers each of those seasons were 102.6 and 103.3. This season, Suns opponents average 98.4 points.
"I'm very confident in what we're doing," guard Brandon Knight said after Wednesday's 118-97 victory over the Kings. "I see where we can be really good. As long as we continue to build chemistry out there we'll be a very good team this year."
With so many new pieces, the Suns still are figuring things out.
The schedule this far also has been the easiest of the three under Hornacek. But things start to get tougher now, starting with a home game Friday against the upstart Pistons, followed by a trip to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder and then a home game against the Clippers.
"I don't feel too bad," P.J. Tucker said. "We don't even think about that Dallas game; we kind of just threw that one under the rug. So to look at it, to be 3-1 out of those last four games is pretty good.
"I think we're still developing, we're still getting better. We're still learning each other, playing with each other, especially on defense we're figuring it out. I think it's a decent start. I think we can be better and we have work to be done."
Eric Bledsoe is quite the bright spot right now. Bledsoe averages 20.6 points, 5.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.8 turnovers per game.
"I think Eric came in this year with a different mentality," Hornacek said. "He knows that for us to get to the next level, he's got to bring it every game we're out there."
