A 5-6 start to the 2026-27 season for the Phoenix Suns must be contextualized. 

It hasn't always been an "aesthetically pleasing" product over the first 11 games (including a 101-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday), but there are reasons for optimism. 

Miles Bridges played a role in Phoenix starting another win streak, with the wing speaking on the keys to the team finding continued success over the rest of the season following the win.

Bridges spoke with Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic following the win. 

The statement that stood out?

None other than the Michigan State product opening up on the areas of the game Phoenix must excel in to continue their recent winning ways.

"Try to turn them over and keep them off the offensive glass... I feel like as long as we don't turn the ball over and we make them turn the ball over, and we rebound the ball, we'll be good."

This tends to be a typical way to test who wins an average game on a nightly basis, with ball security, off-ball opportunism, and generating second-chance opportunities being at the front of mind in the modern game.

On the positive side of things, the Suns are excelling in the turnover department. Phoenix is creating the fifth-most turnovers across the league (16.5) per game, and are giving away the seventh-fewest (13.2) as well. 

In theory, this gives the Suns more opportunities to win other major statistical categories - including in fast-break points - as well as getting more shots up on average.

While Phoenix is doing well here, the shortcomings in the rebounding department continue to be the most blatant weakness on the team.

Phoenix is the only team in the NBA that is averaging less than 40 rebounds per game as a team.

This is a massive issue, especially in the defensive rebounding department. The Suns are only outdone by the Toronto Raptors (27.2) in this department. This not only exposes the roster clearly missing Mark Williams at the moment, it also exposes the propensity to give up copious amounts of second-chance points - especially against bigger rosters.

While the issue isn't plaguing the Suns much during the homestand, there's a definite chance it will in December and January. 

Bridges is correct at the core of things - but is the rebounding issue actually attainable to correct? 

The next opportunity to test this hypothesis comes on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.