Last season, Suns forward Jared Dudley estimated that the team spent about 30 percent of practice on defense, whereas this season, the Suns focus at least 60 percent of an individual practice session on defensive strategies.

“I think we’re spending more time than we did in the past,” Steve Nash said. “But I also think we’re a little more detailed-oriented. We know exactly what’s expected of us and the players are doing a good job.”

Suns assistant Elston Turner has worked with Alvin Gentry to simplify their defensive schemes.

“We’re running just one pick-and-roll coverage and covering the post one certain way,” Dudley said. “Before, when you had three or four ways of covering, you’d get mixed up on the coverages.”

The simplification of strategies has kept everyone on the same page and increased the accountability amongst the players.

“Because of that we can pick out right away who is in the right spot in the rotation and who is not,” Gentry said. “It lets us and all the players know who’s done their job.”