The Five: Why the Phoenix Suns reached win No. 25 a bit sooner this year than last

Jan 27, 2014, 4:52 PM | Updated: 4:52 pm

Arizona Sports

Last season, it took the Phoenix Suns 81 games to earn victory number 25.

They only needed 43 games to reach that mark this season.

Going into the season, the Vegas odds had the Suns winning fewer than 20 games total, so it’s understandable that they are considered to be the biggest surprise in the entire NBA. But why are the 2013-14 Suns so much better than the 2012-13 version?

Here are five reasons the Suns have gone from a team with the league’s fourth-worst record to one with its ninth-best.

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Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Tyler Zeller in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic, from Slovenia, goes in for a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (2) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Dion Waiters (3) loses the ball under pressure from Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Luol Deng (9), from Sudan, puts up a shot against Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker, top and Miles Plumlee (22) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker, left, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson fight for control of the ball in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson, right, goes up for a rebound against Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris (11) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. The Suns won 99-90. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek talks to point guard Ish Smith (3) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. The Suns won 99-90. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown, left, talks with referee Kevin Cutler in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. The Suns beat Cleveland 99-90. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris (11) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers' Tyler Zeller, right, and C.J. Miles in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. The Suns won 99-90. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (2) goes up for a shot against Phoenix Suns' Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris (11) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. Irving led the Cavaliers with 24 points in a 99-90 loss to Phoenix. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Luol Deng (9), from Sudan, is fouled by Phoenix Suns' Gerald Green in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. Phoenix won 99-90. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris (11) battles Cleveland Cavaliers' Tyler Zeller (40) for a rebound in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Cleveland. Morris scored 27 points to lead the Suns to a 99-90 win. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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