This week marked eight months since Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia promoted Brian Gregory as the organization’s new general manager. The reaction, nationally and locally, was about what you would expect. Coming off the failed “Big Three” era, Ishbia’s reputation was in free fall, and Gregory was a college lifer with limited NBA experience.

As the organization shifted, Ishbia discussed assembling a team that played in a way that would make fans proud, which sounded more like something a college coach might say. Gregory preached the importance of alignment. It was easy to wonder whether anyone here knew what the heck they were doing.

Turns out, they did.

Don’t misunderstand. The Suns still have significant hurdles — they don’t control their own first-round draft pick for the next seven years — but they have found something that works in the desert. And that means expectations should change. Simply making the postseason is no longer enough. This team has greater potential.

Phoenix beat the Sacramento Kings 129-102 on Friday, improving to 20-14 (last season’s team that included Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal didn’t reach 20 wins until Jan. 16). The recent schedule has helped — Phoenix’s last four wins have come against opponents at the bottom of the standings — but the Suns also own two wins apiece against the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers. They’re not a fluke.

However, it’s not so much what they have done, it’s how they’ve done it. Explosive guard Jalen Green, a key part of the Durant trade with the Houston Rockets, has missed all but five quarters because of a right hamstring injury (he should be re-evaluated in the next week or two). In addition, guard Grayson Allen, who hit 10 3-pointers for 42 points in a November win against the New Orleans Pelicans, has missed 16 games for several issues, most recently right knee injury management. He’s expected back soon.

First-time head coach Jordan Ott has compensated with 15 lineups and a touch that has brought out the best in most everyone on the roster. With Durant, the Suns tried to win with star power. In a remarkable twist, the Suns this season are mainly winning with (expanded) role players.

Before Friday’s win, Ott said Phoenix’s health issues have provided time to see what others can do in different situations, some glamorous, some not. All important.

Defensive menace Dillon Brooks, whose toughness has fueled Phoenix, is averaging a career-best 21.4 points.

“He can do more than we even expected,” Ott said.

Same with Allen, who’s averaging a career-best 16.3.

“We found that Grayson can do more than we even expected,” Ott said.

And Jordan Goodwin, a 6-foot-3 energizer who collected 15 rebounds (eight offensive) in Wednesday’s loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I’d love to know that secret sauce,” Ott said of Goodwin’s rebounding energy.

When he’s not starting, and some nights even when he is, third-year guard Collin Gillespie, who’s averaging career bests in scoring (14.0), rebounds (4.0) and assists (5.1), anchors a second unit that has become the Suns’ superpower.

In seven games entering Friday, a lineup of Gillespie, Goodwin, two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea, second-year forward Ryan Dunn and second-year center Oso Ighodaro had a 15 net rating, per NBA Advanced Stats.

Against Sacramento, Gillespie (15 points) missed a transition 3, but he chased down the rebound and scored. The 6-11 Ighodaro (15 points, six rebounds) penetrated and dunked. Bouyea, signed to a two-way deal a week before Thanksgiving, hit a step-back jumper. The University of San Francisco product had 12 points against Sacramento and was plus-20 in nearly 23 minutes.

“The second unit, we take a lot of pride in coming in and changing the game,” Ighodaro said. “We take a lot of pride in sharing the ball. We’ve kind of found our identity.”

This goes along with Ott’s postgame messaging in the locker room, which the Suns often post on social media.

“Any night it’s going to be someone else,” Ott said after a recent road win. “That’s what we’re about.”

Remarkably, this has all come while Devin Booker has not been at his best. The four-time All-Star has played well, but his shooting numbers have been among the worst of his career.

Entering Friday, Booker had averaged 1.6 made 3-pointers (fewest since his rookie season) and shot 29.7 percent from beyond the arc (worst over his 11 NBA seasons).

Against the Kings, Booker set an early tone, scoring 20 of his game-high 33 points in the first quarter. However, he still struggled, making just 1 of 6 3-point attempts. And yet it hasn’t mattered as much as you might expect.

This won’t always be the case. The Oklahoma City Thunder visit Phoenix on Sunday. The last time the Suns faced the Thunder — Dec. 10 in Oklahoma — they were embarrassed, losing by 49. (Not having Booker, out with a right groin injury, didn’t help.) Some nights, scrappiness makes a difference; others, it takes you only so far.

However, the Suns have built a nice foundation. And with Green and Allen soon to return, it’s time to raise expectations.

“When we get everyone back and healthy, that’s going to be our job to collectively figure out what’s best for the group,” Ott said of how the lineup might change. “But I take it as almost like a pleasant surprise, a positive spin to it all.

“These guys have improved. From the summer into the season. That’s good for us. That’s something you can’t quite anticipate, but the injuries are going to help us in the end by learning these guys a little bit more.”

It’s a development few saw coming.