The Suns are on the Verge of Losing 16 Straight
By Adam Maynes
When Eric Bledsoe was benched two weeks ago, the writing was on the wall: The Phoenix Suns are trying to lose every game the rest of the season.
Granted, that didn’t seem like a plausible concept at the time, but as the games have rolled on and the losses piled up, the likelihood of such an occurrence has grown more and more strong by the day. After their loss early yesterday morning to the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix’s current losing streak reached eight, their longest of the season. Not a big deal, considering they are trying to lose, but still a feat, all things considered.
At the moment most Suns fans don’t care about the losing. It’s what they want too. The opportunity to both grab the number one pick overall and possibly knock the Lakers out of the top-3 thus transferring their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers is just too juicy to root for a win. (This fact would be bitter-sweet because that pick could was Phoenix’s but they traded it for a guy who was benched and then when they asked him to play, he refused. So, we take the sweet with the sour on that one). And considering that that is exactly what the organization wants as well means that we are all bound within a synergistic supporters of losing.
For the team, the young guns are still running out there every game, playing hard, building experience and confidence that should grow and bode well for the future. The fans go into a game expecting a loss, but hoping for something exciting, which between Devin Booker’s scoring, Marquese Chriss’ dunks, and Tlyer Ulis’ assists, there is plenty to watch.
It just seems odd to think that they may literally end the season on an 0-16 streak, a record of futility that has no match in franchise history.
The longest streak the Suns have ever experienced has happened twice, 13 losses.
To start the 1996-97 season, Phoenix lost their first 13 before rebounding (including a day after Christmas trade for Jason Kidd) and eventually made the playoffs nearly knocking off the Seattle Supersonics. That streak was repeated last season from January 26 through February 26, before an upset victory over the Memphis Grizzlies snapped it.
This season the remaining schedule plays out like this:
March 28 at Atlanta Hawks (37-36)
March 30 vs Los Angeles Clippers (44-31)
April 1 at Portland Trailblazers (35-38)
April vs Houston Rockets (51-22)
April 5 vs Golden State Warriors (59-14)
April 7 vs Oklahoma City Thunder (41-31)
April 9 vs Dallas Mavericks (31-41)
April 11 at Sacramento Kings (28-45)
Looking at that schedule on it’s face, one might assume that the most plausible chances for wins are against Atlanta, Portland, Dallas, and Sacramento.
However, at Atlanta while they are in the midst of a playoff push and currently sit 5th, a win there seems very difficult to steal. Portland too is in a playoff chase and they just defeated the Suns two weeks ago in Phoenix starting this current losing streak. The Suns’ last victory was against the Mavericks, but was by two points and included Eric Bledsoe. The prior meeting in Mexico City saw Devin Booker go off, included a full contingent of veterans, and Dallas still won going away.
This leaves Sacramento which may be the very best chance for a victory on the schedule. Lest we forget, the Kings have already defeated the Suns once on this streak in Phoenix, and as it is the last game of the season for the Kings, they too will be fighting to end the season on a high note and will certainly not let the Suns roll over them.
Then there is also the fact that even when the Suns play a good game, or they have a player break out for, I don’t know, 70 points, they still can’t seem to win. In the end, the young team that Earl Watson is forced to run out just isn’t that good – yet. Which again, is the intention, they just can’t seem to overcome the obstacles that they face to reach a victory.
If the Suns do lose out, their record-tying 13th loss will occur against the Golden State Warriors on April 5th. It won’t be a game to celebrate, but it will be history. Should the lose to Oklahoma City next (Russell Westbrook and company will be out for revenge) they will reach a peak of futility that will have been unmatched in 49 years of Phoenix Suns basketball.
And just if the losing itself wasn’t bad enough, losing out also means one other thing: 60 losses. A plateau not reached since 1968-69.