2. Brutal Schedule
Of Phoenix’s remaining 37 games, a staggering 27 of them are against teams that are currently in the playoffs or are right in the postseason hunt. Last season it took 49 games to make the playoffs. If that holds true again in 2014-15, the Suns have to win 23 of their last 37 games to reach that magic number.
That’s a tall task for any Western team, let alone a young one like the Phoenix Suns. It’s not impossible by any means, since Phoenix currently has a three-game lead on the Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans, but even with OKC’s schedule heating up as well, the Suns will be hard pressed to hang on here.
In 45 games the Suns have lost 3 times on buzzer beaters and are 0-4 in overtime - including two double OT losses. Breaks haven't been there
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) January 24, 2015
Five games through their franchise-record eight-game home stand, the Suns are a respectable 4-1. But the remaining three opponents are no cupcakes, with the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls all coming to town.
After the home stand, the Suns take on the Golden State Warriors on the road, the Memphis Grizzlies at home and the Blazers in Portland. They also end the season with games against Golden State, Utah, Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans, San Antonio and Lob City in April.
Yikes.
Every team in the West has a somewhat brutal schedule, but the bigger problem here might be that the Suns haven’t battened down the hatches for the impending hurricane season like they should have….
Next: Bad Losses At Home