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Evaluating The Phoenix Suns Heading Into All-Star Weekend

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) leaves the court after defeating the Utah Jazz at US Airways Center. The Suns won 100-93. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) leaves the court after defeating the Utah Jazz at US Airways Center. The Suns won 100-93. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Feb 8, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) reacts after being called for a foul while trying to take a charge against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Phoenix Suns 85-83. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

The Margin For Error Slim For The Playoffs

The Suns will have learned this lesson four times if they wind up missing the playoffs. First Blake Griffin taught it to them. Then Khris Middleton did the same. Then James Harden re-taught it.

This past Sunday, DeMarcus Cousins was the latest teacher, marking the fourth game-winning buzzer-beater against the Suns this season — the most since four buzzer-beaters sank the Utah Jazz during the 2006-07 season.

In two of those games, the score was tied when those buzzer-beaters came. But in the other two, the Suns had the lead and only needed a stop to grab two wins. The unlucky bounces make them that much harder to swallow, but it’s hard to gripe too much when Phoenix’s lack of late-game execution leads to those potential worst-case scenarios.

Surprisingly, the Suns lead the league in fourth quarter scoring at 27.3 points per game in the final period. They also have the NBA’s fourth best plus/minus in the fourth quarter (+1.5). How, then, are they a baffling 2-9 in games decided by three points or fewer?

Mental mistakes, a lack of rebounding and growing pains for a young team help explain it. There was the memorable loss to the San Antonio Spurs where back-to-back technicals — with the Suns down three on less than two minutes remaining — put that one out of reach. A late-game turnover against the Memphis Grizzlies in OT lost the Suns that contest in double overtime. The list goes on and on.

In the 11 games the Suns have lost since mid-December, two have come in overtime and five of the other nine have come by a combined 14 points — including three game-winning shots in the final five seconds. In other words, that margin for error? Razor-thin.

The Thunder are healthy with two MVP-caliber players in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Pelicans have their own MVP-caliber player in Anthony Davis. Phoenix’s absurdly difficult remaining schedule means they will not only have to shake off this current rut, but they’ll also have to fight tooth and nail to somehow hold on for a postseason spot.

Next: All-Star Break A Potential Savior?

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