5-on-5: Can the Suns sneak into the playoffs?
1. Do you still see a way for the Suns to sneak into the playoffs?
Gerald Bourguet: Not particularly. There’s still some hope due to Serge Ibaka’s unfortunate knee injury, but Phoenix has a brutal remaining schedule. The younger guys getting meaningful minutes with the team still technically in the playoff hunt is great for their development, but probably not for their playoff hopes.
Mark Harris: Honestly, by now I thought for sure that the Suns would be out of it. The narrative was that Oklahoma City was just going to run away with the final playoff spot, and yet the Suns are still 2.5 games back. The fact that the Suns are still in it is less about Phoenix and all about Oklahoma City and New Orleans. Even with Westbrook’s crazy streak, the Thunder haven’t really been winning, or winning enough to make a difference. And now that Serge Ibaka is injured, it really doesn’t seem like they will advance any further than the 8th seed. New Orleans is interesting, but they are still unproven and rarely look unbeatable. If Phoenix can go on a run, then the playoffs are still an option.
Spencer Hann: Gut feeling? No. However, statistically speaking, the Suns have better than a punchers chance. Through their offensive slump, inconsistent play and Russell Westbrook’s dominance, the Suns sit just 2.5 games behind the 8th spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix has 14 games left (2 against the Pelicans and 1 against the Thunder) to try and sneak into the playoffs. Facing the hardest remaining schedule in the NBA, the task will be daunting. Any record less than 11-3 over this last stretch of games will likely leave the Suns on the outside looking in.
Eric Saar: Technically they aren’t out of it, and probably won’t be until maybe the final week of the season. With Serge Ibaka out for the rest of the regular season and maybe even part of the playoffs, the Suns have a chance. Additionally, Kevin Durant is still sidelined for a couple more weeks. The New Orleans Pelicans have a tough schedule down the stretch like the Suns, so there is still a possibility of the playoffs.
Gavin Schall: I’m still of the school of thought that the playoffs became a pipe dream as soon as Goran Dragic demanded out of Phoenix. The Serge Ibaka injury makes it slightly more plausible, but it’s still going to take some kind of delay in Kevin Durant’s recovery and a total collapse from New Orleans. The schedule is brutal down the stretch and even with reinforcements potentially on the way in the form of Brandon Knight and Alex Len,
they haven’t shown anything post deadline that suggests they can make up the two and half games. I’m interested to see if Eric Bledsoe has another gear, the Suns need it.