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Suns 5-On-5: How Embarrassing Is Season-Ending Losing Skid?

By Jeffrey Sanders

Apr 10, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning shot in overtime against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Phoenix Suns in overtime with a final score of 121-120. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning shot in overtime against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Phoenix Suns in overtime with a final score of 121-120. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

4. What is the key going to be to pull an upset victory over the Clippers?

Bourguet: Make shots? Hope the offense doesn’t continue to die the miserably fiery death it’s been dying on a nightly basis? Outside of that, someone will need to have a big night. Bledsoe’s been playing a little bit better lately, but I’m thinking the Suns would need a 30-40 point performance from someone like one of the Morris twins to have a chance at upsetting a team fighting for the No. 2 seed.

Chasen: Not to dramatically oversimplify everything, but the Suns would do well to score some points. Here’s a number: One. As in, the Suns have cracked the 100-point mark one time in their last five games, and they’ve cracked the 105-point mark just one time in their last ten. The result? 1-4 and 1-9 respectively. Here’s another number: 80. As in, the Suns won 80% of their games this year when they scored 110+ in regulation. We’re not talking about a small sample size either. That 80% includes 20 victories out of 25 games, which is basically a third of the team’s season.

Hann: Play for the fans. The players needs to realize that playing in the NBA is a privilege and the people who pay money to support them deserve a much better effort than the Suns have shown over the past several weeks.

Saar: Hope the Clippers have nothing (seeding) to play for and rest everyone. Other than that, get physical with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, clog the passing lanes and let Chris Paul go for a billion points.

Schall: Markieff Morris has to step up, the guy we saw dominating the Cleveland Cavaliers back in January hasn’t really made an appearance since. Whether it’s fatigue, or just a lack of floor spacing, Phoenix hasn’t been able to generate high quality looks over their last 10 games. Peak Markieff draws help all over the floor and while that doesn’t necessarily provide the pull of an elite shooter, it does contort the defense enough to give the rest of the offense an edge. If he’s going it’ll provide the added benefit of pulling DeAndre Jordan away from the rim when Phoenix goes small.

Next: The McNeal Fiasco

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