1. The Homestretch Won’t Be As Brutal
The Suns have a terrific homestand in February, but it comes against a monstrous batch of opponents. They face some much easier opponents in March, but most of those games will be on the road with little time for rest in between (four of Phoenix’s 14 back-to-backs come in March).
But as always, the Suns’ season — and the season of pretty much every Western Conference team in the hunt — will come down to the last few weeks of the NBA year in April.
Last year, the Suns went through the gauntlet of Portland (twice), Oklahoma City, Golden State, Utah, Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers from the last week of March to the end of the season. They went 1-10 to close the year, finishing with 39 wins.
Schedule is easier than in the last few years. One 4-in-5 nights. No gauntlet to end things and 3 TNT games.
— Espo (@Espo) August 12, 2015
This time around, Phoenix will close the year against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers.
There are obviously some tough teams in there, but four of those nine games will be at home and if the Suns are still in the hunt at that point, they’ll have a much better shot at closing the season on the right note.
Next: Drawing Up Potential Markieff Morris Trades