10. Opening Night
The Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Date: Oct. 28, 2015 @ 7 p.m.
Nationally Televised? No
Why it’s important: Maybe it’s a little obvious to choose the first game of the season, but this home opener will be important on a number of levels. For starters, with Markieff Morris‘ situation up in the air, this may be the first game that sets expectations for the rest of the season. If Keef is still in town, will he start? Will he play? How hard will he play? We have no way of knowing yet.
And if Keef has been traded before the season starts, who will be Phoenix’s starting power forward? How will that player fit alongside Tyson Chandler? Is Mirza Teletovic ready to be a starter on a Western Conference team hellbent on ending a five-year playoff drought? This game will help answer those questions.
It’s also worth noting that this particular opponent is Tyson Chandler’s former team — a team that may be competing with the Suns for one of the final playoff spots in the West. With the Mavs still reeling from an offseason gone wrong, what better way to go up 1-0 in the season series than on opening night at home while Dallas is also still trying to figure itself out?
Finally, as much as I preferred the US Airways Center moniker, we should at least mention that this will be the first game ever played in the newly named Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Next: The Return Of Mook