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Five Improvements the Phoenix Suns Must Finish the Season With

By Christian Sihombing

Feb 4, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after making a three point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after making a three point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) celebrates after a buzzer beater shot against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) celebrates after a buzzer beater shot against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

CLOSE OUT GAMES

So far the Phoenix Suns have played 30 games decided by 7 points or fewer – but their odds of victory in those games were not really in their favor.

Phoenix has a 13-17 record in those games which shows that their odds of winning a close game is below 50/50. If the Suns were to win half of the games that they lost in “crunch time,” the team’s record in games decided by 7 points or fewer would be 21-9. The addition of the 8 wins would change so many things for the Suns’ current standing, possibly even keeping them in the playoff race.

The Suns would have a 26-31 record going into the second half of the season if they could have just won those 8 more close games than they lost. If this were the situation, Phoenix would currently be sitting in the eighth seed in the Western Conference, ahead of Sacramento, New Orleans, and Denver. Their rebuilding situation would not be in play because the team would have more of a winning pedigree, and they would probably would have pulled the trigger by adding a superstar to pair with Devin Booker.

If the Phoenix Suns could improve their play in crunch time, they would not be at the bottom of the Western Conference.

Performing well in the fourth quarter, where they have particularly struggled this season, will also give the team confidence going into any game for next season.

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