The 2016-17 season may have been a down year record-wise for the Phoenix Suns, but there were still plenty of moments worth remembering and looking back on fondly.
From four game-winning shots, to amazing dunks, blocks, and assists, coupled with a few moments of silliness, the 2016-17 season was actually one that was more positive than negative. When the season began no one would have ever thought that Devin Booker would score 70 or that the rookies would play such a centered role down the stretch. And yet here we are. Even after 58 losses, Valley of the Suns fans are still bristling with excitement and optimism about the future.
That is why we wanted to put together a list of the 16 top moments of the year and organize them bracket-style for YOU to vote on.
Like the NBA playoffs, there will be two brackets of eight moments each, with the four game-winning shots as the top-2 seeds in each bracket. From there each subsequent event will be organized as best we could consider in order of excitement.
Of course you can leave your comments below, but the entire voting process will take place on our Official Valley of the Suns Twitter account, @ValleyOfTheSuns. Every three days I will post one of the head-to-head’s with videos of the event as well as a short summary. Read the summary, watch the video, and then head over to our Twitter account and cast your vote!
Don’t forget to favorite and re-tweet!
The voting for each head-to-head matchup will be active for 48 hours so there will be plenty of opportunities to vote!
Bracket of Champions #1
1. Tyler Ulis Game Winner v 8. Leandro Barbosa Celebrates Too Early
2. Booker Sacramento Game Winner v 7. Booker Chasedown Block v LA
3. Booker Breaks Chambers’ Scoring Record v 6. Booker ‘Not in My House’ Comments
4. DJJ First Two Dunks in SDC v. 5. Marquese Chriss Summersault Dunk
Bracket of Champions #2
1. Bledsoe Game Winner v 8. Heading into the All-Star Break with 36pt win v Lakers
2. Booker Dallas Game Winner v 7. Marquese Chriss Chasedown Block v Knicks in OT
3. Brandon Knight Portland One-Handed Slam on 11/3 v 6. Booker Signing Autograph After Ejection
4. Booker Shot to Send Pelicans game to OT v. 5. Ulis Halfcourt Alley-Oop to DJJ v Memphis
Schedule:
May 4 – Bracket 1 – 1v8
May 7 – Bracket 1 – 2v7
May 10 – Bracket 1 – 3v6
May 13 – Bracket 1 – 4v5
May 16 – Bracket 2 – 1v8
May 19 – Bracket 2 – 2v7
May 22 – Bracket 2 – 3v6
May 25 – Bracket 2 – 4v5
May 28 – Bracket 1 – Winners of 1v8 and 4v5
May 31 – Bracket 1 – Winners of 2v7 and 3v6
June 3 – Bracket 2 – Winners of 1v8 and 4v5
June 6 – Bracket 2 – Winners of 2v7 and 3v6
June 9 – Bracket 1 Semifinalist Winners
June 12 – Bracket 2 Semifinalist Winners
June 15 – Bracket Winner 1 v Bracket 2 Winner
1. Tyler Ulis Game Winner:
With the Suns down two points with only 11 seconds remaining in regulation, it seemed that the biggest play of the game would actually be Eric Bledsoe’s driving layup that tied the score and conciveablynsent the game to overtime. However, this wouldn’t not be the case as a Celtics inbounds pass blunder led to a Tyler Ulis steal and a desperation three at the buzzer by Tyler Ulis – a number one seed in the first Bracket of Champions.
8. Leandro Barbosa Celebrates Too Early
Late in a blowout game against the Charlotte Hornets, Leandro Barbosa stole a pass, nearly fell out of bounds, got it up to Derrick Jones Jr. who himself lost his balance as he flipped a pass back to Barbosa. The team was firing on all cylinders and was obviously excited because as Barbosa passed the ball over to a streaking, and wide open, Jared Dudley, he turned the crowd and celebrates. Had the shot gone in, it would have been a Sports Center Top-10 highlight. The funny thing is, Dudley’s shot was a brick.