Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Phoenix Suns midseason grades

By Adam Maynes

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3: The Phoenix Suns huddles before the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3: The Phoenix Suns huddles before the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The 2017-18 season has had more ups and downs than peaks in the Rocky Mountains.

DENVER, CO – JANUARY 3: The Phoenix Suns huddles before the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 3: The Phoenix Suns huddles before the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

While he absolutely needed to go, no one would have expected former head coach Earl Watson to be fired after only three games. Thus, with less than a week in, the Suns began one of the most volatile up and down seasons in recent memory, a season in which Phoenix was originally predicted by some to have a win total in the teens, but are now, at least very loosely, vying for a playoff spot, and looking much improved over preseason predictions.

Starting the season 0-3, the Suns won four of their next five, and for the first time in two seasons actually had a .500 record. They slipped since and when Devin Booker went down in early December, it seemed that the season was entirely lost.

Yet, the young Suns didn’t seem to realize that they were supposed to lose out, and they fought valiantly, even pulling out a surprising road victory at the Minnesota Timberwolves the week before Christmas.

Following a five game losing streak in mid-December, the Suns have six wins over their last ten games, a feat that really had seemed out of their reach.

In this post, I will offer grades for each player in the form of traditional high school grades, A-F.

Fortunately no one received an F. Several players will not receive grades though, Alan Williams and Davon Reed for not having played a game yet, and Alec Peters and Danuel House for very limited playing time with the big club.

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