As the NBA world and the real world is put on hold in favor of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, here is a proposal for how to finish this season once play resumes that could give the Phoenix Suns an opportunity to participate in their first NBA Playoffs since 2010.
As it currently stands, the Phoenix Suns are 26-39 and six games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 17 games remaining. Not exactly favorable odds to make their long awaited return to postseason basketball.
While this is definitely disappointing considering their 7-4 start to the season, a team that was on pace to win 33 games after winning 19 games the previous season should still be seen as a success and definite progress under the James Jones/Monty Williams regime.
But due to the unprecedented circumstances and uncertainty in regards to the continuation of the 2019-20 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what if there was a one-time scenario in which the Phoenix Suns still had a realistic chance to play postseason basketball?
While I am clearly not a doctor or scientist, and as such, have zero insight into when, where and if the 2019-20 NBA season will resume and what that may look like, allow me to offer a fun proposal for the NBA to make the most out of this unique situation and potentially turn this into an opportunity to drive even more interest to the sport.
Spencer Dinwiddie has his. This is mine. I will say some of my inspiration for this idea came from Brian Windhorst’s piece from ESPN.
2020 NBA Playoffs Play-In Games: June 4-June 7 (Bahamas)
As Windhorst discussed, the NBA is considering essentially having all of their teams, coaching staffs, personnel, etc. in a bubble of sorts in an area less affected by COVID-19 in order to limit exposure for for all parties involved, including the teams and fans.
One of the three possible areas mentioned was the league overtaking a large ballroom space in the Bahamas that could enable them to host and broadcast games without fans.
While this was the only international destination listed, I think it would make the most sense as it would naturally be more isolated than any U.S. location such as a Las Vegas casino or a smaller university in the midwest.
You could essentially sequester all league personnel in a stretch of hotels/resorts on the island and keep them separated from locals as a safety precaution. All teams have private jets and would never have to fly commercial to arrive in or leave the Bahamas as well.
Another reason while this feels like a more ideal option is the fact that according to worldometers.info, the Bahamas has 21 total cases of COVID-19 as of April 1.
In an NBA play-in scenario featuring all 30 teams, 28 of which would be involved in a one-game play-in game to see which 16 would make the NBA Playoffs.
Here are the match-ups:
(16) Orlando Magic
vs.
(17) Portland Trail Blazers
(9) Oklahoma City Thunder
vs.
(24) Chicago Bulls
(8) Miami Heat
vs
(25) New York Knicks
(4) LA Clippers
vs
(29) Cleveland Cavaliers
(13) Dallas Mavericks
vs
(20) San Antonio Spurs
(12) Philadelphia 76ers
vs
(21) Phoenix Suns
(5) Boston Celtics
vs
(28) Minnesota Timberwolves
(15) Brooklyn Nets
vs
(18) Pelicans
(10) Houston Rockets
vs
(23) Charlotte Hornets
(7) Utah Jazz
vs
(26) Detroit Pistons
(3) Toronto Raptors
vs
(30) Golden State Warriors
(14) Memphis Grizzlies
vs
(19) Sacramento Kings
(11) Indiana Pacers
vs
(22) Washington Wizards
(6) Denver Nuggets
vs
(27) Atlanta Hawks
Suns vs. 76ers in Play-in Game
While upon first glance, most wouldn’t give the Suns much of a chance to beat the 76ers in a one-game scenario with a playoff berth on the line, they would have a better chance than you would think.
In their one meeting in Phoenix earlier this season on November 4, the Suns beat the 76ers in exciting fashion 114-109.
That gave the 76ers their first loss of the 2019-20 season and improved the Phoenix Suns record to 5-2.
Man, the world was just a much more enjoyable place in November, wasn’t it?
Further proof that the game may be more of a toss up than you would think would be analyzing the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers records since Christmas Day:
Philadelphia 76ers: 16-16
Phoenix Suns: 15-19
When you consider the 76ers lack of depth, the Suns depth in the front court to match up with Joel Embiid and Al Horford down low, and the fact that there would be an incredible amount of pressure on a 76ers team on the brink of massive changes with an early postseason exit (could it possibly Embiid’s last game as a 76er?) it is quite possible a younger, deeper Suns team playing with house money and renewed energy could move on for a likely playoff series with the Boston Celtics.
Whether or not the Phoenix Suns would be able to win a one-game play-in against the 76ers and move on to the round of 16 is up for debate, but for fun lets project what the first round of playoff series could look like.
Playoffs Round 1: June 16-June 30 (Bahamas)
The Suns beat the Celtics in their most recent match-up in Boston on January 18.
Devin Booker is also known to have a special performance or two up his sleeve playing against the historic Celtics franchise. Just saying.
(1) Milwaukee Bucks
vs
(17) Portland Trail Blazers
(8) Miami Heat
vs
(9) Oklahoma City Thunder
(4) LA Clippers
vs
*(20) San Antonio Spurs
* I have an upset here. You don’t think Pop would lead a more veteran Spurs team to an upset win in a one-game scenario against an inexperienced Mavericks team?
(5) Boston Celtics
vs
(21) Phoenix Suns
(2) Los Angeles Lakers
vs
(18) New Orleans Pelicans
(7) Utah Jazz
vs
(10) Houston Rockets
(3) Toronto Raptors
vs
(14) Memphis Grizzlies
(11) Indiana Pacers
vs
(6) Denver Nuggets
While I think it is very conceivable that the Suns could beat the 76ers in a one-game, winner-take-all scenario, projecting them to beat the Celtics in a seven-game series (even on a neutral court) is a bit of stretch. I think they realistically could win 1-2 games against a very well-coached and deep Celtics team.
I do think Devin Booker would establish himself as the best player in that series though, sorry Jayson Tatum fans.
Rest of the Playoffs
While in this hypothetical scenario the Suns’ decade-long streak of not hosting a playoff game would not end, how fun would it be to see them have a one game shot at a playoff spot and a chance to play the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series?
Talk about a great way to gain valuable experience and build momentum heading into the 2020-21 NBA season.
Just for fun, here is how the rest of the NBA Playoff schedule and off-season would shake out in my hypothetical scenario.
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NBA Playoffs Round 2: July 4-18 (Las Vegas) – No Fans
NBA Playoffs Round 3: July 20-August 2 (Las Vegas) – No Fans
NBA Finals: August 9-23 (Back in NBA Arenas)
NBA Draft: Thursday, August 27
Free Agency: September 7 (Labor Day)
In this scenario, the NBA would have a wonderful opportunity to see how ratings of NBA Playoffs and the NBA Draft would fair later in the summer (I think they would be as high or higher) and then move back the start of the 2020-21 NBA season to start on:
Opening Day 2020-21 NBA Season: Christmas Day
The NBA already controls the narrative and is the center of the sports universe pretty consistently from February to July (with the exception of March Madness, of course), and in this scenario they likely are the #1 story in sports through August and no longer compete with the NFL during their regular season.
Back to you, Phoenix Suns fans. How would you feel about this proposed end to the 2019-20 season and new NBA schedule moving forward?
Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Happy quarantining!