Let’s do this; Phoenix Suns almost certain to play basketball again

The Phoenix Suns’ chances of returning to play are looking better as now it seems like a 22-team return is all but certain.

Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe have been on top of league discussions about returning to play, and their latest reporting suggests it is simply a matter of format at this point, and that a 22-team field has essentially been solidified. That means we are very likely to see the Phoenix Suns play basketball again this season.

Let’s. Freaking. Go.

Woj and Lowe are no longer talking about how many teams might be involved like they were last week. Now, the discussion appears to strictly be surrounding the format that should be used with 22 teams:

"The mechanics of potential play-in tournaments in both conferences in any 22-team resumption are still at issue as the league enters the final stages prior to Thursday’s vote. There is still uncertainty over how much of an advantage — if any — the team who finishes the truncated regular season in eighth might receive entering the play-in tournament."

The Phoenix Suns would be involved if/when the NBA returns with a 22-team format.

It certainly gets tricky the more you dive into the format. As great as it would be for the Phoenix Suns to break their decade-long playoff drought (even if it is via somewhat of a loophole), putting them on even ground with the Memphis Grizzlies, who have firm control of the 8th seed and are six-games ahead of them in the standings seems unfair.

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Don’t get me wrong. If it comes to that, I won’t be shedding any Grizzly tears.

As long as the Phoenix Suns get a shot, I think that’s all they can ask for. However, according to Woj and Lowe, Robert Sarver is asking for more, just not for the Suns.

Reportedly, he is one of the more vocal voices pushing for a format that would include all 30 teams.

While that’s all well and good and makes sense from an ownership financial recoup standpoint, the players would have to agree, and we’ve already seen some high-profile guys pledge not to play if their team didn’t have a shot at the postseason.

Still, if the 2020-2021 season doesn’t start until December, that would mean the eight teams excluded from the return would have nine months off, which is not great. Therefore, a discussion around setting them up with some kind of summer training camp is ongoing.

That is, of course, for teams who didn’t make the top 22, and even if it was just by the orange thread on their jerseys, the Phoenix Suns appear to be in when the NBA returns.

Let’s do this.