3 things to look for when Phoenix Suns return to play
By Ryan Bawek
Here are three things Phoenix Suns fans can look for when the team returns to play in Disney World for eight more regular-season games.
As every basketball fan knows at this point, the NBA looks likely (though not assured, we are living in unprecedented times and they are far more important issues at the forefront in our society) to return with 22 of its 30 teams competing for the traditional 16 NBA playoff berths in an eight-game conclusion to the 2019-20 regular season, and the Phoenix Suns are among them.
In order to make the best-of-three series for the chance to play for the No. 8 seed in your conference (and start down 1-0), you must finish the set of games in 9th place and within four games of the No. 8 seed.
When you consider the Suns would have to essentially make up two games on the Memphis Grizzlies in this eight-game conclusion to the schedule and leapfrog the Spurs, Kings, Blazers, and Pelicans to have a chance to have to beat the Grizzlies twice in a row to make the 2020 NBA Playoffs, you can see why chances are low.
When you add in the fact that they have the most difficult schedule remaining of the 22 teams involved, you can see why their chances have been stated by some as 500 to 1.
Yes, 500 to 1…yikes.
Here is the Phoenix Suns’ likely schedule:
Mavericks, Pacers, Clippers, Mavericks, 76ers, Wizards, Heat, Thunder
I honestly don’t know why the NBA didn’t just decide to un-conference (is that a word?) the 2020 NBA Playoffs for one season considering the special circumstances and travel being relegated from traveling by bus from your nearby hotel room to the facilities at Disney World.
They should have just let teams 14 through 22 compete for playoff spots 14 through 16 in some manner, that is just my two cents.
So what should a Suns fan realistically hope for?
Progress, desire, and evidence of team chemistry…