The NBA released the scrimmage schedule for the NBA bubble and the Phoenix Suns will have a good challenge against three strong teams.
The NBA is coming back in just a few short weeks, and that is beyond exciting. Before the eight regular-season games the Phoenix Suns will play (none of which that will be on national television), they will also take part in three scrimmage games, and we just recently found out who and when they will play.
The Suns will have three scrimmages in six days and won’t compete against any team they will play in the remainder of the regular season.
The Phoenix Suns scrimmage schedule is a tough one.
July 23: Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz, 5 p.m. PST
July 26: Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics, 10:30 a.m. PST
July 28: Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors, 12:00 p.m. PST
The NBA’s scrimmage game schedule — with Clippers, Nuggets, Heat and Pelicans all opening play on July 22: pic.twitter.com/znph78RAWW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2020
As of now, there is no word on whether or not these games will be televised, but if I had to guess, I would not get my hopes up. We’ll likely hear about them through the selected media allowed to attend, and if we’re lucky, maybe get some highlights. But these are likely to be more in line with the kinds of scrimmages NFL teams have during training camp: rough, unpolished, and very lax.
Regardless of the format or how/if fans will find out what happened, the Suns will have a challenge with these three teams, as they are a few of the best in the league. Combined, the Suns have a 2-4 record against these three teams this season with their only wins coming against the Celtics and Jazz, both of which they split the season series.
It is good for the Suns they will have an opportunity to warm-up against quality teams. Unlike the regular season when the Suns were hoping to see the lower-tier teams on their schedule, in this pseudo-preseason, the tougher the better. While the Suns avoid the likes of the Lakers and Bucks, playing against solid teams like the Jazz, Celtics, and Raptors should prep them for what would have to be a miracle run to the playoffs.
Just three short days after they scrimmage against the Raptors, the Suns will play their first real game against the Washington Wizards.