Phoenix Suns: Breaking down each game of the Disney schedule
By Tyler Knight
The Phoenix Suns have been given a golden opportunity, and while their schedule may look intimidating, they can tale advantage of it and win in Disney.
With the Phoenix Suns returning to play less than a month away, Suns fans are very excited to see their team can make a run for the postseason after a near 10 season drought. The Suns absolutely have the ability to make the playoffs, they just need to take advantage of the eight-game schedule they were given.
Unfortunately, they won’t play any of the teams they are competing with for the 8th seed, as the Grizzlies, Blazers, Spurs, Kings, and Pelicans, so they will have limited control of their own destiny. They will need help from these teams in order to climb the standings but before that, they have to win their own games.
The good news is many of these are winnable games. Let’s break down how the Suns matchup against all seven teams they will face in the Disney bubble.
Phoenix Suns vs. Washington Wizards | 7-31-2020, 8-14-2020
Game-1 will be against the Washington Wizards, which, on paper, should be an easy win for the Suns. John Wall is still out until next season, but the biggest key to this matchup is Bradley Beal deciding to sit out for the remainder of the season as well due to a shoulder injury.
Phoenix went 0-2 against the Wizards last season and lost to them once before the hiatus (without Ayton), but the Suns have greatly improved since then, and will be playing them without their 30.5 points per game scorer. The Wizards will also be missing their 3-point sniper and soon-to-be free agent, Davis Bertans, which will make them much easier to defend and will limit their shooting abilities.
While it may seem like an easy 1-0 start for Phoenix, they still have to worry about young big man, Thomas Bryant. Bryant is a force inside, can grab boards, and is a very good shot-blocker. He had a near-perfect game against the Suns last season, and Ayton will need to make sure that doesn’t happen again to help secure this win.
Although with Wall, Beal, and Bertans sitting out, the Valley Boyz should start with a good warmup game.