January 2024
This is all going extremely well for the Suns, and while some may think this is a best case scenario, the earlier portion of the schedule is soft in all of the right places to go on a bit of a run. Another four game home stand begins 2024, but this time, the team can only manage 2-2.
The Miami Heat and L.A. Clippers stealing wins, with the Portland Trail Blazers (who the Suns will have beaten for the third time at this point) and Grizzlies being put to the sword. A trip to Los Angeles to face the two franchises there may result in the nightlife getting in the way, although the team are there from January 8 – January 11.
The rest of this month gets tricky. Going to Portland and winning yet again seems likely, and the Kings will be beaten once they get to The Valley. But there are tough trips to face the New Orleans Pelicans, followed by two home games (the Indiana Pacers could be tricky), and then the longest road trip out East of the year, at seven games.
"It's definitely a Big 3."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) August 18, 2023
Damian Lillard on Phoenix Suns trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Said as a fan, he's looking forward to watching them. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XSYzW0Ch6s
This is split across January and February, so we’ll only take the first five games. These include a trip down to Florida to face the Magic and Heat, and games at Dallas and the Pacers. Make no mistake, this is going to be hard, and the Suns could find themselves 2-3 after five games here.
When you factor the early time spent in Los Angeles, and even the tough home games against the Kings and Pacers, this looks like the most testing month to date. The record will begin to even itself out here, and an injury of any kind at this point could also make things a whole lost worse.