Suns officially in danger of slipping out of playoff race altogether

The Phoenix Suns continue to be one of the best surprises of this NBA season, but injuries have hit this group at the wrong time. Both Devin Booker and Jalen Green likely to spend some more time on the sidelines yet.

While this is part of a long and gruelling regular season, the timing could not be worse and may now see the franchise slip out of the playoff race altogether in what would be a heartbreaking setback for The Valley.

Clippers, Trail Blazers have Suns looking over their shoulder 

That’s because two teams below them are rapidly gaining steam and could overtake them before long. The L.A. Clippers now 15-3 across their last 18 games, which appears to have led one person to physically eat his words on their inexplicable rise from the dead.

For the Portland Trail Blazers it is a little different, and at 23-24 the Clippers will surely be overtaking them for the ninth spot in the West any day now. But if you’ve been paying attention to all of the trade deadline chatter, few teams are as open for business as Portland.

There is interest around the league in Jrue Holiday, while even Jerami Grant could be on the move. They’re going to be aggressive in trying to improve, whereas the Suns appear more likely to stay as they are given how good they have been. You can’t blame them for that, but the Trail Blazers look primed to capitalize.

Not helping matters above the Suns are the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, two teams who have not fallen down the standings as many expected them to. The Nuggets having performed admirably without Nikola Jokic while the Lakers stay the course despite having clear defensive issues.

Even the Minnesota Timberwolves, who up until recently looked like a potential rematch opponent for the Suns, at least have continuity and a superstar in Anthony Edwards on their side.

It’s not like the Suns had playoff ambitions this season, and even being in this position right now is a bonus. But it would be disappointing if all of these good vibes and clear improvement ended with the season concluding just like last year’s, with Phoenix watching the play-in tournament and beyond from home.

They at least have their head coach of the future in Jordan Ott, while the trio of Booker, Green and Dillon Brooks aren’t going anywhere. That might have to be enough for this fanbase by year’s end.