The Phoenix Suns enter their matchup Tuesday night at home against the LA Clippers having won just two out of their last 10 games. Some of the losses have been downright confusing for a team with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
In February, the Suns lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans. Phoenix has a 28-33 record and sits 3.5 games back from the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference.
But the wheels appear to be falling off in Dallas after point guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL on Monday night. The Mavs could and should decide to shut down power forward Anthony Davis.
Without Irving and/or Davis, the Suns have another chance to sneak into the Play-In Tournament.
The Phoenix Suns have a golden opportunity
NBA reporter for CBS Sports, Sam Quinn, argued the Suns should be excited for their opportunity following Irving’s injury. But he thinks Phoenix might not be able to eclipse the Mavs because of their challenging record.
“The Phoenix Suns should be doing backflips right now,” Quinn wrote. “Dallas has not only provided meaningful cover for their own mismanagement this season, but has opened the door back up for the Suns to sneak into the Play-In stage. That problem is that Phoenix can’t get out of its own way either. The Suns are 3-11 since the beginning of February.
“They somehow managed to trade their unprotected 2031 first-round pick at the deadline without making a meaningful improvement to this season’s roster. Oh, and they have the hardest remaining schedule in the NBA. They are obviously talented enough to turn this around, but we have two years of evidence suggesting they won’t.”
The Portland Trail Blazers are coming
The Suns have an opportunity to catch the Mavs, but they need to look behind them as well. The Portland Trail Blazers are half a game back from Phoenix, and they appear hungry to try and make the Play-In Tournament. Portland has won five of their last six games.
The Suns roster should be able to outpace the Trail Blazers. But then again, the race shouldn’t be this tight in March.
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