The Phoenix Suns earn a ton of credit for pursuing a perfect 8-0 in the Orlando bubble, and almost earning their way into the play-in tournament between the no. 8 and no. 9 seats in the Western Conference.
Devin Booker was incredible, averaging 30.5 points and 6.0 assists while shooting more than 50 percent from the field. One of the best moments from all the boiling games was his game winner vs. the LA Clippers at the buzzer.
Watch this repeat forever.@DevinBook FREE GAME! pic.twitter.com/T9b1YGwASb
– 8-0 (@Suns) August 4, 2020
(Quick page comment – the team’s official Twitter account has been producing some unusual content over the last few weeks, and has become quite a must-follow.)
Because of what the Suns have accomplished in the relaunch of the 2020-20 season, there are people in the basketball world who are expecting great things next season.
Should the Warriors consider Phoenix a legitimate threat in the West, or at least a team that will definitely compete for a playoff spot? In short, the answer is no. Pump the brakes.
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It was just a week ago when Golden State forward Draymond Green disparaged the Suns’ organization, saying he wished Booker could leave the franchise because playing there “is not good for his career.” Since 2010 – when the Suns last made the playoffs – they have once again finished with a winning record. Furthermore, it is known that ownership is not exactly allocated to spending the necessary money on the roster, and it is fair to assume that things on the financial front may get worse due to the coronavirus pandemic.
My immediate response = this might tell us something about where Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver is financially … 🤔 https://t.co/btV12MfXoj
– Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) July 29, 2020
The reality is that Phoenix entered the bubble with no expectations, and had absolutely nothing to lose. As mentioned earlier, they should be commended for not sending messages. They took it to heart to improve individually and collectively, and wanted to prove the NBA right just by taking them.
Mission accomplished.
But you guys really will not take the Suns seriously until we see how they act as legitimate stakes on the line. Let’s see if they can attract on the occasion when the opposition treats them as a legitimate threat, and they are unable to sneak up on teams.
If fans return to arenas at some point next season, will the Suns be able to go on and win consistently? If conflict comes and they feel pressured, how will they react?
Furthermore, although it’s too early to fully project the landscape (we had to see what happens to the NBA concept and free agency in October), we know the Western Conference is loaded.
[RELATED: Will Dubs contend for ’21 title? ‘Hell yes,’ Kirk Lacob says]
The nine playoff teams of 2020 are not going anywhere, and the New Orleans Pelicans (if they stay healthy) need to be greatly improved. And then there are the Warriors, who typically play the Suns four times each season because they are in the same division. The Dubs expect the team to go with the worst record in the NBA, to legitimate 2020-21 title contenders.
Plain and simple – it will be very, very difficult for the Suns to reach the postseason next year. And we doubt the Warriors will lose any sleep and think about the franchise coach Steve Kerr was the general manager from 2007 to 2010.
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