The Phoenix Suns are facing a brutal 10-game stretch at the worst possible time.
Having just clawed their way up to the 10th seed in the Western Conference, the Suns could tumble down the standings in a hurry.
The Portland Trail Blazers — led by Deni Avdija — have been playing some inspired basketball lately. The Dallas Mavericks are still hanging on despite a wave of injuries, and Anthony Davis might return soon for the Lakers.
Phoenix has barely had any momentum all season.
Their latest two-game win streak is the first time they’ve won consecutive games since January 27. And let’s be honest, beating the struggling Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls isn’t exactly something to write home about.
At 33-37, this is a team that has massively underperformed and is staring at major changes this summer.
Despite all the disappointment, team governor Mat Ishbia remains oddly confident.
"If we get in the playoffs, I don’t think that we’re an easy out for anybody," Ishbia said.
Suns’ 10 Games Of Doom
How tough does the upcoming schedule look for the Suns?
- Mar. 21 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (56-13)
- Mar. 24 vs. Milwaukee Bucks (38-30)
- Mar. 26 vs. Boston Celtics (50-19)
- Mar. 28 @ Minnesota Timberwolves (40-31)
- Mar. 30 vs. Houston Rockets (45-25)
- Apr. 1 @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Apr. 4 @ Boston Celtics
- Apr. 6 @ New York Knicks (43-25)
- Apr. 8 vs. Golden State Warriors (40-29)
- Apr. 9 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-12)
That’s an opponent win percentage of .667. Absolutely brutal.
Every win during this stretch would feel like striking gold.
So far against these teams this season, the Suns have managed just a 2-10 record. Both wins came against the Warriors before they added Jimmy Butler.
The only silver lining? More games at home than on the road. Phoenix is 21-13 at home compared to a dismal 12-24 on the road.
Rookies Breathing New Life?
One thing that might be helping the Suns lately is finally giving rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro consistent playing time.
Over the last four games, Dunn has played an average of 27.5 minutes. During that time, he’s put up 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and a block per game.
Not bad for a rookie thrown into the fire.
Ighodaro has seen more action over the last five games, playing an average of 25.8 minutes. He’s contributing 7.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks.
Could these young guys be the spark Phoenix desperately needs to survive this gauntlet? They’ll need all the help they can get.
