Suns needing plenty of wins
win is want to
Inside
The Phoenix Suns’ eight regular-season
“seeding” games can be broken down into three parts:
Must win. Can win.
Hopefully win.
But will they what you all know, right?
Here is a game-by-game breakdown, along with predictions for how the Suns (26-39) will fare in the NBA restart that begins for them Friday against Washington at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando:
NBA players, coaches kneel at restart opener,
Friday vs. Washington Wizards (24-40)
Time: 1 p.m., Visa Athletic Center. Season series record: 0-1.
Must, can or hopefully win? win.
Bradley Beal, the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 30.5 a game, and Davis Bertans, who was having a career season, opted out of the restart. The two combined for 51 points in an 140-132 win Nov. 27 at Phoenix with Beal generating 35. Phoenix can’t afford to fall to a team without two of its best players, especially in the opener. A loss to the team with the worst record in the restart here would put doubts in Phoenix’s head right away.
Will Suns win? Yes.
Sunday vs. Dallas Mavericks (40-27)
Must
Time: 6 p.m., Visa Athletic Center. Season series record: 1-1.
Must, can or hopefully win? win.
Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton were dominant in Phoenix’s 29-point win Jan. 28 at Dallas. That was months ago, but Dallas doesn’ want to let those two have their way again. How Phoenix adjusts will be key. Handling NBA MVP candidate Luka Doncic is top priority for the Suns. Not only did he drop 42 on the Suns in the first meeting Nov. 19, which the Mavs won,120-113, he added 11 assists. Can’t allow him to dictate action.
Will Suns win? No.
Can win.
The Clippers likely will have Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell back along with Patrick Beverley by the time they play Phoenix, after all three left the bubble for family reasons, but chemistry could be a concern for the title contenders. They could look like the team that lost Oct. 26 in Phoenix minus Paul George. That was the Suns’ lone win over them this season. Los Angeles may be vulnerable right here for Phoenix to stun.
Will Suns win? No
Aug. 6 vs. Indiana Pacers (39-26)
Time: 1 p.m., Visa Athletic Center Season series record: 0-1.
Must, can or hopefully win? win
The Pacers really battered the Suns in an 112-87 victory in Phoenix. T.J. Warren put in work against his former team with a game-high 25 points. The Pacers led by as many as 25 in that game. This time, Indiana may be without All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, who left the bubble to receive treatment for plantar fasciitis of his left foot. Indiana already is in the playoffs. The Pacers may rest him until then.
Will Suns win? Yes.
Aug. 8 vs. Miami Heat (41-24)
Must
Time: 4:30 p.m., Visa Athletic Center Season series record: 0-1.
Must, can or hopefully win? win.
Hopefully
Miami was the first team to really take it to the Suns in its 124-108 road win Nov. 7. The Heat are talented, deep, can shoot, disciplined and can defend. They have a bulldog leader in Jimmy Butler, who is surrounded by young studs starting with All-Star big Bam Adebayo. They’re one of the favorites to come out of the East. This is a game where Deandre Ayton needs to assert himself as an inside force and get Adebayo in foul trouble.
Will Suns win? No.
Aug. 10 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24)
Time: 11:30 a.m., HP Field House Season series record: 0-2.
Must, can or hopefully win? win.
The Thunder are just a bad matchup for Phoenix. They have two perimeter guys who can get to the rim and have versatile offensive games in Shai GilgeousAlexander and Dennis Schröder. Danilo Gallinari is big with handles and shooting range. Steven Adams is a brute and veteran point guard Chris Paul directs it all with poise and an iron fist. Phoenix will have to play one of its better games to stay with Oklahoma City.
Will Suns win? No.
Aug. 11 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (39-26)
Hopefully
Time: 1:30 p.m., Visa Athletic Center Season series record: 1-0
Must, can or hopefully win? win.
The 76ers were the last undefeated NBA team to lose this season when the Suns upset them, 114-109, in Phoenix as Devin Booker dropped 40 in that win Nov
Can 4. Phoenix didn’t have Ayton for that one, either, as he was in the early stages of his 25-game suspension. The Sixers have moved Ben Simmons from point guard to power forward. Mikal Bridges will probably guard him either way to make for a great matchup.
Will Suns win? No.
Aug. 13 vs. Dallas Mavericks (40-27)
Time: TBD
Season series record: 1-1.
Must, can or hopefully win? win.
Dallas should clinch a playoff berth by the time this game is played. If a win or loss won’t improve or damage their playoff position, the Mavs may rest key players. Regardless of what Dallas does, Phoenix should want to close out the schedule victorious because they’ll have more on the line. At best, clinch that ninth spot to get within four games to force a play-in tournament. At worst, finish this run with a momentum win going into the offseason.
Will Suns win? Yes.
Suns NBA restart record prediction: 3-5
Must
Phoenix won’t make the playoffs but a strong eight-game stretch could lead to a spot in the play-in tournament. The Suns will benefit from all of this regardless of how it plays out because they will have spent quality time together on and off the court. That wouldn’t have happened had they not been one of the 22 teams invited to the bubble.