Bright Side Wonders, Week 23: A Modest Week

Only two games this week for the Phoenix Suns, which was much needed for the team after they had five games in seven days the week before. Finishing 1–1 this week, with a loss to the Nuggets and a win against the Jazz, it was a pretty mellow week for Phoenix as the basketball world was mostly focused on March Madness.

Here are the main questions for Week 23 we want your thoughts on:

Fending off the Clippers

After a five-game win streak and with the Suns recently dropping five straight, the Los Angeles Clippers are the closest they’ve been to dethroning Phoenix for the 7th spot. Currently 2.5 games back of Phoenix, the Clippers and Suns split their season series against each other. The Suns have the better division record, so assuming they’re the only two teams in the West that finish with the same record, Phoenix will be the higher seed.

Since their 6–21 start to the season, Los Angeles has been one of the best teams in basketball, boasting a 33–15 record over their last 48 games—the fourth-best record in the league in that stretch. Whether they surpass them in the standings or not, Phoenix is likely to face them in the first round of the play-in tournament.

How do you feel about the Clippers as an opponent for the Suns in the play-in? Do you think they can catch the Suns in the standings?

Brooks and Williams Returns Loom

Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams are getting closer to returning from their respective hand and foot injuries. Both participated in 5-on-5 over the weekend, and Jordan Ott said that “everything is headed in the right direction” when it comes to their injuries.

Williams has been out since March 3rd, and Brooks has been out since February 21st. Williams will presumably replace Oso Ighodaro in the starting lineup at center, while Brooks looks to be replacing Royce O’Neale.

How do you think Ott and company should handle both starters’ pending returns? What do you think rotations should look like?

The Final Stretch

Phoenix has just eight games left in the regular season, about 10% remaining. The team is 4–6 in their last 10 and recently endured their longest losing streak of the season. With six more road games and two more home contests, the Suns have a chance to even out their road and home records, as the team is 24–15 at home this season and 17–18 away from the Mortgage Matchup Center.

What do the Suns need to prove to you in the last two weeks of the season for you to feel confident in them come playoff time?

On the Suns’ Plate This Week

After just two games this past week, Phoenix will have four this week. Starting tonight against the Grizzlies, the team will then head to Orlando to face the Magic tomorrow, and then the Hornets and Bulls on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.