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<\/a><\/p>\nInjuries played a large role in that slide. The roster has taken hits across the rotation, forcing Phoenix to lean heavily on younger players and redistribute minutes to guys now operating outside their usual roles.<\/p>\n
So yes, Week 20 was needed.<\/p>\n
This was a stretch where the Suns realistically could have finished 4\u20130. Had it not been for a lethargic performance against the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix would have walked away undefeated. That is basketball. Some nights, you steal a game that had no business landing in the win column. Other nights, you drop one that felt secure. Over the long arc of a season, the truth usually reveals itself. Good teams rise. Bad teams fade.<\/p>\n
And even with the injuries piling up and the rotations shifting almost nightly, the Suns continue to show that they belong in the group of teams capable of rising.<\/p>\n
The Suns sit at 37\u201327 following their Week 20 performance. They remain two games back of the sixth seed in the Western Conference, although they are only three games away from the third seed. With 18 games remaining on the schedule, the standings can shift quickly. All it takes is one team catching fire and another team cooling off for the picture to change.<\/p>\n
That creates an interesting opportunity for Phoenix. The conversation can begin drifting away from the Play-In discussion and toward the postseason itself. That is where the real intrigue begins, when you start looking up the standings rather than over your shoulder. The Suns are positioned well enough to think that way. The teams currently sitting in eighth through tenth place are clustered tightly together. The Golden State Warriors hold a one-game lead on the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Clippers sit one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n
Phoenix, meanwhile, stands 4.5 games clear of that group. That cushion provides breathing room, although the real opportunity lies ahead of them. With a strong final stretch, the Suns can shift the focus away from Play-In scenarios and toward the question that matters far more in the long run. Who might they face when the postseason begins?<\/p>\n
Standings aside, this was a refreshing week for Phoenix. The best-case scenario continues to quietly unfold. Injuries are never something a team hopes for, although they have opened the door for something valuable. Opportunity. Opportunity to evaluate the youth movement that Phoenix has been slowly trying to cultivate. And this past week, the young players responded.<\/p>\n
Khaman Maluach averaged 17.4 minutes across his three appearances. In that time, he scored 3.3 points on 62.5% shooting, grabbed 5.7 rebounds, and averaged 2.3 blocks per game. The stat line is modest offensively, although the defensive impact and the activity around the rim continue to stand out.<\/p>\n
Then there is Rasheer Fleming.<\/p>\n
In four games this week, he averaged 8.8 points on 65% shooting, including 60% from beyond the arc. That number carries weight when you realize he attempted 15 three-pointers during that stretch. He also added four rebounds per game while playing 15.8 minutes a night.<\/p>\n
So Week 20 became a productive one for Phoenix. The Suns finished 3\u20131, the rookies received real run, and they rewarded the opportunity with strong play. Phoenix still has work to do. The climb out of the Play-In conversation will require continued effort over the final stretch of the season. The hope is that reinforcements begin returning soon. Jordan Goodwin could be back this week. Mark Williams may be another week or two away. Dillon Brooks still appears to be three to four weeks from returning.<\/p>\n
March might represent the turning point. The Suns are trying to regain health, stabilize the rotation, and continue developing their young players at the same time. If those paths meet at the right moment, the final stretch of the season could become very interesting for Phoenix.<\/p>\n
@ Sacramento Kings, W, 114-103<\/p>\n
Possession Differential: +1.6Turnover Differential: +5Offensive Rebounding Differential: +8<\/p>\n
The Suns looked like they were trying to jumpstart themselves, and ultimately they had the ability to do so. Phoenix outscored Sacramento 68-45 over the second and third quarters, and that was enough to get the win.<\/p>\n
vs. Chicago Bulls, L, 105-103<\/p>\n
Possession Differential: +2.6Turnover Differential: +2Offensive Rebounding Differential: +5<\/p>\n
Same script as the game against the Kings, but the Suns couldn\u2019t get jump-started. They had a late run, but it was too little, too late. It wasn\u2019t the worst loss of the season, but it may be the most lethargic.<\/p>\n
vs. New Orleans Pelicans, W, 118-116<\/p>\n
Possession Differential: +1.2Turnover Differential: -2Offensive Rebounding Differential: -1<\/p>\n
Phoenix was in control the majority of the game, but the Pelicans made it quite uncomfortable in the end. It took a record number of three-pointers attempted \u2014 58 by the Suns \u2014 to beat New Orleans by 2 points. Time will tell whether that is concerning.<\/p>\n
vs. Charlotte Hornets, W, 111-99<\/p>\n
Possession Differential: -6.2Turnover Differential: -5Offensive Rebounding Differential: -3<\/p>\n
Well, this was a nice little surprise, wasn\u2019t it? The Suns closed out the week with a win over one of the hottest teams in the NBA. How? 3o points and 10 assists from Devin Booker, 24 points from both Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green, and a 16-point performance from rookie Rasheer Fleming. And same damn good defense.<\/p>\n
Inside the Possession Game<\/p>\n
Weekly Possession Differential: -0.8Weekly Turnover Differential: 0Offensive Rebounding Differential: +6Year-to-Date Over\/Under .500: +10<\/p>\n
The first thing I notice when looking at this week\u2019s graph is that pink line. The Suns are sitting 10 games over .500 to close out the week. It is only the second time this season we have finished a week that high, with Week 15 being the only other instance.<\/p>\n
Take a look at that pink line. It hasn\u2019t dipped below the .500 mark since Week 2. This team has been at .500 or better since November 8. They spent a total of 7 games under the water this entire season. I hope we appreciate that. I really do.<\/p>\n