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Phoenix Suns: Best Case, Worst Case for 2015-16

By Michael Dunlap

Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) reacts against the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) reacts against the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Phoenix Suns enter the 2015-16 season with a guarded optimism (similar to last season) that will likely cause experts to throw out all sorts of Western Conference finishes, from as low as 12th to as high as seventh. Let’s take a look at those best and worst-case scenarios to see what needs to happen.

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BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

The five-year drought ends, as the Suns make the playoffs as the seventh seed in the brutal Western Conference, with a record of 50-32. This may seem like a rather humble “best” scenario, but unless Alex Len turns into a double-double machine and TJ Warren morphs into a 20-point scorer, there’s no way the Suns could be considered better than the top-6 in the West.

Reasonably, we can see a possible scenario where Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight combine to score 40 points a night with 10 rebounds, 14 assists and three steals. Tyson Chandler could have the defensive effect that coach Jeff Hornacek hopes, defending the rim well enough to allow the wings to play tighter at the perimeter.

Markieff Morris could continue his development and provide just enough clutch baskets while P.J. Tucker puts himself in the right spots and makes all the big defensive plays. If that sounds a lot like the 2013-14 season, well, you’re right.

WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

Ugly phrases like “tension behind the scenes, losing the team and decimated by injuries” crop up and the promising Suns start slow, snowballing into a hellish season that results in a 28-54 record and a new coach.

Isn’t it at least feasible that Markieff is going to be a bit salty that his brother gone? Have we seen actual proof that Knight and Bledsoe have good chemistry? What if Len, Warren and Archie Goodwin have hit their NBA ceilings?

Could a team with as much talent as the Suns finish 12th in the West? Yeah, they sure could. Consider this — the Suns had a key injury late last season (to Knight) and ended up losing 10 of their last 11 games. Why? General Manager Ryan McDonough has made some gambles and hasn’t been able to provide quality depth across the board. The team reached again this offseason to fill out the roster, hoping to strike gold with Jon Leuer, Mirza Teletovic and Sonny Weems.

Last season, they developed chemistry issues behind the scenes, with Goran Dragic growing increasingly frustrated with his role, ultimately leading to his exit. When Isaiah Thomas also got dealt, the team went from having great depth to signing 10-day contracts and giving those guys playing time.

I wish this scenario was a little more far-fetched, but it’s not. So much rests on two major questions — will Knight mesh well and realize his potential, and can Chandler stay healthy and impart his wisdom upon Len and the other Phoenix bigs? If not, the team is relying on Ronnie Price and Leuer to get big minutes. That’s not going to end well.

PREDICTION

I’m a bit more optimistic than most. I do believe in Knight and I think Chandler is in the perfect spot, where he doesn’t have to play huge minutes (and neither does Len), which will pay huge defensive dividends. The ability to ignore the idea of having to conserve energy is something Len didn’t have last year.

The team goes all-out, Bledsoe and Knight mesh well and Markieff takes the professional route and does his job — Suns win 45 games, finish in the ninth seed.

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