Phoenix Suns: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season
By Luke Swiatek
3. Will they make the playoffs?
The 2009-10 squad was the last Suns team to make the playoffs. Considering that was eight seasons ago, the Suns are more than due for a playoff appearance. However, that’ll be a very tall task this year.
The Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz are probably locks to make the playoffs, but the other spots are really anyone’s guess. The New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves all will be expecting to keep their playoff spots from last year.
The bottom of the conference only got better, too. The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers barely missed the playoffs last year, and the Memphis Grizzlies figure to be healthier. The Los Angeles Lakers added LeBron James, and the Dallas Mavericks added DeAndre Jordan and Luka Doncic.
It’ll certainly be an uphill climb, and a lot of things would have to break right for the Suns to make it. However, after finishing dead last in 2017-18, this season should be an improvement no matter where they finish.
The Phoenix Suns don’t necessarily have to make the playoffs for the season to be a success. If the Suns can win 30-35 games and end up somewhere between 10th and 12th in the conference (instead of getting eliminated from the playoffs in January), then that should be adequate progress. It’s still 10 more games than last year. Baby steps!