Why Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns are the NBA bubble’s best story
By Duncan Smith
Nothing but wins
Everything is clicking for the Suns. They’re 6-0, they have the league’s best net rating (+11.1), the second-best defensive rating (104.5) and the seventh-best offensive rating. They have the second-best rebounding percentage (53.3) and are top-10 in both effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage.
While their most recent blowout win against the OKC Thunder was versus a shorthanded squad they overcame a slow and shaky start and took care of business to win 128-101. And while the Thunder were shorthanded, they still had Chris Paul and rising young players like Lu Dort and Darius Bazley. Not full-strength, but still no pushovers.
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The path may be clear for a shot at the play-in
After handling the Thunder on Monday, the Suns will next face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday afternoon. The Sixers will be desperately shorthanded themselves with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Josh Richardson out, and Tobias Harris and Al Horford both questionable.
Their final seeding game will be on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks who may be locked into the Western Conference’s seventh seed by then. If that’s the case, the Mavs may rest starters in their final seeding game. The Phoenix Suns could find that fortune favors them in the end after all with this litany of resting squads.