Hoops Habit
Fansided

What are the greatest NBA teams to fall just short?

By Rahul Raja

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Tony Allen #9 of the Memphis Grizzlies goes up for a shot on Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on November 2, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Tony Allen #9 of the Memphis Grizzlies goes up for a shot on Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on November 2, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Make the NBA Playoffs: 2013-14 Phoenix Suns (48-34)

If the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs were at the wrong time, then the 2013-14 Phoenix Suns were at the wrong place. That place is the bloodbath Western Conference. They managed to carve out a 48-34 record, but it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs.

They had a motley crew of veterans and talented young players but no real superstar despite a young Goran Dragić making the All-NBA Third Team. They had bounced back from their previous season where their franchise player Steve Nash signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, former All-Star Grant Hill signed with the LA Clippers, and they had won only 25 games.

This great 23-game turnaround would have been much more memorable if they had broken into the playoffs. The last time that they made it was in the 2010-11 season and the franchise wouldn’t return to contention until the 2020-21 season making for a long and rough ten years.

Had they been in the East, they would have been the third seed. In fact, the Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs in the East that season with a 38-44 record which would have been good for the 11th seed in the West. This caused conversations about abolishing conferences to arise, but nothing came of those talks.

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