Suns’ season at crossroads as they brace for toughest remaining games

Can Phoenix survive the toughest stretch in the NBA and stay playoff-bound?

Driving home yesterday, I did what most Phoenix sports fans do. I tuned in to 98.7 Arizona Sports to catch Burns and Gambo’s show. It’s been my go-to for years, a 15-year tradition that’s outlasted even the route of my commute. What used to be the trek from North Scottsdale to Ahwatukee has changed, but one thing hasn’t: the conversations on that show always spark something in me. Hearing the back and forth between Dave Burns and John Gambadaro inspired the creation of the Suns JAM Session Podcast back in 2019, and I write hear today because Dave King gave that a listen.

Yesterday, during the 4 o’clock hour, the topic was the Suns’ remaining schedule. And it had me thinking.

There’s no denying the Suns have fallen short of expectations this season. Sitting at 22-21, this is a far cry from the 47.5 wins Vegas bookies predicted, a number I thought was laughably low at the time. But here we are. We can argue about the “why” all day, but today, we’re focusing on the “what.”

What started as a promising 8-1 run has spiraled into a 14-20 skid. The Suns went 7-7 in November and stumbled hard through December with a dismal 4-9 record. While they’ve managed to steady the ship with a 7-4 January, it’s worth noting this rebound came during the easiest stretch of their schedule.

Here’s the bad news: it doesn’t get any easier from here. As Burns and Gambo pointed out on yesterday’s show, the road ahead is only going to get tougher.

With 39 games left in the regular season, the Suns are staring down a daunting path. Of those remaining games, 12 are against the top five teams in the Western Conference, nearly a third of their schedule at 31%. Adding to the challenge, they’ll also face four games against the top five teams in the Eastern Conference, including perennial powerhouses like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. These aren’t just tough matchups; they’re a gauntlet of elite competition.

Statistically, the Suns are up against it, owning the hardest remaining schedule in the entire league. Every game will demand focus, resilience, and execution as the team tries to navigate a stretch that will likely define their season.

When you begin to break down the remaining schedule, it’s easy to begin to question where this team is going to end up. Game by game, you start to see stretches in which losing streaks can occur, and I’m not sure there’s any amount of Jimmy Butler that can save it.

Here is what the Suns are facing:

Western Conference Teams

• Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8, 1st in West): 2 games remaining (Feb 5, Apr 9)
• Houston Rockets (29-14, 2nd in West): 3 games remaining (Feb 12, Mar 12, Mar 30)
• Memphis Grizzlies (29-15, 3rd in West)” 3 games remaining (Feb 11, Feb 25, Mar 10)
• Denver Nuggets (28-16, 4th in West): 2 games remaining (Feb 8, Mar 7)
• Golden State Warriors (22-22): 2 games remaining (Jan 31, Apr 8)

Eastern Conference Teams

• Boston Celtics (31-14, 2nd in East): 2 games remaining (Mar 26, Apr 4)
• Milwaukee Bucks (25-17, 4th in East): 2 games remaining (Mar 24, Apr 1)

John Gambadoro projected an 18-21 finish for the Suns, landing them at 40-42 on the season. This prediction echoed by Dave Burns. Kellan Olson, sharing a perspective similar to mine, predicted a 17-22 finish, while Lauren Koval was more pessimistic, forecasting a 14-25 stretch to close out the year.

That’s the “what.” Now, we have to ask ourselves the “how.” How can the Suns avoid this looming pitfall and strengthen their position against the odds? Basketball Reference projects a 38-44 finish and gives them a 67.6% chance of missing the Play-In entirely. The question is: how do to change the narrative?

The answer? Health.

The Suns are 20-8 in games where both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker take the floor, boasting a .714 winning percentage. Over a full 82-game season, that projects to a 59-23 record. It’s worth noting, however, that the Suns are 9-6 in the last 15 in which KD and Book played together.

While there are plenty of reasons behind the Suns’ struggles this season, availability has been a significant factor. In 35% of their games, the team has been without either Durant or Booker. And in those matchups, they’ve gone just 2-13.

Winning is going to require the Suns to navigate a period of adjustment. Nick Richards has joined the team and is still acclimating to his new role. Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic hasn’t seen action since January 7th, and there’s uncertainty about whether he’ll remain with the team much longer. As for Bradley Beal, he holds the keys to his future and, in many ways, is holding the team hostage. Winning must happen even as the Suns try to fortify the roster. It’s a challenging crossroads, no doubt.

The path ahead for the Suns is undeniably a treacherous gauntlet. The odds are stacked high against them, a mountain of obstacles that only they have the power to conquer. There is no one to point the finger at but themselves. Their journey is long, winding — much like the haunting lyrics Lennon and McCartney once wrote — and it’s one that stretches far beyond easy roads. This one? It’s lined with barbed wire and broken glass, each step more painful than the last.

But the only way forward is through. And rest assured, we’ll be here, watching, as they battle every step of the way.