Phoenix finds themselves in an interesting slot for the postaseason.
Mission accomplished. Well, kind of. The Phoenix Suns avoided the Play-In Tournament following their convincing win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday (as well as three other games going their way). In doing so, they clinched the sixth seed in the Western Conference, which means they will play the Wolves in the First Round.
This was the ideal matchup for numerous reasons. But the most important reason that this matchup is desirable is the sheer fact that the Suns landed with the sixth seed. The fact that they swept Minnesota in their season series? A bonus, although we know that the postseason is a different animal.
How have teams that are seeded sixth in the postseason performed in the past? How have teams that we know and recognize in Suns history performed slotted in that position?
Let’s start with our local history. Prior to this season, Phoenix finished with the 6 seed just three other times. We know that no matter what the scenario, the finish is always the same: they fell short of a title. But how close did they come to reaching the ultimate goal?
1983-84: Eliminated in the Western Conference Finals
Everything you’d ever want to know about this time is covered in an in-depth exposé I wrote about one of the most surprising teams in Suns history. It was a nice way to spend some days researching during COVID.
What was surprising about this team was how the 41-41 team made a march all of the way to the Western Conference Finals, ultimately losing to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers.
2000-01: Eliminated in the First Round
Backcourt2K, which included Jason Kidd and Penny Hardaway, underperformed relative to expectations but still went 51-31 in a stacked Western Conference in 2001. Hardaway played in just 4 games and the team was led in scoring by second-year forward Shawn Marion (17.3), Kidd (16.9), and “Uncle” Cliff Robinson (16.4).
Phoenix drew the third-seeded Sacramento Kings who were a year away from becoming an entertaining and lethal team in the NBA. Peja Stojakovic shot 41.9% from three, Chris Webber averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds, and they were eliminated 3-1 (back when the First Round was a best-of-five series).
2007-08: Eliminated in the First Round
The Seven Second or Less Suns gave us numerous memorable moments and only one #6 seed. That year, which saw Phoenix go 55-27, was the year Phoenix traded Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat in exchange for Shaquille O’Neal. The team was in first place in the West when the transaction occurred, but after going 21-13 to end the season, they fell to 5th by record and the sixth seed by division standings.
Their reward? The San Antonio Spurs.
Tony Parker dominated Pheonix with 29.6 points, Tim Duncan had 24.8 and 13.8 rebounds, and the Suns were done in five games.
Extrapolate it out and look at the overall picture relative to success in NBA history and you’ll find that only two teams ever seeded sixth have made a trip to the NBA Finals. The first to do so was the 1981 Houston Rockets, a team that finished 40-42, but together a magical run behind Moses Malone, 5’9” Calvin Murphy, and Robert Reid.
The other team to do it? Well, it was also the Houston Rockets, but this time they won it all. Yes, the 1995 Rockets, who took the #2 seeded Phoenix Suns to seven games and won on the Mario Elie ‘Kiss of Death’ three-pointer. Damn you Danny Schayes.
Look away.
I still have yet to replace the remote I broke at 13 years old in my mother‘s living room. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so heartbroken. Seriously. I don’t any relationship gives me the chills like watching that video again.
So the Suns are in sixth.
The odds are not in the favor to win the NBA Finals, or even make it there. But, if you read the stories above, you’ll see the one common thread that we are all holding on to. The hope that something magical can happen. That, against all odds, the Suns’ chemistry wills them to the elusive championship the organization has been seeking for 56 years.
If the @Suns want to win the #NBAFinals, they’ll need to do what the 95 Rockets did.
Champions by Playoff Seed (Finals App. by Seed):
#1 seed: 51 (89)
#2 seed: 16 (39)
#3 seed: 8 (16)
#4 seed: 1 (5)
#5 seed: 0 (1)
#6 seed: 1 (2)
#7 seed: 0 (0)
#8 seed: 0 (2) pic.twitter.com/6WbYqV4mid— John Voita (@DarthVoita) April 14, 2024
It all begins on Saturday against the Timberwolves.