The Phoenix Suns went 2-2 this week with wins against the Grizzlies and Bulls, and losses to the Magic and Hornets. The team officially completed their four-game road trip and their second-to-last week of the regular season.
Here are the main questions for Week 24 we want your thoughts on:
Heading for the 7th Seed
It’s nearly a lock that the Suns will be the Western Conference’s 7th seed, meaning they’ll host the West’s eighth seed in the first round of the Play-In Tournament. The Trailblazers and Clippers are currently tied
for the eighth spot. Phoenix went 2-1 against the Blazers and 2-2 against Los Angeles. This year is set to be Phoenix’s first time in the play-in since it was created during the 2019-2020 season. Having already clinched a record over .500, the Suns have surpassed many people’s preseason expectations, despite some struggles the past few months.
If someone had told you before the season that the Suns were going to be the 7th seed in the West, would you have believed them?
Starting Lineup Change
With Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams back in the starting lineup, the Suns started them alongside Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Jordan Goodwin in yesterday’s win against the Bulls. It was the first time the Suns went with that starting lineup this year, and it sent Royce O’Neale and Collin Gillespie to the bench. O’Neale leads the team in starts this year, while Gillespie is third behind Devin Booker. Gillespie and Goodwin played the same number of minutes, but the team had a different look to start the game. O’Neale played 21 minutes.
How do you feel about the Suns’ playing a new starting lineup this late into the season with their main starters all healthy?
Additionally, Jordan Ott shrank the rotation, playing just nine guys on Sunday. Do you think that’s a sign of things to come as the Play-In nears?
A New Sun in the Record Books
After hitting two threes on Thursday, Collin Gillespie officially became the franchise leader in most threes made in a season, surpassing Quentin Richardson’s record he set in the 2004-2005 season. With 230 threes, the guard is hitting three triples a game at a 41% clip. Coming into the season, he was playing a reserve role, now, he’s leading the team in total minutes this year during his career season.
What does Gillespie’s improvement say about the Suns’ ability to develop young talent? How much money would you be willing to pay to keep him in Phoenix this offseason?
On the Suns’ Plate this Week
The Suns will face Kevin Durant on Tuesday at the Mortgage Matchup Center for the first time since he was traded to the Rockets in the offseason. Then, they’ll host the Mavericks on Wednesday for the final home game of the regular season, before they head to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Friday, to set up their final game of the regular season on Sunday, when they’ll play the Thunder.
