Fansided

Who can crash the playoff field in the NBA’s 22-team restart?

By Bryan Toporek

CJ McCollum, #3, Damian Lillard, #0, Carmelo Anthony, #00, Portland Trail Blazers, (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CJ McCollum, #3, Damian Lillard, #0, Carmelo Anthony, #00, Portland Trail Blazers, (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 17: Devin Booker #1 and Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns high five after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 17, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated defeated the Mavericks 121-100. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 17: Devin Booker #1 and Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns high five after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 17, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated defeated the Mavericks 121-100. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

6. Phoenix Suns

Based on talent alone, the Phoenix Suns should be featured higher than sixth here. However, they have an enormous mountain to climb relative to every other playoff hopeful.

When the season went on hiatus, the Suns were a full six games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed. Between them were the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings, all of whom were 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies, and the San Antonio Spurs (four games back).

That means for the Suns to even sneak into the play-in tournament, they’ll need to jump over the Blazers, Pelicans, Kings and Spurs and gain at least two games’ worth of ground on the Grizzlies in the standings. Anything short of a 7-1 record over their eight regular-season games likely won’t be enough.

The Suns have gone only 7-21 against teams .500 or above this season, which doesn’t lend much confidence in their ability to reel off a prolonged winning streak. Although Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton can pour in points, the Suns’ 19th-ranked defense — the fifth-worst among teams heading to Orlando — may struggle to stop higher-echelon squads from lighting them up.

The Suns may have Kelly Oubre Jr. back in the fold after he underwent surgery on a torn meniscus in early March. While reacting to an Instagram video of Oubre dunking in early May, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic wrote the 24-year-old “very well may be ready to play” if the NBA did eventually resume games.

Getting Oubre back would help, but it likely won’t be enough for the Suns to overcome the chasm between them and the Grizzlies.

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