Phoenix Suns Avoid Play-In Tournament, Face Timberwolves In First Round

Simply once you suppose the Phoenix Suns are out for the rely, they rise from the lifeless and exhibit flashes of brilliance.

Solely 5 days after a demoralizing residence loss to the LA Clippers, a recreation during which the Suns trailed 35-4 and had their spirit snatched away, they bounced again with three consecutive wins. Closing the season with a 49-33 report is perhaps thought of ‘underachieving’ for the star-laden Suns, however given the context of their chaotic season, they really put themselves in a strong place to start the playoffs.

Following their 19-point street victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Suns managed to flee the play-in event and safe the West’s No. 6 seed.

It places them in a primary spherical sequence beginning subsequent weekend. They are going to have a well-known foe: Those self same Timberwolves, who need to be feeling immense stress (and maybe a little bit of worry) after getting destroyed by Phoenix to shut the yr.

After all, sixth isn’t the place Phoenix needed to be when the season tipped off in October. They’d larger sights in thoughts, eyeing homecourt within the first spherical and all through the West playoffs.

However with the playing cards they had been dealt early within the season, this should do. The Suns wouldn’t be within the lucky place of avoiding the play-in with out the providers of Bradley Beal. He picked a terrific time to snap again into the celebrity expertise we keep in mind from Washington.

Beal’s 36 factors and 6-of-6 taking pictures from 3-point vary guided the Suns to considered one of their greatest wins of the yr. He carved up each defensive protection Minnesota tossed at him. It was additionally Beal who led the cost Friday in Sacramento, because the Suns overcame a 16-point deficit and stored their playoff hopes alive. His 12 factors and two steals within the fourth quarter supplied a spark that Phoenix wanted down the stretch.

During the last 5 video games of the season, Beal averaged 26.8 factors, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists whereas taking pictures 56.1% from two, 73.1% on threes (!), and 100% on the line.

It was undoubtedly essentially the most locked in he’s been since becoming a member of the Suns. And it couldn’t have come at a greater time.

Defensively, the Suns pressured 24 turnovers, with 19 coming within the first half. The one time they trailed was throughout the first two minutes of the sport.

“It was actually in regards to the defensive facet of the ball,” Vogel stated. “I don’t suppose I’ve ever been part of a crew that’s pressured 19 turnovers in a half earlier than. We had been flying round, our hole exercise was nice. Our protection execution was nice. It’s a snapshot of what we appear like after we’re at our greatest.”

With Phoenix getting every week of relaxation earlier than the primary spherical begins, maybe that is the prospect for them to place the unusual common season behind them.

I’ve by no means skilled a crew undergo so many ups and downs or temper shifts all through an 82-game season. The primary 30 video games of the schedule had been a slog, principally as a result of they solely had their star trio collectively for — actually — a couple of minutes.

Heading into December 28, the Suns had been 15-15 and hovering round league common in level differential. They had been as mediocre as potential.

As soon as Beal returned to the lineup after coping with a nagging again harm, they went 34-18, which equates to a 54-win tempo over a full season. They had been considered one of 5 groups to rank within the high 10 offensively and defensively throughout that span, becoming a member of the Celtics, Nuggets, Thunder, and Pelicans:

One week, it felt like an identification disaster with fixed turnover issues and fourth quarter letdowns. Their standing as West contenders typically appeared unrealistic with puzzling residence losses, head coach Frank Vogel calling out his crew’s toughness and bodily disposition, or defensive miscues brought on by an absence of communication.

There’s one factor you may say about this Suns group, nevertheless: They by no means let it spiral uncontrolled. Each tough stretch within the schedule was adopted by an emphatic reply. Phoenix’s means to flush away unhealthy losses as an alternative of permitting them to linger round and have an effect on the locker room ought to achieve them some respect. It’s a high quality Vogel carried with him to Phoenix after profitable the 2020 championship.

Trying forward, Phoenix has many causes to be optimistic about their probabilities towards the Wolves.

That is the very best state of affairs for a Suns unit that, only a few days in the past, appeared destined for the 7-8 matchup. Had they fallen to seventh and gained the play-in recreation, their opponent could be the defending-champion Denver Nuggets. As a substitute, they’re set to face a gaggle that hasn’t made it out of the primary spherical.

To say they’ve had Minnesota’s quantity this could be a gross understatement. Phoenix is the one crew within the league to go 3-0 towards the Wolves this season. However they haven’t simply been wins — not one of the video games felt shut. And that’s with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert being out there for all three.

Solely eight groups posted a optimistic cumulative differential over the Timberwolves this season. Discover the hole beneath between Phoenix and the sphere. The Suns had a +23.3 internet score towards Minnesota once you exclude rubbish time possessions:

On the similar time, the Suns aren’t falling into that lure. They refuse to get complacent on this matchup, understanding the playoffs set off a larger stage of preparation and intentionality on offense.

There will likely be extra obstacles for Phoenix to beat. As Vogel put it, the Wolves are extraordinarily well-coached, which suggests they are going to current counters and sure have a response in Sport 1.

“You possibly can’t make an excessive amount of of the common season matchups,” Vogel stated after Sunday’s recreation. “They received nice measurement. I like their crew. I’m a man that has coached two bigs all through the course of my profession, and Coach Finch has achieved an amazing job with these guys. They’ve a number of expertise on that roster. Either side of the ball. It’s going to be a dogfight.”

Devin Booker echoed these sentiments, saying it gained’t be the identical vibe when these squads tip off subsequent week.

“No, you need to transfer ahead,” Booker stated. “It’s a complete completely different dynamic. We perceive that. We’re going to begin shifting our mindset to such. Every thing goes to be completely different.”

For individuals who don’t keep in mind, the Suns received a style of this final yr, too. On the ultimate recreation of the common season, Phoenix rested its starters towards the Clippers, who elected to play their wholesome guys. It required a comeback by LA simply to safe an unimpressive win. However every week later, the Clippers marched into Footprint Heart to start a playoff sequence and stole Sport 1 when the Suns’ stars had been again within the lineup.

Above all else, Vogel is simply relieved Phoenix gained’t fall sufferer to the play-in event. Too many issues may’ve gone incorrect.

“We’re enthusiastic about it,” he stated. “We needed to complete within the high six to keep away from the chance — I imply, we’d’ve been assured in a play-in recreation, however you keep away from the potential of a foul taking pictures night time or rolled ankle altering the destiny of your season. We had been motivated to play all 82 (video games). It was going to take all 82. Ten video games in the past, we appeared on the ‘hardest schedule’ within the league by far, 10 straight opponents that had been within the high six. And we went 7-3 in that stretch. We additionally stated that stage of competitors was going to sharpen us.”

Sport 1 of the Suns-Timberwolves sequence will tip off Saturday, April 20.