Phoenix Suns fighting to avoid play-in tournament, face Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday
This could go from bad to worse in a hurry for the Phoenix Suns if they don’t finish this NBA regular season strong.
The Suns (39-29) not only have the second-toughest remaining schedule, but they’re also facing teams right there in the thick with them looking to avoid the play-in tournament, too.
“We’ve got to be better these last 14 (games), really lock in and it starts with us three and our attention to detail and our focus,” said Suns star guard Bradley Beal with ‘us three’ being Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and himself. “When we’re good and we’re focused and we’re locked in, the rest of the team will follow.”
Eighth in the West, Phoenix is a half game behind the Mavericks (40-29), who own the tiebreaker over the Suns. The Mavs have won their last two over Denver on Kyrie Irving's amazing left-handed game winner at the buzzer and San Antonio. If the postseason started today, the Suns would have to play at Dallas in a 7-8 matchup in the play-in with the winner getting the seventh seed in the West.
"We've got to come out with a lot better focus and a lot more sense of urgency from what we've been having. It's been way unacceptable. We all know that. We've got to be better."
Bradley Beal as he said it starts with "us three" in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and himself. #Suns pic.twitter.com/X7Lzz5npgU— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 19, 2024
“We’re in the playoffs before the playoffs,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said after Tuesday’s practice. “All of us want to get into the top six. We are confident that if we’re in a play-in game, we will win, but there are too many variables with a one-game situation like that. Somebody could get the flu. Somebody could roll an ankle. You’ve seen it in some of these play-in games and key guys are out.”
The 7-8 loser would play the 9-10 Lakers-Warriors winner at home for the eighth and final seed in the West.
“We want to stay away from those type of situations and hopefully go on a run starting (Wednesday),” Vogel added.
Phoenix’s next two games are out of the Western Conference – Wednesday against Philadelphia (38-30) and Thursday versus Atlanta (30-38) in the second of a back-to-back. The Suns then start a five-game road trip Saturday at San Antonio in the first of two consecutive games against the Spurs.
The Suns are 0-4 against those teams with two losses coming against the Spurs in Phoenix. The Spurs (15-54) and Hawks are the last two teams on Phoenix's schedule with a losing record.
The five-game trip continues with defending NBA champion Denver, Oklahoma City and ends with New Orleans. The Thunder (47-20), Nuggets (48-21) are atop the West while the and Pelicans (42-26) are fifth.
Phoenix is 0-2 versus OKC, but 1-1 against Denver after beating the Nuggets in overtime on March 5 on the road without Booker and 1-0 versus New Orleans. The Thunder have won their last two over Dallas and Memphis, The Nuggets bounced back from the Dallas loss to win at Minnesota, which is third in the West, and the Pelicans are riding a three-game win streak. Denver and New Orleans are 8-2 in their last 10 games while OKC is 7-3.
The 76ers are still without reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, but the Suns just gave up 140 points in Sunday’s loss to the Bucks to end a four-game road trip.
Milwaukee was without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out with a hamstring injury. The Bucks hit 18-of-27 from 3 in the first half in building an 82-60 halftime lead.
“We definitely can’t lay eggs like that,” Beal said. “We’ve got to come out with a lot better focus and a lot more sense of urgency than what we’ve been having. It’s way unacceptable. We all know that.”
Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard posted a monster double-double of 31 points and 16 assists in attacking the Suns' perimeter defense. Now Phoenix must deal with first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, whose offensive game is layered with dribble drives, multiple releases and 3s.
“He’s a dynamic guard in our league now,” Beal said. “He’s a three-level scorer. His ability to get into the paint, finish at the rim. High layups, floaters. Decent touch at midrange. He doesn’t shoot many, but he can when needed and obviously he’s a 3-point guy.”
Maxey is averaging a career-best 26.1 points a game in his fourth season out of Kentucky, shooting 38% from 3.
“He’s a force to be reckoned with,” Beal continued. “We got to make sure we’re attentive to everything, pressure for 48 minutes and making him make some tough ones.”
The Celtics and Bucks blitzed the Suns from 3 in wins during Phoenix’s four-game road trip. Boston shot 25-of-50 and Milwaukee went 24-of-41.
Vogel said working on defending the 3 was the team’s top priority in Tuesday’s practice.
"It started off good, but once guys hit a few, you got to force them inside the line."
Grayson Allen on contest rate of 3s in 1st half of #Suns loss to #Bucks. who went 18-of-27 from deep in the half.
"Close out with your hands down, all of us had at least one or two of them." pic.twitter.com/dewAyqlScY— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 17, 2024
“You’ve got to continue and never stop rotating,” Vogel said. “Second of all, you do have to get to the 3-pointer shooters not only after they’ve made a few, but to start the game. Don’t let them get going.”
Boston shot 7-of-11 from 3 in the first quarter on the Suns in Thursday’s win.
Two games later, Milwaukee made 7-of-14 in the first.
“A lot of times, just fly-by help just leads to another backside 3,” Vogel continued. “We talk about arriving on the catch. Be in your gaps, show a presence, but close out with urgency to arrive on the catch and containing your man.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns fighting to avoid play-in, face 76ers, Hawks in back-to-back
