The NBA play-in tournament has concluded, with the Lakers, 76ers, Heat, and Pelicans all successfully clinching the last spots in the playoffs. The 7th and 8th seeds in both the Eastern and Western Conference survived, while the 9th and 10th seeds were eliminated. The only change occurred in the Western Conference, where the Lakers and Pelicans swapped positions, with the Lakers becoming the 7th seed and the Pelicans the 8th seed. As a result, the playoffs feature 8 first-round matchups: Thunder vs. Pelicans, Nuggets vs. Lakers, Timberwolves vs. Suns, Clippers vs. Mavericks, Celtics vs. Heat, Knicks vs. 76ers, Bucks vs. Pacers, and Cavaliers vs. Magic. With the play-in format, choosing playoff opponents is no longer a wise strategy. However, one team in the league defied the odds and quietly secured the “golden ticket”!
That team is the Phoenix Suns. This season, the Suns assembled a formidable trio of Durant, Booker, and Beal, embarking on a journey to the championship that no one had ever dared. Their path was fraught with uncertainty at every step. Throughout the regular season, this Western Conference powerhouse struggled with injuries and chemistry issues, making them the most unpredictable contender in the league. Despite this, the Suns managed to finish with a record of 489 wins and 33 losses, securing the 6th seed in the West and a ticket to the playoffs! For the Suns, such a record and seeding are not grounds for celebration, but they were hard-earned. The key to their success lies in their sense of urgency in the closing stages of the regular season, where they defied the odds and turned the tide!
Rewind to the final stages of the regular season, and the Suns found themselves hovering around the play-in zone, with teams like the Kings, Pelicans, and Lakers directly competing for playoff berths. What’s more, the Suns faced a grueling schedule, including matchups against Eastern and Western Conference playoff contenders like the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Clippers, Nuggets, and Thunder. Fortunately, the Suns stood tall under pressure, winning several crucial games against playoff rivals and tough opponents! Among them, on April 2nd, they defeated the Pelicans with Booker’s explosive 52 points and 9 assists, securing a 13-point victory; on April 13th, they completed a 16-point comeback against the Kings with a combined 69 points from Durant, Booker, and Beal, winning by a narrow margin of 1 point; on April 11th, facing a Clippers team with their star quartet rested, the Suns claimed a comfortable 16-point victory; and in the final game of the regular season against the Timberwolves, Beal and Booker combined for 59 points, leading the Suns to a dominant 19-point victory!
With these performances, the Suns not only outperformed teams like the Pelicans but also secured a favorable matchup against the Timberwolves, pushing them to the 3rd seed in the West and setting up a promising opportunity for success! I say this not to praise the Suns or belittle the Timberwolves but because, as the saying goes, “the sun and the moon have their own orbits.” The Suns have proven to be the kryptonite for the Timberwolves! In the regular season, the Suns faced the Timberwolves three times and emerged victorious on all occasions! On November 16th, despite Beal’s absence, Durant and Booker combined for 62 points, leading the Suns to an 18-point victory; on April 6th, the Timberwolves scored a season-low 87 points, while the Suns won by 10 points; and in the final matchup, the Suns secured a commanding 19-point victory over the Timberwolves!
The Timberwolves boast the league’s top defensive efficiency (108.4) and fewest points allowed per game (106.5), with their formidable frontcourt resources striking fear into opponents. However, they have struggled against the Suns for two reasons! First, the Timberwolves rely on hustle and system-based defense to disrupt opponents’ plays, while the Suns lack a traditional playmaking guard. Durant, Booker, and Beal are all elite scorers who can punish the Timberwolves’ defense with their individual skills. Second, the Timberwolves are not adept at half-court offense; Towns lacks post-up skills, Edwards prefers perimeter shooting, and Gobert struggles to create scoring opportunities. Their collapses often occur suddenly, with no one capable of turning the tide in critical moments!
