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A Phoenix Suns player will experience the playoffs after all.
The Bakersfield Jam are the top seed in the D-League playoff picture, but need to replace one of their lead guards at the last moment. Jerel McNeal, considered by his coach to be the D-League MVP this season, was signed by the Utah Jazz just before the D-League playoffs start this week. McNeal averaged 18.1 points, 5.5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 44 games for the Jam.
When the Jam lost McNeal, they turned to another point guard who performed well for them this season. Today, the Phoenix Suns assigned combo guard Diante Garrett to the Jam for his second stint in Bakersfield and this time Diante gets to experience something the rest of the Suns are desperately missing this spring: a playoff run.
In his first stint with the Jam, Garrett averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 assists and 1.7 steals while appearing in seven games (five starts). During his seven-game assignment, the Jam compiled a 6-1 (.857) record, including a season-best six-game win streak.
On the season the Jam - a D-League team shared by the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors - have a 35-14 record, best in the D-League.
The Jam play their final regular season game tonight. First round playoff matchups will be announced Sunday evening.