Suns’ attendance could be the worst this century

Your Suns have stumbled out of the gate in 2018. Phoenix won just three of its first 16 games, and sits in the basement of the Western Conference by a healthy margin. It appears, at this time, that Suns basketball is not an attractive entertainment option for Joe Hoopsfan.

Yes, our Suns are playing in front of fewer and fewer fans. Through nine home games, Phoenix is averaging 15,536 attendees per contest. That’s 84.3 percent of Talking Stick Resort Arena’s capacity and ranks 24th of the league’s 30 teams, according to ESPN’s NBA Attendance Report.

The Suns have not finished a season ranked that low this century. The team cobbled together its worst ranking in 2014-15, when it finished 22nd. In terms of the percentage of TSRA filled, the Suns’ low mark was 2012-13, at 83.8 percent.

Ten years ago the Suns were one of five teams to fill its stadium to 100 percent capacity.

Phoenix is 3-6 in its nine home games. The home slate has featured opponents that one might think would be attractive to the average NBA fans. The three wins were against the Mavericks, Grizzlies and Spurs. The Suns fell to the Lakers, Spurs, Raptors, Nets, Celtics and Thunder.

Presently, the Mavs are saying they’re tops in attendance, filling American Airlines Center to 102.7 percent of its capacity through eight home games.

The Suns are on a four-game road swing that began with last night with a loss in Philadelphia. Their next opportunity to improve upon those disappointing attendance figures will come Tuesday, Nov. 27, when the Pacers come to town. Without looking, I feel confident informing you that plenty of good seats are still available.