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Your Phoenix Suns have become must-see TV.
This season fans have watched in wonderment the heights to which the Golden State Warriors have soared. They’ve delighted in the dazzle of the 10-game win streak the Utah Jazz have put together, and they’ve embraced with cautious curiosity the Lakers gradual ascent out of the Pacific Division basement.
But that’s not the only Western Conference storyline capturing the eyeballs of the NBA universe. The Suns are losing in historic fashion, now on an almost nightly basis, while they sink deeper and deeper into the abyss.
Once upon a time #TheTimeline inspired hope among a fan base that has not enjoyed the fruits of playoff basketball since 2010. That was just a few short months ago. Today the Phoenix faithful stagger through a basketball wasteland with no end in sight.
On February 2nd the Suns were obliterated by the Utah Jazz, 129 -97. In that game:
- Utah’s starters outscored Phoenix, 92-46
- The Suns were down 62-40 at the half
- Donovan Mitchell scored 40
- Utah shot 51% from 3
- T.J. Warren finished with a +/- of 48
Two days later, on Super Bowl Sunday, the Suns fell to the Charlotte Hornets 115-110. That loss wasn’t nearly as palatable as it first appears:
- Marquese Chriss was suspended for the game for a verbal altercation following the Utah loss
- The Suns blew a 21-point third quarter lead
- Devin Booker left the game with a hip injury and hasn’t played since
Two days later the Suns were tied with the Lakers at the half before losing by 19. It was a fairly unremarkable loss in a season full of remarkable losses.
Then the real losing started.
Last Wednesday the Suns hosted the San Antonio Spurs on national television. They lost 129-81. I read Another Brooklyn through most of the game. It was good, you should read it. Here’s what happened:
- San Antonio opened with an 11-0 run
- San Antonio was up 28-9 after one
- The Spurs led 69-31 at the half
- The Suns were down 53 at one point
- Phoenix missed 29 of 32 three-pointers
- The 48-point loss is tied for the worst defeat in Suns history, set in the season opener against the Trail Blazers.
Then we hit a new depth many of us hadn’t considered.
Monday night the Warriors squeaked by the Suns 129-83. In that game:
- Phoenix hit 3 of 23 three-pointers
- Golden State shot 58.4%
- Phoenix shot 34.7%
- The Warriors out-scored the Suns 104-59 across the final three quarters
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr replaced himself as head coach with a guy who showcased his genitalia on social media 20 months ago
One cannot argue that with that inauspicious start, Draymond Green has made a meteoric rise in the NBA coaching ranks.
That’s a lot to happen in 10 days. Add it all up and what have you got?
The Suns 46-point loss to the Warriors is their 4th 40-point loss this season. The rest of the NBA has four 40-point losses combined.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 13, 2018
Phoenix's 4 losses by 40+ points this season also match its total number of 40-point losses in its first 49 seasons as a franchise. pic.twitter.com/J0Z3yzpS7v
HISTORY
The Suns have lost six straight, 11 of 12. Phoenix has won four games in 2018. They have one game remaining before the All-Star break. We’ve come full-circle. The Jazz, winners of 10 straight, host the Suns Wednesday. Will we bear witness to another headline grabbing loss?
I’m awfully curious to see the money line. The Suns and Jazz tip off at 6p where I live.