Gary Sheffield, Jr
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Commissioner Adam Silver spent months tinkering with the NBA playoffs to get Zion Williamson’s Pelicans into mix. In the most “What the F*ck” developments, maybe ever… Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns stole the show.
Suns an example of where Knicks can go quickly. Phoenix was terrible last season (19 wins) but got a new front office, new coach and now in good position (as long as the owner doesn’t mess it up). Of course, Knicks also missing most important piece to that puzzle (Devin Booker).
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) August 10, 2020
Who ever thought the 2019 Phoenix Suns would hire Monty Williams, draft a 24-year-old rookie, then make a historic run that might land them in a playoff series with the Lakers? A shift in culture. The Phoenix Suns were now used as an example for how to turn a franchise around.
At 31-39, after going 5-0 (NBA-best) in the bubble, the Suns sit just one game behind the ninth-seeded Portland Trailblazers. Any team that finishes ninth is awarded a best-of-three series against the eight seed for a ticket into the playoffs.
It was a clause designed for Zion Williamson but it cleared the runway for the game’s newest superstar to flourish: Devin Armani Booker.
Phoenix plays the Oklahoma City Thunder today and the announcement that five of the Thunder’s top six scorers will be out… well, that helps. The line jumped from (-4) to (-8) but there is still value there on FanDuel.
That’s five of OKC’s top six scorers. https://t.co/LA171O2esh
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) August 10, 2020
The Suns have been the best team in the bubble, but they need help to make the playoffs. The Trailblazers, Grizzlies, and Spurs need to lose some games. Period. Just a couple months ago, the only talk of the any Phoenix Sun was the quarantine road trip Devin Booker shared with Kendall Jenner. Now Phoenix has teams circling their calendar.
The suns are back
Emergences from No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton and Cam Johnson made the Suns an immediate threat, while the Pelicans hide Zion behind a minutes restriction.
As much as fans love to laugh at Charles Barkley’s Suns, they should be rooting for the hottest team in the NBA to squeak into the playoffs. It’ll be great for ratings and makes for one hell of a payday for a gambler.
After all…who the hell wants to watch the Memphis Grizzlies?
Go Suns!
Love seeing Cam Johnson thrive and be a real asset for the Suns. The Suns caught a lot of flack drafting a 24 yr old rookie. Well so far it seems like they made the right choice.