Breaking down the Suns' Orlando schedule
Seven of Phoenix's eight games are against teams currently in the playoff field.
Wednesday is July 1. Normally, that means the frenzy of NBA free agency. But in the strange world of 2020, it will mean we have (finally!) entered the month when basketball will (hopefully!) be played again.
The Suns are part of the 22-team restart, staged inside a Walt Disney World bubble in order to limit possible exposure to coronavirus. That means Phoenix technically has a chance to challenge for the West’s final playoff spot. But the Suns (26-39) will need to rip through their eight-game schedule in order to jump the four teams ahead of them in the standings and close the gap on Memphis (or whichever team finishes eighth) to four games or less. Then, the Suns will need to beat Memphis (or the team in eighth) twice in a row.
And the Suns’ schedule, which was officially released Friday, is not ideal.
All but one of Phoenix’s games are against opponents that would make the postseason if it began today. There are no matchups against the teams Phoenix is competing against for that final playoff spot (Memphis, Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, San Antonio), limiting opportunities to more directly control its own fate. The slate is Eastern Conference-heavy, as the Suns were about to embark on a six-game road trip primarily to that side of the country when the league abruptly shut down in mid-March.
Phoenix must also continue to play without starting wing Kelly Oubre Jr., who has chosen to continue nursing his knee following meniscus surgery in early March. Additionally, The Arizona Republic first reported last week that two unnamed Suns players tested positive for coronavirus when mandatory team testing began, though there is reasonably enough time for them to recover and/or test negative before the team departs for Orlando.
Still, it will be interesting to see how a young roster handles the long break and bizarre return circumstances, and what information can be gleaned from these final games as the organization moves toward an interesting offseason.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of what’s ahead for Phoenix in Orlando:
July 31: Suns vs. Wizards, 1 p.m. Phoenix time, Fox Sports Arizona
Outsiders have openly wondered why either of these teams were included in the season’s resumption. And they have an argument, as Phoenix and Washington (24-40) are both well below .500 and have virtually no chance to sneak into the playoffs.
But close followers of either team know that recent Suns-Wizards games have been entertaining, wacky, high-scoring affairs.
Both teams shot more than 50 percent from the floor in their first meeting back in November, a 140-132 Washington victory. Both games last season also went down the wire, including a triple-overtime barnburner in D.C.
It’s also fun whenever Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, two sometimes-underappreciated scoring guards because of their less-than-stellar surrounding talent, are on the same floor.
Davis Bertans, a dynamite 3-point shooter who is primed for a big payday in free agency, will not play for the Wizards in Orlando.
Aug. 2: Suns vs. Mavericks, 6 p.m. Phoenix time, Fox Sports Arizona
Let’s get this out of the way: The Deandre Ayton vs. Luka Doncic storyline may never die.
But what about Ayton vs. Kristaps Porzingis?
Porzingis was on an offensive tear when the league suspended the season. Ayton, though, dropped 31 points on 13-of-15 shooting and added nine rebounds in his last matchup against the Mavericks. The Suns’ 133-104 thrashing in late January — while still mourning the shocking death of Kobe Bryant — was one of the their more complete and impressive victories of the season.
Dallas (40-27) is fighting for playoff seeding, sitting in seventh and 1.5 games behind Houston and Oklahoma City. But the Mavericks’ roster will look quite different in Orlando. Jalen Brunson (shoulder surgery), Courtney Lee (calf) are not healthy, while Willie Cauley-Stein is opting out of the restart.
Aug. 4: Suns vs. Clippers, 1 p.m. Phoenix time, NBA TV/Fox Sports Arizona
So far, this is the Suns’ only “seeding” game that will nationally televised (the Aug. 13 game against Dallas is TBD).
The Clippers (44-20), of course, are championship contenders. And seeding is at stake, as they sit 1.5 games ahead of Denver for second in the West.
Still, we know the Clippers value health over everything, especially with superstar Kawhi Leonard. This isn’t a back-to-back situation for the Clippers, and no travel is involved inside the Disney bubble. But the transition from one game to the next will still be rapid.
As of last week, reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams was still deciding whether he would play in Orlando, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Clippers also signed Joakim Noah earlier this week, and added Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson via the trade/buyout market shortly before the shutdown.
The Suns are 1-2 against the Clippers so far, including a stunning early-season victory.
Aug. 6: Suns vs. Pacers, 1 p.m. Phoenix time, Fox Sports Arizona
A big question surrounding this game is the status of Victor Oladipo, who had barely returned from a serious quadriceps injury when the league halted play. As of last week, Oladipo was unsure if he would take part in the restart, per ESPN.
But how will T.J. Warren fare in his second matchup against his former team? He scored 25 points in 30 minutes in Indiana’s methodical 112-87 victory in Phoenix back in January.
The Pacers (39-26) occupy the fifth spot in the East, but have the same record as Philadelphia.
Aug. 8: Suns vs. Heat, 4:30 p.m. Phoenix time, Fox Sports Arizona
Miami (41-24) currently sits fourth in the East, two games ahead of Indiana and Philadelphia. And its roster is full of interesting players.
Jimmy Butler is Jimmy Butler. Multi-skilled big man Bam Adebayo was a first-time All-Star this season, and is a contender for the Most Improved Player Award. Rookie Tyler Herro models his game after Booker, a fellow former Kentucky product. And Andre Iguodala was a trade-deadline acquisition.
The Heat beat the Suns 124-108 in their November meeting.
Aug. 10: Suns vs. Thunder, 11:30 a.m. Phoenix time, Fox Sports Arizona
Before the shutdown, Oklahoma City (40-24) was one of the league’s pleasant surprises. It holds the fifth seed in West playoff standings. But the middle is tight, as Houston has the same record and both teams are within one game of fourth-seeded Utah (41-23).
This matchup will feature two savvy veteran point guards in Chris Paul and Ricky Rubio. But it’s also a chance to get another look at Danilo Gallinari, who could be a big-swing option at power forward for the Suns in free agency.
Phoenix is 0-2 against Oklahoma City so far this season.
Aug. 11: Suns vs. 76ers, 1:30 p.m. Phoenix time, Fox Sports Arizona
This particular matchup, of course, is about trash-talking big men Joel Embiid and Ayton. Neither played in these teams’ first meeting, a surprising 114-109 Suns victory back in early November.
Philadelphia might also be the NBA’s most intriguing team heading into the restart.
The hiatus gave Ben Simmons’ back time to heal. But will this uber-talented roster every fully gel? How will a team that was 29-2 at home and 10-14 on the road perform in a neutral, crowd-less setting? And can they climb out of the sixth seed to (likely) avoid facing Boston in the first round of the playoffs?
This is also the second leg of the Suns’ only back-to-back in Orlando.
Aug. 13: Suns vs. Mavericks, time TBD, Fox Sports Arizona
Hello again, Mavs.
The time for this matchup is to be determined because, naturally, the national TV partners want to plug the games with the biggest playoff stakes into primetime.
Yet this will likely be the second consecutive Phoenix season that concludes against Dallas. This outing won’t double as a Dirk Nowitzki’s retirement party. It also won’t be an opportunity for Jamal Crawford to drop 51 points.
But if Dallas’ seeding is set and there are no real stakes for either team, things could get weird.
I read elsewhere that the Aug 4 game against the Clippers is on both NBA TV and Fox Sports Arizona. Is that not true? You only listed NBA TV.
Good stuff, Gina. Appreciate the research into opposing team player availability for those that may have missed some of those updates around the NBA. Shame the Suns didn't have the Nets on the ol schedule down the stretch.