Although just five games remain on the schedule for the Phoenix Suns, there are still a handful of different playoff scenarios that can take place in a couple of weeks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When it comes to the tiebreaker, Phoenix holds the tiebreaker over the Warriors as they have a 3-1 record against them this season. However, the Clippers’ tiebreaker will come down to the final game of the year. If the Suns win, they get the tiebreaker, and vice versa.
While the Suns have clinched at least a play-in spot, they have yet to clinch any playoff position. With only three games separating the 4th and 8th seeds, it is unlikely they can clinch a playoff spot until their closing game against the Clippers.
With that being said, this wild Western Conference has set up a bountiful amount of playoff scenarios for Phoenix, all of which hold their own storyline.
Playoff scenarios
Suns vs. Warriors
If the season ended today, this would be the 4th vs. 5th seed matchup to tip off the first round.
The key for the Suns in this matchup is to make sure that they hold the higher seed. This season, the Warriors hold a remarkable 32-8 record at home while holding a horrible 9-29 record on the road. Meaning, if the series does come down to that game seven matchup, the Suns will want to be playing this at the Footprint Center instead of in San Francisco.
Of course, the main storyline here would be the return of Kevin Durant. Durant won two NBA finals with the Warriors not too long ago, and this would be his first time seeing them as his opponent in the playoffs.
Everybody knows that when the clock hits Spring, the Warriors are a completely different team, no matter how underwhelming they looked during the regular season. And in this case, both teams may be too good for their seeding, making the seven-game series even better.
Suns vs. Clippers
The main question surrounding the Clippers is whether or not they will have Paul George for the playoffs. George is currently sidelined due to a right-knee sprain, a massive blow to the Clippers’ playoff run hopes.
As of now, it seems like George will be unable to play for the first round, meaning the Clippers would have to find a way to advance without one of their best players. Los Angeles holds a 7-12 record this season in games where Paul George does not play.
These two teams saw each other in the playoffs not too long ago when the Suns went on their 2021 run to the NBA Finals. Phoenix took the series 4-2 pretty easily. However, it is notable that the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard due to a torn ACL.
Suns vs. Kings
If the Suns were to fall to the sixth spot in the Western Conference, they would be looking at a first-round matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings have been a true underdog story this season as they recently broke the longest playoff drought throughout all professional sports teams in the United States.
While the Suns did win the first two matchups against the Kings this season, Sacramento snapped back and has taken the final two, making the season-series tied at two.
Not only are the Kings fully healthy, but they have also shown no signs of slowing down as they hold a 15-5 record over their past 20 games.
One can only imagine the hostile environment that the visiting team awaits when they go and visit Sacramento in the playoffs. After all, their fan base has been waiting over 15 years for this moment.
Who do you want to see the Suns face off against in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs?
