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Jamal Crawford Sees Suns as Possible Dark Horse in the West

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Jacob Hardin | Last updated 2/14/24

Since December 27th, the Phoenix Suns have surged with a record of 18-7, elevating themselves to 10 games above .500 and to the 5th seed in the Western Conference.

This resurgence has largely been led by their big 3, who have enjoyed near-full health over the past month and a half. Throughout this season, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant have collectively averaged an impressive 74.5 points per game.

Jamal Crawford, who played in Phoenix for one season in 2018, has been impressed by what he has seen recently. Following their victory over the Kings on Tuesday, Crawford remarked that the Suns could emerge as a potential “dark horse in the West.”

“If you’re a team that has one closer, that’s a luxury. Phoenix has three closers. … Once they get it together, I still think they’re a dark horse in the West.”@JCrossover on the Phoenix Suns pic.twitter.com/niWH3xhO5f

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024

Looking ahead, the Suns face the toughest remaining schedule in the league. Moreover, they find themselves navigating through a tightly contested Western Conference, with less than a 2-game gap separating the 5th and 8th seeds.

Currently trailing the Nuggets and Clippers by 4 games, the Thunder by 5, and the Timberwolves by 6, the Suns face an uphill battle for seeding in the postseason.

In ESPN’s latest NBA Power Rankings, the Suns slipped one spot to 10th. McMenamin attributed this decline to Bradley Beal’s recent injury, stating, “Phoenix beat Sacramento 130-125 in a high-scoring game Tuesday while getting only five points from Bradley Beal . But it was not because he had an off night. Beal played just five minutes after tweaking a hamstring, and coach Frank Vogel said Beal would be out until after the All-Star break. While the Suns have risen to No. 5 in the West, the injury bug still hasn’t let up this season.”

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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