Timberwolves’ ranking in the Western Conference – Part Two

Feb 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) shoots in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

9. Phoenix Suns

Another year, another finish barely outside of the playoffs.

Seriously, when is this team going to do something different? Since their last playoff appearance way back in 2010, the Phoenix Suns have come up just short year after year.

After trying their little three-point-guard experiment (which was given up at the trade deadline although it didn’t completely fail), the Suns are back to a more traditional approach. Jeff Hornacek and the front office have decided to look into the stretch-four system, and Markieff Morris and Mirza Teletovic both have the capabilities of doing so effectively.

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I do like the fact that the Suns are going to be playing two point guards at the same time (Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight). Knight struggled after being traded to Phoenix last season, but he should find his niche as an inside-outside scoring threat with Bledsoe having the ability to get the rim and penetrate. Defensively, Knight should do fine against other point guards, and Bledsoe has the athleticism to guard bigger guards.

The addition of Tyson Chandler came at a high price, but it will pay off tremendously for the defense next year. The Suns defense has been notoriously weak in the middle in recent years (which is why they’re trying to develop Alex Len into a Chandler-esque player with hopefully more of a post-up game), but with Chandler on his way to Phoenix, that identity will be forgotten.

Hornacek is a brilliant coach, and I do believe he’s capable of coaching this team to the playoffs. However, being in the West, it’s very unlikely, and I can’t see them making it over, say, Utah or New Orleans. Another average season will soon be underway in Arizona.

Next: #8 - Sweet Playoff Music