MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA playoffs have officially arrived after what was a tumultuous road for the Phoenix Suns.
Are you ready? Because their coach sure is.
"Yeah they’re ready," Suns Head Coach Frank Vogel said. "They’re ready. We were very thorough and detailed in preparing for these games. But also setting a tone for what the playoffs are about and what we're trying to accomplish here in getting 16 wins."
The Suns avoided the NBA's Play-in Tournament and enter the 2024 postseason as the No. 6 seed and are set to face the No. 3 seed, the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Game 1 of the opening series on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Arizona time.
It's important to note that the Suns did sweep the T-Wolves in the regular season and are hoping to ride a similar wave of momentum while Minnesota is looking to take advantage of playing on their home court.
However, the Timberwolves still rank as one of the best defensive teams in the league and there is a reason they had one of their best regular seasons in the past two decades.
But the Suns still have valuable experience on their side in comparison to Minnesota, including Kevin Durant who isn't phased in any playoff scenario.
“Just know that we’re going to make mistakes," the Suns forward said. "But they’re going to make tough shots, and we have to know the referee might get in the way of the game. Sometimes that's how basketball goes, so if we stayed poised and stay together, we will be in good shape.”
This series will lead with physicality as Minnesota boasts two large playmakers down low in both Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic said he relishes the physical nature the playoffs bring and knows it is one of the keys to winning.
“I love it as long as refs know that," Nurkic said. "I love it. It is going to be fun to see and experience that after the season we’ve played. I can’t really describe it, we just can’t wait to get ready.”
The most obvious advantage for the Suns is that they possess the two best players in the series in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The two Team USA teammates have proven that they can put a team on their back over the course of a series.
In the meantime, The Suns, who won 10 of their last 14 games of the regular season, will look to take what's been working best and flex their muscle against the Timberwolves.
“Every player in the league sees this time as a time to keep the habits you built throughout the whole season and play even more free knowing you put that work in all year," Durant said. "It’s a relaxing time and with all the work and stuff you put in through the years you should be comfortable.”
Suns guard Bradley Beal missed several extended stretches of his Suns debut season with injuries and played in just 53 games. Booker played in 68 while Durant checked in 75. But the group was together for the last 18 games and the scary truth for their opponent, the Suns went 12-6.
Let's hope Phoenix can keep that train rolling when they visit the Timberwolves for Game 1 this Saturday.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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