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The Phoenix Suns are now on the outside looking in for the first time since Steve Nash arrived in Phoenix in the summer of 2004. They’re trailing the Dallas Mavericks, who’s in 8th place, by 4 games but things have been positive with the Suns’ recent win steak. Making the playoffs for the Suns is reachable but it won’t be easy. Here are some reasons why they will make the playoff and why they won’t.

Why the Suns will make the playoff:

• Steve Nash will play like old Stevie

I don’t mean like an old Steve Nash, which was how he was playing under the system of Terry Porter. What I mean is playing like his MVP seasons. We all know that he is the quarterback of the Suns and they’re a completely different team without him. I still think that he should have been voted in the All Star team if it weren’t for Terry Porter.

• The Dallas Mavericks will continue their losing streak

Currently, the Mavs are on a two game losing streak where they lost to the Lakers and the Warriors. Nine out of their last 15 games are against playoff bound teams while one of those games will be against the Suns. It looks like a tough April for the Mavs.

• The Phoenix Suns will continue their winning streak

They’re also on a streak but this time they won their past two against the Thunder and the Warriors. While eight out of their last 15 are also playoff bound teams, they could easily win the rest of the games because they’re up against teams like Sacramento, Minnesota, and Memphis. They are 7-0 against sub-.500 teams under Alvin Gentry. Go Suns!!!

Why the Suns won’t make the playoff:

• Shaq will take his annual leave

The reality is Shaquille O’neal has just played in more than 70 games once in his last seven seasons. Will he make it eight straight? We will find out as he has already played 60 games and that would mean he would have to miss at least 6 games in March and April to keep the streak alive. They have 2 back to backs, and he likes to rest on the second day so that would mean already missing two. Let’s all find out..

• The Mavs go on a crazy winning streak

It’s that simple. Even if the Suns win 10 of their last 15 games, they won’t make it if the Mavs keep on winning. The Mavs have to lose their games for the Suns to make it in the playoff.

• The Suns forget to score

The Suns are still a run and gun team and they’ve remodeled their offense to “seven seconds or Shaq” and they love to score. Take note that the Suns are 8-1 when they score 120 points or more this season. That lost came against the Miami Heat recently so if the Suns if the Suns don’t want to lose, they’ll try to reach that 120 mark.

All in all, I still think the Suns will continue their winning streak with a light schedule up ahead. They’re now closer to that 8th place and Steve Nash and Shaq won’t give up easily on this season. They also have Grant Hill, who is still motivated to win that championship or at least get out of the first round. The whole Suns team have 15 games to go for them to make it to 8th. I hope by the end of the regular season, the Mavericks are the ones who will be outside looking in.

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