Phoenix Suns: 5 Keys to a Deep Playoff Run for the Suns

The Phoenix Suns are still one of those borderline teams fighting for the final spot in the West and are currently only half a game back of Houston.

Making the playoffs and losing in the first round is one of the most frustrating things for a fan to see happen to his team. You always want your team to win the championship, but sometimes a deep playoff run gives you that feel-good feeling you need for the future.

If the Suns make the playoffs, I want to see them make some noise, and these are the ways in which they could accomplish that.

Steve Nash Staying Healthy

Nash could see minimal rest leading up to the playoffs, and his health will determine just how successful the Suns can be. He is their captain and the best player on the team.

However, the one statistic that tends to jump out when talking about Nash is his age (38). He is not getting any younger, and when a player gets up near 40, it is a whole lot easier to pull or tweak something.

If Nash is injured, the Suns can forget any chance they have of making a decent run, but if he plays, no team in the league can count them out on any given night.

More Minutes and Production from Markieff Morris

Markieff Morris has been a solid contributor to the Suns team when many thought he was drafted too high. He has shown a good three-point stroke to compliment Steve Nash and has improved as the season progressed.

He does tend to be somewhat inconsistent and seems not to give his best every time he is on the floor. That needs to change, and it needs to change immediately.

I would not classify him as lazy—he is young and has a bright future, but the Suns need him to grow up just a little faster than most rookies because they need his production.

Michael Redd to Continue Getting Minutes

There was a time when Michael Redd was considered one of the top scorers in the game and looked like the next big thing. Injuries have since put him on the bench and have limited his abilities.

He has shown that he can succeed in the offense the Suns have, and they need to continue trusting him with more minutes. Redd is not the great player he used to be, but he can still shoot and score when needed.

If utilized correctly as a shooter and allowed the occasional isolation, he can be the difference the Suns need to advance.

Stop Teams from Making Runs

Sometimes it will look as though the Suns have the game under control, but then they allow one huge run that all of a sudden has them at a disadvantage.

The game of basketball is decided by streaks, and the Suns have a tendency to get cold when it matters most. They had both the Heat and Thunder on the ropes yet allowed insane offensive outbursts to lose both games.

Phoenix showed they have it in them to beat great teams, but they need to close more effectively and not let the other team get into rhythm.

Play Like It's the Last Time

Steve Nash could be gone this offseason, and with him leaves the most successful era of Phoenix basketball. The Suns need to play as if this is their last shot, which it is for many of the people on the court.

An emotional team is hard to beat if the emotion running through the locker room is right. Not despair, not anger, but hunger and determination.

Those emotions have to be seen in the eyes of every single player, and they need to go out and leave everything on the court.

Steve Nash can lead one more run in Phoenix, and maybe if this team impresses him enough, he will decide to stay.

Thank you for reading and feel free to leave a comment!