00:00Hey Suns fans, welcome back. Before we dive into these final 27 games I want to share a
00:06quick story that connects our past to our present. My first writing job was at a newspaper in suburban
00:11Chicago called the Daily Herald. They were famous for their deep coverage of local high school
00:16sports. Just two years before I got there, they named a local player as the captain of their
00:21annual all-area team, which was a massive deal. That player was Brian Gregory, yes the same Brian
00:27Gregory, who is now the general manager of the Phoenix Suns. He was a terrific player back in
00:32the day, but that's not the only reason I bring it up. He's also a perfect symbol for what this
00:37team
00:37is chasing right now. When Brian held his first press conference last May, he was mocked by some
00:42for constantly using the word alignment. He was a long-time college coach stepping into the NBA,
00:48and to skeptics, his energetic positive message seemed a little naive for a tough league like this.
00:53But look at where we are today. Coming out of the All-Star break, the Phoenix Suns are arguably the
00:58best story in the entire NBA. Before the break, they won 32 games. Think about that. They've already
01:05surpassed what many predicted they'd win in the entire season. This isn't just a lucky streak.
01:10This is a team built on grit, filled with players having career years, all committed to a common goal.
01:16And you, the fans in downtown Phoenix, have responded with sold-out crowds and a love affair with this team.
01:21It's a feeling we've only felt a few times here in the Valley over the last two decades.
01:26And speaking of Brian Gregory, while some might see him as a placeholder for our aggressive owner
01:30Matt Ishbia, his impact is real. He was the one who immediately saw the talent in Jordan Ott and
01:35recommended him as the head coach. So here we are, with 27 games left on the schedule. A few months
01:41ago,
01:42just making the play-in tournament would have felt like a win for a franchise that many had left for
01:47dead. But now, our hopes have changed. We've seen this team beat the elite. We've seen them take
01:53care of business against teams they should beat. They fight for offensive rebounds. They sprint back
01:57on defense and they rarely lose focus. Now, the next step is clear. We need to finish in the top
02:03six of the Western Conference. We need that guaranteed playoff series. That's the kind of
02:08experience a young team needs to truly grow. It won't be easy. As we head into these final weeks,
02:14the best teams in the league are going to start locking in. The Suns won't be able to win in
02:19the shadows anymore. The question is, do they have enough fuel in the tank to cross the finish line?
02:24With what we've seen so far, what do you think? Are these Suns ready to not just make the playoffs,
02:29but to make some real noise?
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