The Buck starts and stops with him

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With 16 games left on their schedule and with 5 days of rest under their belts The Suns are about to embark on their final push for the highest possible seed.  A realistic look tells us that a fourth seed is about the best the team could hope to achieve. 

The top six teams are all winning at  well above a 60% rate.    Barring any sort of collapse by the Utah Jazz and assuming they maintain their present winning percentage,  The Jazz will win 54 or 55 games.    To have a chance at a fourth seed, the Suns will have to win at least 15 of their final 16 and probably will have to  win out because the Jazz have the tie break. 

Could the Jazz stumble?  Sure, it could happen.  Is it likely?  I think not.  The Jazz are playing really well and they are relatively healthy.  They appear to  have a fair chance to catch Denver and finish as the third seed. 

What would it cost the Suns in terms of energy and physical breakdown to try and win their last 16 games?  Is this even any sort of realistic goal?   Is there any team in any sport that could actually function under that load of pressure?

We all do our best when we play or work 'in the moment'.  So called 'clutch players or teams' are simply those who perform to their usual standard in pressure situations.  (Bill Ellias has proven this in baseball).

I hope that the Suns will simply approach each of their last 16 games just like they have approached every game since the All Star break.  There is no "must win 16 in a row" pressure on this team.  If Denver or Utah suddenly shift into reverse and come back below the Suns, we'll take it. 

Hopefully, The Suns can enter the playoffs in a relaxed and healthy state.  So often in the past, the team has gone into the post season physically spent and injured.

At this point in the season there is a rare opportunity to pick up a former MVP and league scoring champ.  It is a risky proposition but Allen Iverson is sitting at home waiting for a call.  Could an organization like the Suns handle AI well enough so that he would not be a distraction?  Is AI now willing to be the back up point, 6TH man, instant offense guy that the Suns need?  Surely he and his agent have gotten the message that he will have to adjust his expectations if he would like to catch on with an NBA team.  This man is very much in need of a friend and an organization like the Suns.

I think the Suns organization is strong enough and Alvin Gentry is patient enough to handle Allen and turn him into a wonderful asset for the team.  He can probably be added for about a million dollar salary.