Devin Booker, Suns Hope to Avoid Play-In Tournament

With the regular season winding down, Devin Booker made it clear he does not want the Phoenix Suns in the Play-In tournament.

Devin Booker wants the Phoenix Suns to avoid the Play-In tournament at all costs. The Play-In is a scary sight for teams: One loss and your season could be over.

Booker does not want that thought looming in their locker room.

“You want homecourt advantage," Booker said (h/t Duane Rankin). "Honestly, if that's not the case, I'm fine, too. I don't think you want to be in the Play-In. I think them adding the Play-In kind of dices things up. It's a one-game thing, but we just want to be there."

"You want homecourt advantage. Honestly, if that's not the case, I'm fine, too. I don't think you want to be in the play-in."

Devin Booker as #Suns are 4th in West with 11 games remaining in regular season. pic.twitter.com/lKez7er9xR

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 22, 2023

Phoenix currently sits as the four seed in the Western Conference with a record of 38-34. They only have one more win than the Minnesota Timberwolves who are slotted as the seventh seed, the first Play-In team meaning each and every game for the remainder of the regular season will be critical for the Suns.

If Phoenix were to participate in the Play-In, it would not be easy. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James, the Timberwolves with Karl-Anthony Towns and perhaps even the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic are potential matchups waiting for the Suns in the Play-In.

While the Suns may be an all-around better than some of these teams, in a one-game series anything is possible, which is scary for a team with legitimate championship aspirations.

Since it was founded in 2020, no team that participated in the Play-In has made it past the first round, another reason to try and avoid it.

Being able to dodge the Play-In will also give the Suns some extra rest that is much needed. Kevin Durant has been dealing with injuries all season and could use those couple days to rest up before a potential long playoff run.

With only ten games remaining, all eyes will be on Phoenix to see if they are able to make the playoffs.