Why Suns Need Win Over Celtics

The Phoenix Suns' season potentially hangs in the balance

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns are sitting in a fairly strong position with 17 games remaining - posting a 38-27 record. 

On the flip side, the next two weeks will decide the fate of the Suns' season, particularly due to an increase in competitiveness across the Western Conference.

The Suns now trail the Sacramento Kings for the six seed once again as a product of the Kings' victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last night and currently holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Suns. 

The Dallas Mavericks are also breathing down the Suns' neck, trailing only by half a game going into the day. 

On the bright side of things, the Suns have a bounce-back opportunity tomorrow night against the Charlotte Hornets, the next two Mavericks' opponents are very tough (Oklahoma City/Denver), and Phoenix only trail the New Orleans Pelicans by a single game for the five seed in the conference. 

This contest against the Celtics not only serves as an opportunity to make another statement as a viable contender, but it also could be a necessity in the pursuit of avoiding a play-in tournament scenario that no team strives to find themselves in. 

A single-game scenario against the potential likes of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, or even Stephen Curry is a proposition that would be tough for anyone to shake - even a team lead by two superstars in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. 

The Suns have a great opportunity in front of them - and they need to prove the old adage that nothing good comes easy in life tonight.