Reliving the Glory Days: Do the Struggling Suns of the Past Bring More Joy than This Year’s Team?

I think that, similar to many other Suns supporters, the “Bubble Run” during the 2019-20 season represented a pivotal moment in my perception of the team. Prior to that, I entered many (TOO many) seasons with hopes for a better result than the previous year, though not genuinely anticipating it. Following that 8-0 run in 2020, the same optimism was present, but my expectations began to increase.

Then came the 2020-21 season. What an extraordinary year that was!

There were a few bumps along the path, but with CP3 orchestrating the plays, the Suns appeared to be solid contenders once again, falling just two games shy of the franchise’s first NBA championship.

I’m certain we all recall how painful that Finals defeat was, yet it elevated my expectations for the 2021-22 season to soaring heights (and I doubt I was alone in feeling this way). These expectations only grew as that season unfolded, with the Suns establishing various season records (including the franchise record 18-game winning streak) on their journey to an all-time best season record of 64-18.

Although the team faced some struggles toward the end of the regular season (with a 3-4 record in their last 7), my excitement remained intact. However, the events of the first round of the playoffs (a rather unimpressive 4-2 series triumph over the Pelicans) dampened that enthusiasm a bit but did not quench it. The 4-3 loss against Dallas in the semifinals did that… for a time. As the offseason continued, my expectations surged once more.

Since then, this team simply hasn’t been particularly enjoyable to follow. Despite their winning record compared to several pre-bubble run teams, I honestly recall finding more enjoyment in watching them back then than I do with today’s roster.

What’s the reason behind this? I can only surmise that it’s due to the significantly lower expectations I had for those teams. Back then, just achieving a moral victory of any sort was reason to celebrate, while these days, I find no moral victories in any of our losses, only defeats… and frequently quite disheartening losses. Even numerous victories have felt lackluster and unfulfilling. They do have their instances of brilliance, and at times they are enjoyable once more for a brief period, but those moments rarely endure, and more often than not, the victories come with a sigh of relief rather than a cheer of delight.

Between the 2015-16 and 2018-19 seasons, the Suns secured only 87 wins while accumulating 241 losses (a W/L record of .265), yet I remember genuinely enjoying those games more. Sometimes the play was unsightly during that time too, but the expectations were so low that I simply didn’t mind. There was essentially nothing to lose (aside from the games themselves) any given day, so losses didn’t trouble me as profoundly. Why would they, given that I entered nearly every game anticipating a defeat? Nowadays, losses just bring me down. This team disheartens me because it ought to be performing at a much higher level than they are. I hold much greater expectations for them compared to those prior teams, yet they continually let me down in one way or another.

There are numerous issues with this year’s roster, but perhaps the most significant problem is that I seldom witness joy and enthusiasm emanating from the players on the court. They may have moments of fun, but I hardly see it, leading me to question whether their hearts are truly in it and how much they genuinely care.

I’m not having much enjoyment watching them, and at times I find myself wishing I didn’t care so much either… but alas, I still do.

Back in the early 80s, one of my favorite bands was Triumph, and one of my favorite songs was titled “Fight The Good Fight.” The main lyric of that song stated, “Fight the good fight every moment, every minute, every day.”

Perhaps it’s just me, but I seem to recall observing those struggling teams “fight the good fight” more consistently than this one, and even in defeat, there was at least a reasonably consistent effort.

I don’t witness that frequently with this team, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask of them… especially for just a 48-minute timeframe two or three days a week.

At this moment, I simply wish I could rekindle that expectation from them again.