Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams left his team with an inspiring message after their miraculous 8-0 run in the bubble left them on the edge of the NBA playoffs
- The Phoenix Suns were the hottest team in the NBA bubble, completing an 8-0 run through their final regular season games with a win over the Mavericks on Thursday.
- After the game, the fate of the Suns was out of their hands, with the outcome of the Blazers game against the Nets ultimately deciding their fate.
- Head coach Monty Williams gave his players an inspiring speech after their game, saying that regardless of what happened, they had earned the respect of the NBA.
Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams left his team with a heartfelt post-game speech after their win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
The Suns had entered the NBA bubble as a long shot to make any noise, but wound up playing hotter than any team in the league, finishing their regular season stretch in Orlando as the only team to go an undefeated 8-0.
Phoenix had done all they could do, and their ultimate destiny was out of their hands. If the Blazers won, they'd be out of the playoffs. But regardless of where the Suns' season ended, Williams wanted to let his team know he was proud of their performance.
"This has just been an unreal ride," Williams began. "We gotta go back to the hotel and see what happens, but I want you guys to know this before that happens. This was therapeutic for me, to be around a group like this. I gotta tell you guys, I love you. I do. I don't care what happens tonight, I know what I got in this room."
Williams stressed that regardless of whether or not they got a chance to play into the playoffs, they had sent a message to the rest of the league, and in the process, earned the respect of their competition.
"It has been cool for me to be with y'all every day," Williams said. "To watch you guys work and battle and gain the respect of your peers the way you have on this trip. We're not the Suns of old. You've been through a lot. You've been through a lot. And it's hard to play the way you've played every single night, and not get the respect that you deserve. Guess what, you got it."
Even if the Suns aren't able to continue their run in the bubble, the 8-0 mark they put up in Orlando showed they're a team on the rise.
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