Vinny’s View: Was Suns’ taste of the postseason worth it?

So, it was important to make the playoffs, right?

Phoenix Suns fans gripped over the possibility of watching their team post the seventh-best record in the Western Conference over 82 games and not earning a playoff berth by squandering two home play-in games.

Well, the Suns did salvage the invitation by beating Golden State only to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a best-of-seven series.

That series came to an end Monday night with a 131-122 loss at Mortgage Matchup Center. The Suns were the last kid invited to the party, and the first one to leave.

So, was it worth it?

The fact of the matter is the Suns were a different team over the second half of the season. Not as feisty. Not as able to shock the league’s upper-echelon teams on a regular basis.

So, their playoff experience was a measuring stick — a chance to gauge where they are against the best team in the world. Turns out, they’re not all that close.

Yes, playoff experience is valuable. But the overwhelming reality for the Suns is that this group as currently constructed should never play another postseason minute together. Change is needed. The Suns desperately need to get bigger and more rugged entering this summer.

Relying on grit and hustle to stay in and win games is commendable and for most of the season, was fun as hell to watch, but it takes its toll. Phoenix didn’t have the same pluck or bounce after the All-Star break.

There are many other questions to answer as well. What happened to Devin Booker in this series? Yes, the Thunder made life miserable on the Suns’ best player; so much so, many will question if the 11-year pro is still that — the Suns’ best player.

What does the future hold for Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin?

All in all, it was a fun season on Planet Orange and a much-needed palate cleanser after last year.

But it’s hard to be completely satisfied watching a team get a pat on the top of the head and a gentle push into the summer by a real contender.

Vince Marotta has been the Phoenix Suns’ PA announcer since 2016 in addition to his duties as co-host of Bickley & Marotta. On weekdays after Suns home games, you can listen to Vinny’s View on Arizona Sports 98.7 at 7 a.m. or read what he saw from the front row at Mortgage Matchup Center here.

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