We are back to having great weeks on the Suns Mode podcast. The team is currently riding a three game winning streak that is part of one of the most encouraging stretches of the season for the Suns. This week's episode focuses on the two sources of encouragement: amazing bench play that was eventually supplemented by the returns of Deandre Ayton and Kevin Durant throughout the past week. The Phoenix Suns are currently the 4th seed in the Western Conference, with six games left to jockey for playoff positioning at full health. 

• The Bubble between the 4 and 12 seeds

Surrounding topics for this week

• How the Suns transformed a discouraging loss versus the Kings into one of the most important learning lessons of the season.
• Phenomenal bench play in wins versus 76ers, Jazz, Timberwolves
• Deandre Ayton's return, his impact and what it means for the Center position for the Suns
• Kevin Durant's return, debut in front of the Phoenix crowd. 
• Encouraging signs from win against the Timberwolves
• Important non-suns games with playoff implications across the West.

Suns play 3 games before the next episode of Suns Mode

• Friday vs Nuggets
• Sunday @ Thunder
• Tuesday vs Spurs

Next week, aside from the routine content, I will be assessing who I believe the Suns should favor facing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Everybody knows that the playoffs is where stuff gets real, so I suggest you hitch a ride on the Suns Mode wagon and listen as soon as next Thursday.  We will be heading into the final week of the season, so playoff episodes will officially be right around the corner :)Remember to spread love and #ValleyExcellenceWE ARE BGLETS GO SUNS LETS GO SUNS LETS GO SUNS LETS GO SUNSMIIIIIIIIIIGHTY MERCURY