NBA: One x-factor for every team heading into the restart

Phoenix Suns (26-39)

X-factor: Cameron Johnson 

Before the hiatus, the Phoenix Suns were six games out of the 8th seed in the Western Conference and were really struggling after losing Kelly Oubre Jr. to injury. Behind Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, Oubre Jr. was the team’s third-leading scorer but had recently been lost for the season due to a knee injury.

The Suns will have to make up at least two games to get into the playoff play-in tournament in the Western Conference when the restart begins. That may sound easier said than done with only eight games to do so, but this team shouldn’t be counted out as long as they have a healthy Booker.

One potential x-factor for the Suns heading into the bubble is Cameron Johnson. Even though it’s unfair to expect him to completely fill in the loss of Oubre Jr., he has flashed throughout this season and scored 21 points (making five 3’s) during the team’s last game heading into the hiatus.

The Suns could be a sneaky dark horse in the West, but they’re going to need someone to step up for them.