Spurs injury report reads like grocery list ahead of Phoenix Suns clash

The Spurs are about to play one of their two last games of the season severely shorthanded. They're already coming down the stretch without Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and Coach Popovich, but now they'll be without several other core pieces.

Now, most fans won't care and you shouldn't. The season is over and the Spurs are better off losing these games. I may not be able to root for a loss in the middle of a game—it's not in me to cheer against my team—but I certainly understand the benefit of defeat for a team in San Antonio's position when it's all said and done.

Usually, being without so many key players would just about guarantee defeat but the Phoenix Suns are spiraling worse than any team in the league. They would probably win easily if they were full-strength, but they're also coming to the game without their star player.

Phoenix is vulnerable and the Spurs can still win

Spurs and Suns have played twice this season. Phoenix won the first game and San Antonio took the second. The most recent matchup was fresh off the Victor Wembanyama announcement. The first game back from the All-Star Break was at the Moody Center in Austin against this same ball club, and the Silver and Black walked out with a 120-109 victory. Durant was there then.

Phoenix was just eliminated from play-in contention this week, so they're not competing for anything anymore and even if they were, it wouldn't make much difference. They've disappointed again this year and the Spurs have a fair shot to beat them.

The KD-led group is 27th in defensive rating this season and it's only gotten worse as the season winds down. Over the last 10 games, they've been dead last.

To be somewhat fair to them, they've been without KD since March 30 when Easy Money Sniper injured his ankle against the Houston Rockets. They were still competing for a chance at the postseason then and who knows if they could have pulled it off had he not gotten hurt.

Then again, if Catwoman had never led Batman to Bane in Dark Knight Rises, maybe he wouldn't have reached the mindset needed to win the fight when it mattered—since we're talking about make-believe and all.

The Suns are 2-8 in their last 10 games. They've all been against tough teams, but that's a team that still has Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Those are supposed to be top-tier players. Beal's claim to that massive contract is his offensive genius. Booker can play both sides of the floor and can explode at any time but it hasn't translated to a potent offense lately (21st in off. rating).

The whole thing has been a disappointment and their inability to live up to expectations may cost San Antonio in the draft. Stephon Castle, Harrison Barnes, and Co. are going to give it everything they have and Phoenix may not be able to handle it. They're that bad.