NBA on TNT's Kenny Smith says youth, bubble setting could help Suns do well in season restart
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Under normal circumstances, inexperience often dooms teams competing for a playoff spot, but the NBA restart is unlike anything the league has experienced.
That's why NBA on TNT analyst Kenny Smith doesn't see that variable hindering the youthful Phoenix Suns in this 2019-20 season resumption in Florida.
"I know they're hoping they can get into into the playoffs," said Smith, a two-time NBA champion. "The one thing that you would say about that team is experience. Playing in a bubble, there is no experience or inexperience. It's just if you're good that night or not."
Combine the Orlando bubble elements of no fans and neutral court settings with Phoenix's youth, and Smith can see the Suns (26-39) representing themselves well in the restart. They open their eight regular-season "seedings" schedule Friday against Washington (24-40) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
"It's not like the older players are going to play worse, but the younger players, I think, will play better in this scenario," Smith added.