Preview of the NBA 2021-22 season over Phoenix Suns. Data, results of the previous season, a look at their squad and future free agents, the objectives of the course, the player to watch and a forecast on the franchise.
Phoenix Suns
Template
- Market movements: Transfer of Landry Shamet, incorporations of Abdel Nader and JaVale McGee (all movements here).
- Backcourt: Chris Paul, Cameron Payne, Elfrid Payton, Landry Shamet, Devin Booker, Chasson Randle (no garantizado),
- Frontcourt: Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cameron Johnson, Abdel Nader, Chandler Hutchinson (two-way), Dario Saric, Jalen Smith, DeAndre Ayton, JaVale McGee, Frank Kaminsky.
This is how they face the season
When things work it is best not to touch them. They seem to have reached this conclusion in Phoenix, since the Arizonans have chosen this offseason for keeping the core that led them to the NBA Finals a few months ago practically intact. However, similar to what can happen with the Atlanta Hawks, there is a certain skepticism regarding their ability to repeat the success of the last playoffs, to the point that many times it is said that it would be unfair to require them to repeat what than achieved in the 2020-21 season.
This uncertainty arises basically from two reasons: the sudden level jump (they went from not playing play-in to NBA Finalists), which always generates a certain distrust regarding the project’s ability to maintain itself; and the physical problems of their rivals in the playoffs. Both the Lakers and the Nuggets and Clippers could not count, either on a specific or permanent basis, with key players in their rosters, which weighed on their potential and somewhat paved the way for Phoenix. However, being left alone with this would mean failing to acknowledge many of the things the Suns did very well throughout the course.
And it is that, just as it is true that the injuries of others played in their favor, it is no less true that those of Monty Williams were a real team from the first day of the season. Far from being a underdog who went rounds in the playoffs due to outside problems, they were the second best team in the NBA in the regular season and they were fighting for the first place until the end, so attributing their success in the playoffs to third party problems would be enormously fair. And is that in Arizona they have plenty of staff to be considered one of the best teams in the league with all of the law.
For starters, after several years with a fantastic individual performance that did not correspond to the collective performance, Devin Booker proved last year that he is made for great moments, and hopefully this time he will come out even hungrier due to the desire. to remove the thorn of the runner-up. The escort formed together with Chris Paul one of the best backcourts of the competition, with a perfect counterpoint between youth and seniority, between scoring and organization, giving rise to a most fearsome duo. Far from colliding, both complemented each other perfectly, bringing out the best both in each other and in their teammates, who also took a notable step forward.
DeAndre Ayton, without going any further, was one of the pleasant surprises of the postseason, with an above-expected performance that has generated enormous illusion regarding his figure. The center seems to understand better the game and his role in the team, which, added to the splendid choral performance of the Suns offense, helps him receive in great positions and establish himself as a great finisher in short distances. He is one of those men from whom even more growth is expected, which would help the franchise continue to aim even higher.
Another of these young men in development is Mikal Bridges, who is coming off his best season and seems to adapt better and better to the forward profile. 3&D so coveted in today’s NBA. Together with Jae Crowder, he endowed his team with enormous efficiency on the wings, forming a couple that will once again be essential for the proper functioning on both sides of the court. In fact, if Bridges manages to take another leap, we could even be talking about one of the best role players in the championship.
All this added to the explosion of players like Cameron Payne or Cameron Johnson makes it clear that there is reason to believe that these Suns were not the flower of a day (or a season), and there are even reasons to think that they could go to more. The arrivals are not the most exciting in terms of names, but both JaVale McGee, a veteran player with experience in great moments, and Elfrid Payton, who is coming off a disappointing season but was pointing good manners not long ago, can be interesting pieces that help the team and bring a certain depth. At the end of the day, it is these types of contexts, winners and exciting, that help these types of players to give their best face.
Because yes, requiring them to repeat Finals may be unfair, but of course the objective should not be less. The West is always tough and the seasons are unpredictable, but these Suns have earned the right to dream because we don’t patronize them. If things go well, here is a team ready to look anyone in the eye.
The player to watch
After helping the franchise take a huge leap in quality last season, Chris Paul is back on everyone’s lips after the extension he has reached this summer. The point guard has signed with the franchise until 2025 (although with a final year not guaranteed), by which time he will be 39 years old, which has raised the inevitable questions about whether he can continue to be a star that justifies his 30 million dollars. annual,
The truth is that, seen what was seen only a few months ago, it seems absurd to doubt CP3 for this 21-22 course. However, in a young team and in which a certain growth of many of its components is even expected, their ability to continue or not to the excellent level at which they have played will be one of the factors that determine whether these Suns continue to be candidates for everything. .
NBA preview 2021-22 Phoenix Suns, prediction
Elio Martínez, director of nbamaniacs, leaves a personal and subjective forecast on what he thinks each franchise will do during the season in the NBA 2021-22 preview.
In view of the Lakers’ shortcomings this preseason, my prognosis may be too pessimistic, placing the Suns as third in the West. However, as Aitor shows in the previous paragraphs, the Phoenix project needs another round season to confirm that we are facing a permanent candidate for the ring as long as Chris Paul does not lower his performance.
Previous team analyzed: Brooklyn Nets. Next team: Phildelphia 76ers.
(Cover photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
