If you were wondering why the Phoenix Suns have, thus far, attacked the offseason with only tinkering, it might be better to remember the full context of the past two years instead of their 2021-22 extinction.
Phoenix has finished the past two regular seasons with a top-two record and has NBA Finals and Semi-Conference appearances at the end of those years, respectively.
Not bad.
That’s why, after the team re-signed Deandre Ayton and reshuffled the depths of the rotation, ESPN’s NBA analysts and writers believe the Suns aren’t in bad shape when it comes to competing. for a playoff spot and more. In other words, no Kevin Durant, no problem.
ESPN panel picked Phoenix to end the regular season atop the Western Conference and with 56 wins despite their competition which is only getting stronger. Kendra Andrews writes:
Of course, Phoenix is coming off a second surprising slump against the Mavericks. And they didn’t make any major additions to the roster over the summer. Frankly, they probably don’t need it. They need Chris Paul to be healthy, Devin Booker to play at MVP caliber, and any animosity between Deandre Ayton and the franchise erased.
And although the ESPN roundtable didn’t pick the Suns as the championship favorite, Phoenix was still there to push further into the playoffs.
ESPN had the Suns as the third most likely team to exit the Western Conference Finals despite no one on the panel selecting them as their No. 1. 1 option. Phoenix is still sixth in the likelihood of winning the NBA Finals, behind the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat.
It’s remarkable with the Warriors returning to their title team and having developing players who potentially bolster the depth chart. The Clippers are expected to fire Kawhi Leonard to join Paul George and a wing-heavy roster that can rival anyone.
Boston now has NBA Finals experience, and Milwaukee will be a challenge as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy. That’s not to mention the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers, who added talent to the cores with multiple All-Stars.
The Suns, with a strong quartet of role players around Paul, Booker, Ayton and Mikal Bridges, still carry weight in this discussion as they provide proof of their past success.
Here’s how the voting went for the Finals winner predictions.
1. Golden State Warriors: 52 points (36.8% of votes for first place)
2. Los Angeles Clippers : 35 points (26,3 %)
3. Celtics de Boston : 30 points (10,5 %)
4. Milwaukee Bucks : 21 points (10,5 %)
5. Miami Heat : 11 points (5,3 %)
6. Phoenix Suns : 8 points
T-7 Denver Nuggets: 5 points (5.3%)
T-7 Minnesota Timberwolves
9. Philadelphia 76ers: 3 points
10 Dallas Mavericks : 1 point
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