Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

Phoenix Suns: 2014-15 NBA Season Primer

By Brandon Osborne

facebooktwitterreddit

As we continue our NBA Preview series, we take a closer look at the Phoenix Suns

More from Pacific

Phoenix Suns 2013-14 record: 48-34 3rd in the Pacific, 9th in the Western Conference

Phoenix Suns 2013-14 MVP: Goran Dragic — 18.8 points, 6.6 assists

Three Things I Think I Know About The Phoenix Suns…

  1. The Phoenix Suns are guard heavy. Phoenix has All-NBA performer in Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, who has all the potential to be a superstar and Isaiah Thomas, who can get buckets as well as make plays. If the Suns can figure out a successful lineup that utilizes these 3 then the Western Conference better watch out.
  2. Phoenix will score points. Last year, the Suns were 7th in the NBA at points per game with 105.2. This season they should be in the top-5 with a good chance at leading the league in that category.
  3. T.J Warren will impress. The 14th pick in this year’s NBA draft is a deadly scorer who has a great midrange game. The Phoenix Suns will find a way to get him minutes and his ability to score with fit in nicely with its up-tempo style.

Key Additions:

  • Isaiah Thomas (free agency)
  • Anthony Tolliver (free agency)
  • T.J. Warren (draft)
  • Tyler Ennis (draft)

Key Losses:

The Phoenix Suns will be a playoff team if…

They can find a way to win at least 50 games. The Western Conference is loaded again this year and it very well may take at least 50 wins to get in the playoffs. The Suns have a great, young nucleus and a terrific up and coming coach however they will need a full season of Eric Bledsoe and another All-NBA quality season from Goran Dragic.

Team Strengths:

Offense/Guard Play– the Suns have one of the NBA’s best scoring attacks and it’s led by Dragic and Bledsoe. Dragic averaged 20.3 points on 50.5 percent shooting, while Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points on 47.7 percent shooting. Add in Thomas who averaged 20.3 on 45% shooting and the Suns have three solid guards who can shoot.

Team Weaknesses:

Defense– the Suns gave up 102.6 points per game last season which ranked them 21st in the league. If the Suns can shave a point or two off that could lead to a few more wins which last season they finished one game back of Dallas for the final playoff spot. Defense could be the x-factor in whether or not they make the playoffs.

2014-15 Phoenix Suns MVP will be…

Goran Dragic– It’s very tempting to take Bledsoe but Dragic is the better player at this moment and given how Bledsoe’s contract situation played out this summer, I look for Dragic to once again be the team’s MVP. He shot over 50 percent last season and over 40% from three. Dragic should put up solid numbers and could be an All-NBA performer again.

Season Defining Question:

Can Bledsoe stay healthy? If the Suns can get a full season out of Bledsoe, who only played in 43 games last season, then Phoenix should be in contention for a playoff spot.

Best Case Scenario:

53-29

The Suns not only get another great year from Dragic but they get Bledsoe for a full season. Bledsoe shows off his terrific all-around game. The bench becomes one of the best in the NBA led by Thomas and Warren.

Worst Case Scenario:

44-38

Bledsoe has another injury plagued season and Dragic is unable to recreate his magical 2013-2014 season. The Suns defense isn’t able to break into the top 20 as they give up more points this season.

More from Sir Charles In Charge