Phoenix Suns continue to rise among contenders in the West
The Phoenix Suns are emerging as a contender in the Western Conference.
After showing flashes of potential in the bubble last season by going undefeated, the Phoenix Suns have emerged as a legitimate threat to challenge for the Western Conference crown. They are currently in 4th place with a 20-11 record and are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
This Suns team is better than a lot of people expected them to be and the roster is well-constructed and the team is well-coached. One of the main reasons for the team’s success is the fact that they rank in the top 10 in the league in both overall offense and defense and that balance has made a huge difference.
The offseason acquisition of Chris Paul gave the Suns a true floor general and forms a dynamic and lethal backcourt duo along with fellow all-star Devin Booker and have found rhythm and chemistry playing with one another. Paul has run the offense efficiently and has the uncanny ability to get the other players on the same page.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
The presence of Paul in the lineup will be very important come playoff time as he will be expected to guide this young up-and-coming team and show them the ropes. The Suns will be a tough team to play against as they have the ability to push any opponent they face to seven games. It’s also imperative that Paul remains healthy as injuries have plagued him throughout his career during crucial games when his team needed him the most.
The Phoenix Suns as a contender
This Suns offense can put up points as they are averaging 113.2 points per game (15th in the NBA) and can really move the ball as Paul has put his imprint on the team as they have formed a specific identity. Booker has been performing at an all-star level game in and game out. His shooting ability gives him a definite scoring advantage as he is capable of imposing his will on his opponents. Booker comes up huge whenever he faces quality opponents.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks he scored 30 points, against the Philadelphia 76ers he totaled 36, and against the Portland Trail Blazers he dropped 34. Let’s keep in mind that those three teams are considered to be serious title contenders with their own MVP candidates carrying them respectively while Booker led the Suns to victory against each of them.
It’s difficult to understand why Booker’s name hasn’t been mentioned in the MVP conversation, but if he continues to dominate elite competition, his name will have to be mentioned or at least garner some consideration from voters.
Deandre Ayton has also made strides in his continued development. His versatility as a defensive stalwart has been a huge reason for the Suns’ top 10 ranking defensively. His offensive numbers won’t blow anyone away as many expected him to put big statistics as a former No. 1 overall selection but his scoring average is efficient at 14 points per game Ayton has been a terror on the boards averaging 11.8 per game ranking him 4th best in the NBA.
Even though he is disruptive on the defensive end, he still has flaws that need improving if the Suns are to elevate to the next level. Ayton has a tendency to mishandle the ball at times leading to turnovers, but despite his flaws, the fact of the matter is that the offense isn’t run through him so that limits his opportunities to score.
This is really an ideal situation for Ayton and the Suns as they can bring him along without the added pressure of carrying a team. It’s great that he has solid veterans like Paul and Jae Crowder at his disposal, and under the guidance of head coach Monty Williams, he can affect the game in other ways.
Ayton possesses all the tools to be successful with his size, strength, agility, and physicality while his tools can complement his game on both ends of the floor. Mikal Bridges is another young player who has emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He is an elite defender with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and possesses a high basketball IQ. Bridges is a certified 3-and -D player and the glue guy that’s essential to the Suns’ success.He is also extremely durable and has never missed a game in his career.
The Suns’ realistic expectations for the remainder of the season is to qualify for the playoffs and gain important exposure and experience for their young core. Once they get a taste of the playoff atmosphere, it will only increase their hunger as they will see firsthand what it takes to win on the NBA’s biggest stage.
Next. DeMarcus Cousins Rumors: 5 teams that should target DeMarcus Cousins. dark
The Suns have the ability to make some real noise and even pull off an upset against a higher-seeded team as they can become this year’s version of the Miami Heat. The sky is the limit for these rising Suns as they should entertain with their exciting brand of basketball for the rest of the season.