4. Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns is another team that entered the season with plenty of question marks. It was just two years ago that this team was in the NBA Finals. But, heading into this season, they were far from a certainty in the Western Conference.
At least early on in the season, the Suns have passed the early questions. And a big reason why is the excellent play of Devin Booker. Booker has the look of a player that has taken the final step to superstardom. And the Suns will absolutely need it to remain among the rest of the contenders in the West. Especially if Chris Paul continues to trend downward.
If nothing else, the slow start for Paul is something to keep an eye on. It’s still too early to panic but it should absolutely be monitored. If the Suns are going to make a deep run in the playoffs, they simply can’t afford a complete falloff from Paul. That’d be unfortunate.