NBA: 4 bold predictions for the stretch run (that actually make sense)

Four bold predictions for the final stretch run in the 2022-23 NBA season. 

The trade deadline spun the 2023 NBA season down a wild and unpredictable path. Stars have moved, new challengers have emerged, and old competitors have fallen. The league has been shaken up so much that there is no consensus frontrunner for either conference. This season, anything can happen.

Here are four predictions for teams that, while very bold, make total sense.

The Suns are a Play-In team

Sure, the Phoenix Suns acquired superstar Kevin Durant to pair with Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Let’s remember, however, just how difficult it is to make a roster of three stars – and not too much depth – thrive in the modern NBA.

There’s a reason the Nets never made it to the Conference Finals: a star can get hurt (as KD and CP3 often do) and there isn’t enough scoring or defense to make up for the loss. Previous iterations of the Suns were so powerful because of their reliable 3-and-D roleplayers like Cam Johnson, Mikail Bridges, and Jae Crowder.

That team won the Western Conference two seasons ago and 64 games last season. Now, their defensive versatility and shooting depth are gone and they’re forced to rely exclusively on their “big 3.”

Chris Paul, the crucial anchor behind the Suns’ team-oriented success, is turning into a shell of himself with age. It’s not a stretch to think an aging and completely revamped roster won’t meet a similar fate as the Nets. I predict the Suns will be passed by the hungry Mavericks, Timberwolves, or Pelicans before the season ends.