NBA: Way-too-early bold pre-season playoff predictions for the 2023-24 season

Western Conference 1st seed

1. Phoenix Suns 

The Phoenix Suns are in a great spot to have a truly special and memorable season. Led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, the Suns have one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. They’re going to be nearly impossible to stop for opposing defenses. And the addition of Jusuf Nurkic is going to play a bigger factor than many realize. The big question for the Suns is whether or not they’ll have enough of a supporting cast to help push this time over the championship finish line.

If there are any concerns about the Suns heading into the start of the season, those are it. Nevertheless, I predict that the Suns are going to have a great regular season. They have all the pieces in place to make that happen. I do believe that the Suns are going to run into some issues in the playoffs, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.

I believe that the Suns are going to struggle against teams with superior offenses. That won’t be an issue for the team during the regular season, or it won’t be as apparent in the regular season. The playoffs, though, could be an entirely different story.