How Will Suns Fare in In-Season NBA Tournament Group?
The NBA's in-season tournament will make its debut in 2023-24, throwing a massive curveball for American sports fans who love the league and a bit of familiarity for those across the world who enjoy sports such as soccer.
All 30 NBA teams were split into five groups, with the Phoenix Suns landing in Group A with the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz.
Each team will the other four teams in their group once with a total of eight teams advancing to the knockout stages - six winners of the groups and two wild card teams, which will feature the top remaining team in each conference who finished second in their respective group.
It's still a new concept, and more can be explained here.
Will the Suns advance to the knockout stage? One NBA analyst doesn't believe so.
NBA.com's Brian Martin projects the Lakers to edge Phoenix out in group play:
"Assuming each team in the group opens the season healthy, my choice is for the Lakers to emerge out of Group A, with the Suns as the team with the best chance at a wild card spot," said Martin.
"The Lakers were the best team in the West after last season’s trade deadline and kept the core of their team together entering the new season. A refreshed supporting cast, along with a healthy James and Davis to start the season, makes the Lakers the favorites in Group A.
"Phoenix may take some time to decipher how to incorporate Beal and its other new additions into the mix (plus, it also has a new coach in Frank Vogel)."
Time will tell how the tournament pans out. Will teams still want to play their starters when competing for the NBA cup?
The Suns will have plenty to play for later in the postseason, we'll see how they and other contenders approach the inaugural in-season tournament.
