Ranking Biggest Threats to Suns' Title Push
The Phoenix Suns are beginning their 2023-24 campaign as one of the favorites to win the Larry O'Brien trophy, whether it's from the vantage point of Vegas, national media, or social media.
The team's core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal is seen as one of the best big threes formed in recent history, while the franchise did an immaculate job surrounding the stars with complementary pieces that are unquestionably better than those that were around last year.
Despite the fact that the Suns are a favorite, they aren't the favorite. There will be several other teams, individual players, and outside circumstances that can/will impact the Suns season, here are five of the biggest.
5. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors know a thing or two about championships.
Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors get the slight edge over the Los Angeles Lakers due to Steve Kerr's championship pedigree as a coach, along with the Warriors' superior depth. Although they have questions surrounding their depth at the big positions, the team clearly still has Stephen Curry, a top-four player in the world.
The Dubs also have as many as six players in the top-100, along with two prospects in Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga - who could be looking at make-or-break years in San Fransisco.
4. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics could very well meet the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals
The Celtics have likely been the team that has had the most success the last five years without winning a league championship. The deep and talented team restocked with a different look this year, adding Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
While Boston's roster has much talent and fits together well, Jaylen Brown still has many more questions than a traditional number-2 option should have. Milwaukee appears to have the ever-so-slight edge over Boston in the East, and on this list.
3. Health
The Suns undoubtedly need their Big 3 to stay healthy this season.
NBA fans need to begin acknowledging that part of the territory of being a title-level team is overcoming adversity and taking advantage of good fortune. Although the 2021 Suns were a great team, there's no denying the team took advantage of good fortune while also fighting through their own adversity.
The simple truth this year? Phoenix needs all three stars to be healthy for postseason play. The team is much deeper this year compared to last, but as seen last year, Durant and Booker can only do so much to make up for advantages some other elite teams may have.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks added Damian Lillard to their lineup and are again favorites to make a deep playoff push.
Milwaukee is probably the current favorite to make it out of the East, as a rematch of the 2021 NBA finals are a distinct possibility.
The scary proposition of facing Milwaukee is that this is largely the same team from their previous meeting in the Finals, except the team swapped Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard while also adding two players with a history with Phoenix in Jae Crowder and Cam Payne.
This Milwaukee team should be exceptional, and are certainly an upper-echelon contender.
1. Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are deservingly atop the list of threats to stop the Phoenix Suns this season.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Denver will be at the top of the hill until someone else takes it from them. The Nuggets are an exceptionally balanced, deep, well coached team with the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic.
The defense is fairly average, and they lost key contributor Bruce Brown, but the vast majority of the core remains intact.
Phoenix adding Beal and improving the depth certainly narrows the distance between the two, but it's not fair to spurn Denver of the respect they deserve as defending champions.
