Ranking Suns' Potential Playoff Matchups
PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns are looking up.
The Suns sit at 37-26 with the most difficult schedule remaining - the good news is Phoenix likely only needs to finish about 10-9 over the final 19 games to avoid the play-in tournament.
The Suns obviously must take care of business first, but there's always going to be a question surrounding who they will face in the first round of a playoff series.
The ranking from most to least desirable first round matchup will follow.
Note: For the simplicity of this exercise we will not rank teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers that would be an unlikely first round matchup.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Timberwolves were already a somewhat desirable first-round matchup for a team that won't likely have home court advantage (if there was one), but now the uncertain status of Karl Anthony-Towns further fuels the perception that Minnesota is the most vulnerable team at the top.
The Suns also matchup with the Wolves the best out of this group - Phoenix might have an advantage from a depth perspective and almost certainly have an offense that will be better suited for the playoffs.
The Timberwolves are clearly still a great team, but some unfortunate circumstances and matchup quirks make them the team the Suns should be eyeing out of the others.
2. OKC Thunder
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The Thunder have beaten the Suns both times the teams have met in 2023-24, but there are more questions surrounding Oklahoma City than the two teams below - particularly lack of height on the roster and playoff inexperience.
Will Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren be able to match Devin Booker/Bradley Beal as bucket-getters? Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander respond in a huge way in his first playoff run as a number one option? What will coach Mark Daigneault do with the Josh Giddey conundrum?
Again, the Thunder are a great team, but the matchups are more favorable for Phoenix compared to the bottom two teams.
3. LA Clippers
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The Clippers have been a thorn in the Suns' side for some time - and one could argue the Kawhi Leonard injury is the only thing that kept the Clippers from losing the first-round series between the two last season.
While the Clippers have slowed down in the last month, the combination of playoff experience and a presumably healthy Leonard are simply enough to make them a fearsome matchup.
The Suns would rather avoid this matchup.
4. Denver Nuggets
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The Suns could match the Nuggets better than last season - but that doesn't mean they want their playoff fate to be decided in the first round against the defending NBA champs.
Keep in mind that Jamal Murray is a completely different player come playoff time - the combination of Nikola Jokic/Murray might only be matched by Durant/Booker in terms of talent and fit.
The Nuggets would be the worst-case scenario matchup for Phoenix in a prospective first-round series.
