Should Suns be Favorites to Win Western Conference?
In Kevin Durant's introductory press conference for the Phoenix Suns, he made it abundantly clear that the Suns have what it takes to go on a deep playoff run.
“I think we got all the pieces to be successful,” Durant said. “We got guys that are experienced, what it’s like to play in that final round. We got a champion already (Jones) overseeing us. Monty is a champion as a coach. So we’ve got guys that have been there, and that’s half the battle, just knowing what it takes. We got guys that can do pretty much everything on the floor. So we got to put it together, I’m looking forward to doing the work.”
Are the Suns the favorites to come out of the Western Conference?
Shannon Sharpe doesn't believe so:
With two superstar caliber players in Durant and Devin Booker, they certainly should be considered one of the favorites. Durant and Booker are arguably the most lethal duos on the offensive side of the basketball currently in the NBA. They both have the ability to drop 40 points in their sleep and are versatile players who are capable of playing many different roles.
On top of their dynamic duo, Phoenix also has a player in Chris Paul who despite being 37-years-old still can command an offense at a high level and is an exceptional leader. Meanwhile at center, Deandre Ayton is an elite rebounder and could match Durant and Booker in scoring on any given night.
While the Suns have the pieces to win the West, do they have enough time to build chemistry with one another?
It takes time for teams to gel with each other especially when multiple all-stars are paired on the same roster. Unfortunately, time is not a luxury that the Suns have. Phoenix has already played 60 games this season and only have 22 more left before the playoffs begin. A 22 game time frame is usually not much to fully click as a unit.
If any player is capable of making it work however it is Durant. The West is loaded with superstars. Between Steph Curry, LeBron James, Ja Morant, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic among others, there is little room for error in the playoffs. Adding Durant in the middle of the season may be considered a risky move but it takes players of Durant’s caliber to win an NBA championship.
Now that the Suns have the additional star-power of teams to match with teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, they should be considered the favorites in the West if they are able to build their chemistry before the playoffs begin.
