As of this writing, the Phoenix Suns have the best chance (+240) of winning the Western Conference, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Second are the Denver Nuggets (+340), followed by the Golden State Warriors (+550) and the Los Angeles Clippers (+650). The odds have shifted significantly in Phoenix’s favor following the blockbuster takeover of the superstar forward Kevin Durant. In the Legendary Words by Kevin Durant, “You’ll know who I am.” The Vegas Betters know who Durant is; They believe he’ll significantly help the Suns’ chances of winning the West this season.
Phoenix Suns: Best Ratings in the West?
Suns acquires plug-and-play superstar
Newly acquired superstar Durant has only played three games with the Phoenix Suns. They won all three games before injuring their ankle while warming up. He should be re-evaluated in about a week. The Suns is optimistic he will return for the playoffs, if not before.
Three games is a minimum sample size, but the Suns still showed glimpses of their offensive firepower during this period. They scored over 125 points in two of the three games. They also had an average point difference of 13. Durant seemed to fit seamlessly into the Suns’ offensive rhythm from the second he stepped on the floor in a Phoenix jersey. The last time he played the Dallas Mavericks, Durant had 37 points on 71/60/91 shooting splits.
A underrated aspect of Durant’s game is its defense capability. It’s often overlooked because he’s such a historically gifted goalscorer. Durant’s six-foot length is something the Suns were lacking before the trade. As well as Mikal Bridges And Cam Johnson were for the Suns, Durant gives them another dimension on both sides of the ball. He’s securing about seven rebounds per game with over a block per game. That extra element of height, rim protection, and switchability will pay off, especially when you’re going up against some of those western teams who have talented strikers.
It would be nice for the Suns to have a few more Durant games with the team to acclimate before the playoffs begin. However, his talent and plug-and-play ability suggest that if that doesn’t happen, they’ll be fine.
Importance of stars in playoffs
The playoffs are played differently than the regular season. The game speed slows down. It’s a combination of the best teams playing and they’re more defensively focused too. Teams don’t score as quickly on transition or as easily from broken plays. As a result, her semi-judicial offense becomes even more critical. Star players who can get their own bucket or attack others in a half field environment are becoming increasingly important for teams.
The Phoenix Suns have arguably one of the best trios historically in terms of creating their own recordings and shooting in the midrange with the trio of ChrisPaul, Devin Booker, and Durant. throw in middle DeAndre Ayton into the mix as someone who can hit open shots and take advantage of mismatches. They have a recipe for one of the best attacking teams in the league.
The Suns are extremely top-heavy and will take advantage of this offseason to improve their roster depth. The good news, however, is that rotations are shrinking in the playoffs. You can rely on Stars to play tough minutes. So even if they had a lot of depth, the quartet of Paul, Booker, Durant and Ayton would still play a lot. Also, they all have experience in the finals, with Durant having two rings from Golden State. That’s invaluable in the playoffs and could be a deciding factor in a playoff matchup against teams lacking that amount of experience.
Final Thoughts on Phoenix Suns
The Suns certainly have their own flaws. They don’t have much depth, and theirs Stars have a history of injuries. Also, they’ve only had three games where everyone played together. But the other teams in the Western Conferences also have some weaknesses. In the playoffs, where the game is slowing down and there’s a lot more reliance on the Stars, the best starters should give them an edge over everyone in the West.
