Early picks for the NBA’s next Western Conference champ
Phoenix Suns
From losing the Western Conference Finals in 2010, to a dark period as NBA also-ran in the years that followed, the Phoenix Suns are hoping to see a new dawn of success that has eluded them for so long. But all the way up to fourth? Well, when Chris Paul chooses you from many suitors and Jae Crowder does the same while taking less than offered in some other places, who am I to say they are wrong? The potential of this team is undeniable and it’s difficult not to like their chances when you compare the backcourt of Paul and Devin Booker with their immediate competition in the middle of the NBA’s western pack. Denver, Utah and Dallas have All-Star caliber players handling the ball, but not two of them with the experience, clutch play and tenacity of CP3 and the take-over scoring ability from every level of Booker.
Even though the Phoenix Suns currently sit in the middle of NBA teams in terms of 3-point percentage, eight of their top ten players are average to above average from behind the arc with Cam Johnson, CP3 and Booker all shooting below their normal rates thus far and Paul almost ten points lower than he has shot from 3 over the last seven years. They also have been disproportionately taking 2s, ranking 19th in 3-pointers attempted and fourth to last in makes despite having the fourth-best field goal percentage from those shots and being second in the NBA in free throws at 82 percent.
The struggles of the Phoenix Suns’ starters has been a bit mystifying if not correctable with time and patience. They project as a long, tough defensive team with an anchor in the middle and four players adept from behind the arc capable of running half-court sets as well as getting steals on the perimeter leading to transition opportunities. Everyone outside of Booker is known as a good to great defender, not that he is a slouch while leading the Suns in steals, and while the second unit isn’t as tough defensively, they bring the greatest attribute that second units can: they can shoot and score the basketball which is paramount when going to NBA benches.
Things don’t always pan out as planned out and currently the Suns are only 23rd in forcing turnovers and a shockingly-second to last in the NBA in steals and pace of play. For a young team with an experienced ring leader, not getting out on the break to run in transition seems like a disservice considering the capable playmakers and shot makers in the starting five along with the rim running of Deandre Ayton to utilize. One impediment for them in this regard is their average defensive rebounding and bottom third status as a rebounding team overall which is how they have to approach attacking the boards, as a team outside of Ayton.
The good news for the Phoenix Suns is that everything is basically new for this group of players. Ayton has said CP3 is the first to really take him aside to watch film. Booker has had to be a leader from day one without the benefit of any stability of players to be a mentor or within the organization itself before this current regime seems to have righted the ship. Mikal Bridges has taken a leap associated with moving into the starting line-up full time while Cam Johnson is learning what his new role is coming off the bench. All these players are learning what it’s like to play with Chris Paul who is notoriously demanding and hard on teammates who fail to meet his standard, which he generally proves through example. In turn, he is learning what he needs to know about his fellow Phoenix Suns to help them grow as a team and take them to places that none of them have reached before.