Phoenix Suns Season Preview, Win Total Prediction and Playoff Odds
By Peter Dewey
The Phoenix Suns decided that they were going to run things back this season after losing in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Chris Paul is back on a brand-new extension, and the Suns also retained breakout guard Cameron Payne.
Phoenix is doing all it can to compete in the Western Conference again, but with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors expected to improve this season, Phoenix may be due for a little regression in the West.
The Suns’ core of Devin Booker, Paul, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges is extremely solid, but the team will need more from Jalen Smith, its first-round pick in 2020, with Dario Saric recovering from a torn ACL.
JaVale McGee gives the Suns some insurance behind Ayton, but Phoenix is banking on Paul staying healthy the next few years, and producing at a high level. It’s hard to count Paul out after he took the Oklahoma City Thunder to the playoffs in the 2019-20 and the Suns to the Finals last year, but Father Time will eventually get everyone (unless you’re Tom Brady).
Phoenix Suns Win Total Prediction | 51.5 (Over +100/Under -120)
The Suns’ season ended in defeat, but not failure.
— FanSided (@FanSided) July 21, 2021
As @GeraldBourguet reminds us, what this team did for the fanbase and the city was immeasurable?https://t.co/TARHZpN23P
I know that the +100 odds at WynnBET on the over is intriguing, especially considering that the Suns won 51 games in a 72-game season last year, but I’m going to take a more cautious approach.
The Lakers, with a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis are set at 52.5 wins in their win total projection, so I think the Suns could be a bit high at this number.
Remember, the Suns went as far as they did with Ayton, Bridges, Payne and others having the best season of their career to date last season. It could happen again, but the West is still going to be ultra-competitive this season.
If you really believe in CP3 and the Suns, you probably won’t get better opening odds to hit the over than this, but I think the Suns’ first few weeks will be crucial to see how they respond from a long playoff run, something most of this team has never experienced.
Phoenix Suns Playoff Odds
The @Suns already look like a group ready to give their opponents serious issues at the other end of the floor. Here's every player on the team ranked from a defensive standpoint. https://t.co/40kSJ3WezX
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) October 7, 2021
Phoenix is -3000 to make the playoffs this season, and the Suns should not only be a part of the field, but they have a great chance to earn a top-five seed.
Denver is still without Jamal Murray and the Los Angeles Clippers won’t have Kawhi Leonard for most of the 2021-22 season, so Phoenix can still maintain a top spot in the West.
The difference is that Phoenix has a shortened offseason from its NBA Finals run and two teams in the division (Lakers and Golden State Warriors) should be much better this season. The Suns will be a playoff team, but I’m not sold on them winning well into 50 games this season.
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