Suns are the biggest threat to the Lakers repeating

[Crives]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

So one more game? Don’t forget we just went 8-0 in the bubble.

[GSP]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

This Suns team is basically the same team that went 8-0 in the bubble except they replaced Rubio with Cp3 whos better at basically everything except passing which is a wash and vastly superior shooting/scoring

Oubre is empty stats and a a black hole. Suns also got one of the best role players in the league in Crowder whos way better

[NTB]

Ayton's a far better defender than casual's would admit anyway. Can physically hold his own with AD. Funny thing about suns is Booker hasn't even played well for me and they're 5-1.

He's loading still.

Davis would destroy him.

AD isn't just some bang in bang out guy, he shoots 3's now and is just everywhere on the court when he wants to be.

Only guy I've seen give Davis trouble is Embiid, but we haven't seen them play against one another in a good minute.

Ayton defends perimeter pretty well.

[xb3at band1tx]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

This Suns team is basically the same team that went 8-0 in the bubble except they replaced Rubio with Cp3 whos better at basically everything except passing which is a wash and vastly superior shooting/scoring

Oubre is empty stats and a a black hole. Suns also got one of the best role players in the league in Crowder whos way better

For sure, Im not disagreeing that they are a good team I just don't know yet if I can call them a true contender just yet.

It's gonna be a long season, random stuff will always come up.

[Young gun 6]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

What season was that?

[LakersSoul]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

This Suns team is basically the same team that went 8-0 in the bubble except they replaced Rubio with Cp3 whos better at basically everything except passing which is a wash and vastly superior shooting/scoring

Oubre is empty stats and a a black hole. Suns also got one of the best role players in the league in Crowder whos way better

Paul and Crowder’s vet leadership is just what the young squad needed. We shall see how much they improve as the season progresses.

They could make some noise during the playoffs.

[GOAT_Marbury]

Not gonna lie, impressive start considering CP3 and Booker arent actually playing that well. Could potentially turn into a fun season. With a Hawks vs Suns finals...

[xb3at band1tx]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

What season was that?

my bad , it was a 5-2 run out of the gate from the magic, my memory is murky but I remember people were going crazy cause they had the same net rating as the warriors

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2017/11/1/16589036/nba-orlando-magic-detroit-pistons-memphis-grizzlies-for-real

[Onlytimewilltel]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

What season was that?

Lol mAybe he meant 10-0 streak, not start of season? I hope.

[King4Day]

I agree it's really early to made assessments like this but those who think this is just a 'hot start out of the gate'...

Bridges and Cam Johnson are both becoming star role players. Bridges is going to be in the running for DPOY THIS season and has a chance to win it. Both are developing their offensive game to be more than just the '3' in '3 and D'.

Galloway is hitting 3's every time he comes in.
Carter with his bulldog defense.
Payne helping lead the bench in building bigger leads than the starters gave them.
Ayton is impacting how teams play in the paint. He's not dominant offensively but has a soft touch, can hit the jumper, and isn't afraid when being going against upper tier bigs.
Crowder doing the dirty work Baynes did last season, plus is willing to do what the team needs to win. Shoot, pass, and most of all, communicate on the floor.

The biggest reason why the Suns will be in contention for more than just the '7 or 8 seed' is Chris Paul. Tonight was a key example. Booker was awful tonight and while the role players helped the team build a big lead, Chris Paul prevented a collapse and closed it.

The Suns are 5-1 and their chemistry is pretty poor so far. Assuming they get that on track, it'll be a fun season.

[SeanieWard]

Still the Clippers imo even though they may be viewed as frauds because of the meltdown vs the Nuggets, they show up against the Lakers and matchup well with Bron and AD. Therefore, if the 2 teams were to meet Clippers should probably be favored in that matchup

[xb3at band1tx]

I agree it's really early to made assessments like this but those who think this is just a 'hot start out of the gate'...

Bridges and Cam Johnson are both becoming star role players. Bridges is going to be in the running for DPOY THIS season and has a chance to win it. Both are developing their offensive game to be more than just the '3' in '3 and D'.

Galloway is hitting 3's every time he comes in.
Carter with his bulldog defense.
Payne helping lead the bench in building bigger leads than the starters gave them.
Ayton is impacting how teams play in the paint. He's not dominant offensively but has a soft touch, can hit the jumper, and isn't afraid when being going against upper tier bigs.

The biggest reason why the Suns will be in contention for more than just the '7 or 8 seed' is Chris Paul. Tonight was a key example. Booker was awful tonight and while the role players helped the team build a big lead, Chris Paul prevented a collapse and closed it.

The Suns are 5-1 and their chemistry is pretty poor so far. Assuming they get that on track, it'll be a fun season.

this is a fun team with a lot of talent and if they are presumably healthy, a lock for the post-season

I just don't think they are close to the Lakers yet

[LesGrossman]

Biggest threat is LeBron's health.

Actually its AD's health. With this Roster, AD wins without LeBron but LeBron does not have the slightest chance without AD. Just like last year.

For Phoenix, CP3 certainly crucial. They won 8 of 8 with Rubio, then traded him for CP3 hoping to have even better chances but CP3 is injury prone (plus a certified playoff choker). I hope the best for them but its all but certain that they'll have more success this year.

[PhilBlackson]

No real assessments can be made this early in on any "surprises".

Imo teams only really start showing who they are 25-30 games in when teams get into a better rhythm and worked out a lot of kinks in their schemes and the rotations start getting straightened out/better set.

[MarxyLebronist]

Paul obviously, and Bookers got serious smooth to his game. Crowder is the sort of gritty vet piece that really makes me ready to believe they’re real deal right away. Curious if they add another one even.

[Mr Puddles]

This happens every year where a young team or a nobody team goes on a run out the gate.


I remember the magic a couple of years ago were 10-0 and people were freaking out. I do think the suns are a playoff team (or have the make up of one) but I gotta see it 15-25 games in

This Suns team is basically the same team that went 8-0 in the bubble except they replaced Rubio with Cp3 whos better at basically everything except passing which is a wash and vastly superior shooting/scoring

Oubre is empty stats and a a black hole. Suns also got one of the best role players in the league in Crowder whos way better

For sure, Im not disagreeing that they are a good team I just don't know yet if I can call them a true contender just yet.

It's gonna be a long season, random stuff will always come up.

I think the difference between the Suns and some of these teams that got off to a hot start is that Phoenix isn't really doing anything that doesn't seem sustainable.

E.g. Some teams just have a bunch of guys who are average shooters light it up from 3 for a few games making you legitimately wonder if they can keep it up or not.

With the Suns you could argue that the scoring efficiency of Bridges, Cam Johnson and Payne is not sustainable, but I'd argue that gets offset by Booker, Paul and Ayton not scoring particularly efficiently at the moment (and in the case of Booker, he's not going to average 6 turnovers a game for the rest of the season either). If anything, I think there's a solid argument to be made that the Suns still have a bunch of untapped upside left.

[Slava]

They can be quite good until Chris Paul starts grating on the young guys and they start tuning him out.

[Qwigglez]

No real assessments can be made this early in on any "surprises".

Imo teams only really start showing who they are 25-30 games in when teams get into a better rhythm and worked out a lot of kinks in their schemes and the rotations start getting straightened out/better set.

That's the thing, the Suns starters haven't really worked into a better rhythm yet, they are still learning how to play to with each other. Booker is barely getting 20.5 points per game, lowest since his rookie season, his FT% has been putrid at 69%, and he's averaging a staggering almost 6 turnovers a game (leads the league). Chris Paul is shooting just 40% from the field, and the Nuggets game is Ayton's 1st 20/10 performance of the season. Many Suns fans were calling for Ayton's head before the Nuggets performance.
Really the Suns have been performing well so far because of the emergence of Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson who are both very high IQ Players, Bridges hasn't had a turnover in the 6 games so far in the season and Cam had one last game against the Jazz. Payne is proving himself as a quality backup guard, and the Suns likely should have won the Kings game if it wasn't for no center depth behind Deandre Ayton. The Suns just beat two of the most difficult teams to beat at the Jazz and Nuggets, both of whom are running back close to the same rosters as they did last season, so they should know each others tendencies and schemes.

Once the Suns gel a bit more as the season progresses they may begin to scare a few teams.

[_qubik]

So, it will be easier for LA this year, let the three-peat talk begin

[SnoopDub]

Another damn early overly hyped take or just trolling

You guys are hyped way too early. Cant you guys wait atleast after 20 games?

The favorites are still the defending champs.
The problem with lakers tho is their defense got weaker and more teams got better than last season