The Phoenix Suns could not have accomplished a worse job of creating us consider the Huge 3 can work final season. They fired head coach Frank Vogel and gave Mike Budenholzer an improved roster over his predecessor.
Maybe the 2023-24 season was a needed springboard to evolve the roster and find yourself with extra expertise round Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. On paper, it is arduous to argue that the Suns have not improved.
However outcomes past 49 victories should be obtained this yr.
What sort of outcomes ought to we see? We requested our Arizona Sports activities ArizonaSports.com hosts and editors a two-part query: The place do you set the bar of expectations for the 2024-25 Suns common season? Apart from, how far do you suppose they’re able to going within the playoffs?
Setting Suns expectations for normal season and playoffs
Dave Burns, co-host of Burns and Gambo: Perhaps we’re simply spoiled by the Suns’ latest success. There isn’t any actual rational motive to be upset with a 49-win season with a top-six seed. However I feel they will do higher. Ought to we assume good well being? It is at all times a tough proposition with this crew however let’s simply say they’re fairly wholesome for the season. Put me down for 52 wins. Budenholzer’s groups usually place a excessive premium on common season success and I feel it is cheap to suppose they are going to be a greater basketball crew out of the gate this yr in comparison with final yr.
As for his or her playoff “skill”, I feel they’re able to profitable all of it, however their protection and total dimension forestall me from saying they may with certainty. I feel a visit to the Western Convention Finals is achievable and – (once more) assuming good well being – cheap.
Kellan Olson, Empire of the Suns podcast and co-host of Arizona Sports activities at Night time: The best way to phrase it’s that within the common season, the Suns must keep away from any drama within the last week. They’ve failed to take action within the final two seasons, and surpassing 50 wins will transfer them right into a assured place within the prime six. Budenholzer is the person for the job. He had a 50-win tempo in six of his 10 seasons and reached 60 twice.
Huge 3 accidents apart, the Suns have the roster to make it occur. The marginally improved offense from final yr would threaten a top-five end, and it is a secure wager they develop greater than that. Vogel’s solely accomplishment final yr was proving that you possibly can construct a mildly competent protection with this roster, and Budenholzer has quietly had glorious defensive groups alongside his way more mentioned offensive prowess.
The unknown is how a lot profitable and showing to get pleasure from basketball once more will push the Suns nearer to their ceiling heading into the playoffs, as large roadblocks lie forward. All of the the very best western groups have the kind of dimension This could trigger issues for Phoenix. Additionally they have coaches with glorious playoff data, the place Budenholzer’s lengthy historical past of failures with changes might put the Suns at an extra drawback.
The very fact is, these points will persist it doesn’t matter what, so it is crucial that the Suns make large strides and utterly set up an identification by March. In the event that they do, they will win all of it. OKC continues to be fairly younger and can acquire confidence as soon as they attain the playoffs. Minnesota wants to seek out the answer to Julius Randle – likelihood is it would take various months. Denver has non-negotiables hooked up to the three core gamers round Nikola Jokic now that its depth has collapsed. Dallas could be the most secure wager of the 4, and you then do not forget that the ultra-volatile substances of Kyrie Irving and Jason Kidd stay.
John Gambadoro, co-host of Burns & Gambo: On the very least, reaching the Western Convention Finals this yr means the Suns will not expertise a repeat of final yr after they bowed out early within the playoffs. This crew is simply too gifted, and now with a real level guard, we must always see fewer fourth-quarter collapses and a crew that will get again to profitable the essential minutes. I can see an NBA Finals look for this crew.
Luke Lapinski, co-host of Wolf & Luke: The bar must be set for them, at the very least going additional than final season. Technically, I suppose you possibly can say that simply means profitable a playoff sport since they obtained swept in April, however this crew put all their chips in the midst of the desk to attempt to win a title, so I am going to at the very least say it. should move the primary spherical.
As for the cap, I nonetheless suppose any crew with Booker and Durant is able to profitable the convention, particularly since they made vital efforts to enhance this offseason: hiring Budenholzer, including level guards who do not spin the ball. and drafting a possible defensive stopper in Ryan Dunn.
It’s also essential to deliver again the primary core to protect that continuity that the entrance workplace has emphasised. I am not saying they will win all of it, however that is at all times the objective and I feel the ceiling is greater now than it was six months in the past. The query is whether or not or not that is sufficient to place the Suns in a tricky spot. Loaded Western Convention.
Vince Marotta, co-host of Bickley & Marotta: I am actually optimistic concerning the Suns’ prospects this time of yr (at the very least I’ve been since 2020), however this feels totally different. After a flat 2023-24 season, the Suns moved on from Vogel and introduced in a rested Budenholzer to take the reins. I like what I’ve seen from the crew within the 5 preseason video games adhering to Bud’s philosophy of modernizing the offense with extra three-point taking pictures. This was talked about final yr, however the consideration to this situation was very momentary.
With elevated connectivity between workers and gamers, and the addition of upgrades (Tyus Jones, Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee), I feel this crew has an opportunity to win all of it.
Mitch Vareldzis, co-host of Arizona Sports activities at Night time: They received 49 video games final yr so let’s set the bar at 50 wins. I am not asking for a lot in that regard, however I am additionally making an attempt to be aware of a Western Convention that can see some groups regress and others enormously enhance. I can solely undertaking two groups that might be true basement dwellers this season (Portland and Utah), whereas I await the opposite 13 groups to see what occurs, together with the Suns.
The Suns profit from a coach higher suited to this crew, the help of an proprietor who flexes his pockets whereas others reduce prices and an opportunity to begin off on the best foot by fielding a wonderfully wholesome crew from on the primary day somewhat than in December. .
So in the event that they get 50+ wins and do not embarrass themselves in a possible playoff run, then I am going to contemplate {that a} success. Nevertheless, I perceive that lots of you might be saying that something lower than a finals victory is a failure of a season.
I feel this crew is sweet sufficient to make the Western Convention Finals, however I feel it will likely be a tricky problem in opposition to groups like Oklahoma Metropolis, Minnesota and Dallas.
Kevin Zimmerman, Empire of the Sunspodcast co-host and editor-in-chief of ArizonaSports.com: Phoenix’s 49 scrappy victories shouldn’t be missed. The Western Convention stays troublesome from a parity perspective, but it surely seems extra open and with out dominant top-tier groups, with the Nuggets and T-Wolves diluting the expertise on their rosters resulting from cap points.
The Suns should intention for the 52-win mark, which is a reasonably cheap objective but in addition the mark of an excellent crew. From right here, we will not deal with this crew any totally different than what Mat Ishbia overtly talks about. They need to be among the many 4 greatest groups within the convention, if not the NBA. Something in need of an look within the Western Convention Finals will place the blame for failure solely on the Suns’ greatest gamers.
Alex Weiner, ArizonaSports.com editor-in-chief: The bar for this season’s Suns crew ought to be 52 wins and being a prime 4 seed within the Western Convention. Regardless of all of the fourth quarter frustration and accidents final yr, they nonetheless received 49 video games. Budenholzer’s Bucks have been a top-three crew in 4 of his 5 seasons on the helm. The Suns ought to have a deeper offensive arsenal with Tyus Jones becoming a member of the lineup alongside Booker, Durant and Beal, whereas sharpshooter Grayson Allen takes on a key function off the bench.
The West is admittedly deep this yr, however the Suns ought to have the ability to make the Finals with the mixture of their scoring, depth and a head coach with an important offensive status.
