Phoenix Suns NBA Playoff Odds
How the Suns Got Here
The Phoenix Suns have been the most surprising team in the Western Conference this season. The Suns left the bubble on a hot streak, infamously going 8-0 but falling short of qualifying for the NBA Play-In tournament.
There was no telling if last season would carry over, even after the addition of Chris Paul to the Suns' young core. But just like he did last season in Oklahoma City, Paul — with a ton of help from Devin Booker — led Phoenix to the No. 2 seed in the West.
With Devin Booker averaging 25 points per game for the third-straight season, there was no stopping a Suns team that also received huge defensive efforts from veterans Jae Crowder and Paul; and most importantly, solid rim protection from third-year center DeAndre Ayton.
Phoenix had one of the top-five records Against The Spread (ATS) this season. Their ability to weather the storm and perform well both on the road and at home was a testament to the consistency that comes with having CP3 around.
Ayton — who is crucial to Phoenix's interior defense — has been reported to be dealing with a sore left knee.
Second-year forward Cam Johnson has been a key cog in Phoenix's rotation. He's an intelligent defensive player who provides floor spacing for Paul/Booker-Ayton pick-and-rolls.
Johnson has missed many games down the stretch of the regular season due to a sprained right wrist. His recovery is a crucial thing to monitor, as his presence will give Phoenix a much better chance of scoring on stout defenses.
As long as none of these minor injuries develop into anything bigger, the Suns figure to be an intriguing team to follow. What complicates things for an excellent Suns team is a potential first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors.
