NBA West more open for Suns?

FAN BOTS

Thank you for watching the video     Link:https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/nba-west-suns/3602011/     Important warning⚠️⚠️   My friend, please check the accuracy of the information. The information I provide may be  incorrect, late, or outdated.   #NBAUpdate#SunsInWest#WesternConference#PhoenixSuns#OpenWest

Transcript

00:01Welcome, I'm glad you're here. Before you start feeling anxious or even overly excited about the

00:06implications of the headline for the Phoenix Suns, let's take a moment to acknowledge your

00:11valid concerns. As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, the Western Conference appears

00:17to be incredibly competitive at the top, and impressively deep overall, perhaps more so

00:22than ever before in the league's history. However, with ongoing developments, such as the recent

00:27firing of Nico Harrison in Dallas, one might begin to question whether the highly competitive

00:32nature of the West is truly as daunting as it has been portrayed. Currently, the only team that

00:37seems to be living up to the hype is the Oklahoma City Thunder. As of Tuesday, they boast an impressive

00:43record of 10-1 and a remarkable net rating of 13.5. This success is particularly noteworthy, given that

00:51they have not had Jalen Williams play a single game, nor have they seen contributions from their first

00:56round draft picks over the past two years, Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic. Additionally, several

01:01other players have also missed games, with only four players participating in every match so far.

01:07In contrast to the Thunder's exceptional performance, the situation for other teams has been somewhat

01:11inconsistent. The current standings reveal a competitive struggle, particularly among the

01:16teams positioned at the top. Let's delve into this situation. The Denver Nuggets are closely trailing

01:21the Oklahoma City Thunder with a net rating of 13.0 and a record of 7-2. However, this success is

01:28somewhat overshadowed by the challenges faced by their key player, who is experiencing significant

01:34difficulties. Cam Johnson is currently averaging a career low of 8.0 points per game and has a shooting

01:41percentage of 37.7%. Based on my understanding of his situation, it seems likely that he is dealing with

01:48an injury and is pushing through it, driven by the pressure to live up to the expectations surrounding

01:53him. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Cam. At the top of the standings, the only teams ahead of the

01:59Nuggets are the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, who, along with the Suns, are among the biggest

02:06surprises in the conference. The Spurs boast an impressive record of 8-2, largely fueled by an MVP

02:13campaign from Victor Wimbanyama. This has led to some impressive, advanced statistics for the team.

02:19Although those numbers have started to normalize over the past two weeks, the return of De'Aaron

02:23Fox is expected to provide a boost for the Spurs. But it would be quite unexpected if they managed to

02:29maintain a top-four pace moving forward. The upcoming matchup features the Los Angeles Lakers,

02:35who currently hold an 8-3 record. They are ranked 23rd in defensive performance and are benefiting

02:40from outstanding individual performances by Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves, especially while LeBron

02:45James is recovering from injury. Similar to the San Antonio Spurs, it will be important to observe

02:51the Lakers over the next few weeks to accurately assess the overall strength of the team while their

02:56star players continue to shine. On the other hand, Kevin Durant's new venture with the Houston Rockets

03:02has yielded impressive efficiency statistics that suggest their 6-3 record does not fully capture their

03:09potential. The Rockets are currently ranked 2nd in offensive performance and 7th in defense.

03:15Although they lead the league in turnovers, they also excel at rebounding their own missed shots,

03:19commit fewer fouls than any other team, and have the 3rd best free throw rate. However, despite having a

03:25roster with inconsistent shooting history, they are currently shooting an impressive 42.4% from beyond the arc,

03:32raising questions about how this affects their offensive capabilities. Meanwhile, the Minnesota

03:36Timberwolves, with a record of 7th and 4, are facing challenges that are hindering their progress.

03:42The situation regarding the point guard position remains unresolved. Leading to speculation about

03:48the future of the team, Mike Conley has unfortunately reached a stage in his career where he is no longer

03:54performing at a high level. Rather than allowing second-year guard Rob Dillingham, who is not quite ready

04:00for the challenges at this level, to learn from his mistakes, the Minnesota Timberwolves are exploring

04:05alternative options. Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert is beginning to show signs of decline, typical for

04:11players in the NBA, as they approach their mid-30s, resulting in a noticeable change in his movement

04:17on the court. The overall performance in Minnesota appears to be struggling. The Golden State Warriors

04:22currently hold a mediocre record of 6-10-5, while the Portland Trail Blazers, with a record of 5-10-5,

04:30are demonstrating some potential for stability, despite the recent arrest of their head coach.

04:36This is also where the overachieving Phoenix Suns find themselves, sitting at 6-10-5 in the standings.

04:41These teams make up the top 9 in the Western Conference. Below them, there are other teams,

04:47including the Memphis Grizzlies, who are dealing with the suspension of Ja Morant,

04:51following a post-game dispute. Head coach Tuomas Isolo's recent media appearance following a

04:56suspension, has become a prime example of how not to reassure fans that everything is under control.

05:02The Memphis Grizzlies are currently facing their typical injury challenges. Jaron Jackson Jr.

05:07and Ja Morant have both struggled at the beginning of the season, contributing to the team's

05:12disappointing 4-7 record. The only bright spot for the Grizzlies at this moment is Cedric Coward,

05:18who is in contention for the Rookie of the Year award, in the category of teams that are expected to

05:22struggle. Both the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz share a 3-7 record. The Kings rank 23rd in offensive

05:29performance and 27th in defense, showcasing a lack of effectiveness despite their roster's talent.

05:35Meanwhile, the Jazz have already lost Walker Kessler for the season and have promoted No. 5 draft

05:41pick Ace Bailey to the starting lineup. While this decision is beneficial for Bailey's development,

05:46it is likely to negatively impact the team's performance in the coming months, highlighting the

05:51challenges of allowing rookies to gain experience in real time. However, there is potential for the

05:56Jazz to discover some promising talent among their younger players. As seen with Keontae George,

06:01the situation looks dire for the Los Angeles Clippers, who currently hold a 3-7 record.

06:06Bradley Beal has been plagued by a series of injuries, one of which he claims has lingered since

06:10his time with the Phoenix Suns. Head coach Ty Lue has expressed concerns that Beal's recent hip injury

06:16could become a long-term issue. At the start of the season, the Clippers made a questionable

06:20decision by placing Beal in the starting lineup. Fully aware that he would likely miss games,

06:26this choice has disrupted the team's overall cohesion. Additionally, the competitive edge that

06:32the Clippers once had seems to have vanished, leaving them unrecognizable as a formidable team.

06:38There is hope that they might regain their competitive spirit later in the season.

06:43The Dallas Mavericks, currently at 3-8, find themselves in a similar predicament.

06:47All three of their big men have faced injuries, including Anthony Davis, who, in an unfortunate

06:54twist of fate, arrived at training camp out of shape for the first time in his career.

06:59At just 18 years old, Cooper Flagg does not possess the experience or skill to effectively lead the

07:06offense. The decision made by the franchise was clearly unwise, driven in part by the eagerness

07:11to elevate him as the next star player. This led to Harrison's dismissal, which raises intriguing

07:17possibilities. The team might now consider rebuilding a round flag instead of continuing

07:22with the direction Harrison had taken. On the other hand, the New Orleans Pelicans,

07:27currently sitting at a disappointing 2-8 record, appear to be a team that is losing faith in their

07:32coach. Just a week into the season, there were already rumors about Willie Green's job being in

07:37jeopardy, and the team's performance in Phoenix on Tuesday, certainly supported those concerns.

07:42The roster possesses enough talent to perform significantly better, yet there seems to be a

07:47need for a shift in mindset. Now, returning to the crucial question at hand, do the Suns have a

07:53chance at making the playoffs as a result of these developments? Is there potential for some excitement

07:58in the play-in tournament at the end of the season? It certainly feels much more plausible now than it did

08:03a month ago, and it must begin with how the Phoenix Suns have been performing exceptionally well lately,

08:08showcasing their impressive shooting skills. In fact, they have successfully made 16 or more

08:13three-pointers in 9 out of their 11 games, placing them among only three teams to achieve this feat in

08:19more than five games. Additionally, they are one of eight teams to reach this milestone at least four

08:24times overall. However, the potential impact of Jalen Green's injury could become significant if their

08:29three-point shooting begins to decline, and they encounter offensive challenges. The Suns' ability

08:35to consistently make three-pointers can be attributed to their distinct style of play, which has garnered

08:40strong commitment from all players. A key factor in their success is Devin Booker, who is currently

08:46excelling in his role as a point guard and is making a strong case for first-team all-NBA honors.

08:53Furthermore, their defensive efforts are closely linked to their ability to secure stops,

08:57allowing them to transition quickly and capitalize on missed shots. On the other hand, the Los Angeles

09:03Clippers' struggles with fouls are likely to have an impact as the season progresses. Similarly,

09:08the Dallas Mavericks may experience a turnaround once Anthony Davis returns, provided they can

09:14maintain their performance until Kyrie Irving is back in action. The Memphis Grizzlies, known for their

09:19resilience, typically find ways to stay competitive regardless of the circumstances. In a competitive

09:25environment, the situation remains challenging despite outside factors. However, the current state

09:30of the West is not what we anticipated with dread in the months prior to the season. As a result,

09:36the Suns now find themselves with a chance that once seemed unattainable. What are your thoughts

09:40thoughts on these surprising developments?

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended