Suns Have Exciting Slate of Tests to Open 2022-23 Season

In Phoenix's first month, the Suns will encounter a slew of talented squads.

It's not about how you start, it's how you finish. 

The Phoenix Suns of course understand the importance of putting an exclamation point on their work, as the last two season have seen the team fall just short of claiming the NBA's ultimate prize. 

The 2022-23 season is yet another opportunity to do just that, and while critics will remain unsure of how Phoenix will do in the postseason, the Suns must first successfully navigate the 82-game regular season.

With 34 nationally televised games, Phoenix will have ample opportunity to showcase their growth and maturity as a team. 

Particularly, their first six games of the year will provide a strong early season test for the Suns:

Game 1: Home vs. Dallas Mavericks

This is the low-hanging fruit, right? After an embarrassing end to last season, the Suns will have the opportunity to right some of their wrongs from the postseason after Dallas battled back from a 2-0 series deficit. Can Phoenix avenge the ghost from Game 7 past? What a way to begin the campaign, and what an opportunity it is for the Suns to start their new year on the right foot in front of a nationally televised audience. 

Game 2: Away at Portland Trail Blazers

After a tough opening to the season, the Suns will travel two days later to Portland to see if the clock is correctly set to Dame Time for the Trail Blazers. After trading for Jerami Grant and re-signing Jusuf Nurkic, expectations are for the Blazers to make a run into the postseason. Phoenix's only loss to Portland last season was early in the third game of the year in 134-105.  

Game 3: Away at Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are once again offseason paper champions after acquiring John Wall to pair with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Can LA's talent finally stay healthy on the court together? If so, the Clippers are just another team for the Suns to knock down in the western conference this year. Don't think LA has forgotten about the Valley-oop, either. 

Game 4: Home vs. Golden State Warriors

What better early season test than to take on the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors? Not much has to be said when trying to rally the troops for this matchup. If you want to be where Phoenix desires, going through Golden State is the only way to the crown in the west. 

Game 5: Home vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Despite defeating New Orleans in six games last season in the first round of the postseason, many feel as if the Pelicans have an opportunity to get better mostly thanks to the return of Zion Williamson. Five games into the season will be a great test for both Phoenix and New Orleans to see where their early forms are at against each other. 

Game 6: Home vs. Houston Rockets

Look, the Rockets won't be fighting for anything serious next season. This game should be chalked as a win for the Suns, but young talent such as Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. will be noteworthy in their progress this season. 

The Rockets wrap up a quick first month of October play for Phoenix, one that sees the Suns take on six games in 12 days. Only Portland and Houston in this opening slate didn't clinch at least a play-in berth last year. 

It's a long season, and the Suns won't be lifting any titles within the first two weeks of the new year. 

However, with a tough slate of talented teams, Phoenix will have the opportunity to establish themselves early on in the season. 

With four of the opening six matchups nationally televised, the whole country will have the opportunity to see, too. 

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