Three Teams Phoenix Suns Hope to Play in NBA Playoffs
The NBA playoffs season are just around the corner, and with few games remaining, the Phoenix Suns will face questions on who they best stack against in terms of potential seedings and matchups.
Out of the teams that Phoenix may face, which are the most favorable for the Suns to advance?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a team that have surprised everyone this year. Their young core consisting of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddy and Jalen Williams are exceeding expectations. However, they lack any sort of playoff experience compared to a Suns team that is comprised of players that have been to the NBA Finals and made deep postseason runs in the past.
The Thunder also don’t have a dominant big man to compete with Deandre Ayton, who should be able take advantage in the post and would most likely dominate in the rebound department on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
It is also very possible the Suns face the Golden State Warriors in the first round. The Warriors may be the reigning champions, but they do have some weaknesses that Phoenix could expose.
If Andrew Wiggins is unable to return for the playoffs, Golden State will be in trouble. Wiggins is both a huge piece for the Warriors on offense and defense. He is capable of dropping 30 plus points on any given night while also being able to guard the opposing team's best forward or guard.
Without Wiggins, the Warriors would certainly have trouble finding guys to guard Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Ayton. Golden State has also had trouble winning games outside of San Francisco as they currently sit with an 8-29 record on the road.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are another team that Phoenix should have on their wish list.
Minnesota is stacked to the brim with top big men in Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert but this does not mean they are unstoppable to score on. We have seen teams in the past expose Gobert in the playoffs by stretching the floor and utilizing the three point shot (which Gobert struggles to defend since he steps up in the paint leaving guys open in the corner).
Towns is also known for being an offensively-minded center so he should not be too much of a factor defensively despite his 7 '0'’ frame.
While the Suns don’t have two dominant centers like Minnesota does, Ayton is very capable of guarding Towns and Gobert is not much of a threat offensively. Durant’s size and length will also help even out Minnesota's advantage at the center position.
