We are just over a month away from the start of the NBA season. Teams are preparing, front offices are preparing and fans are preparing. Oh, and Las Vegas is preparing too.
Every year, right around this time, Las Vegas comes out with their over/under win lines for each NBA team. Last year, the Phoenix Suns over/under sat at 26.5 games. The Suns ended up finishing the year with 23 wins (so let’s hope you took the under).
This year, Las Vegas set the Phoenix Suns’ over/under at 28.5 games. Before we get into whether or not that number is fair, let’s look at some of the numbers Vegas handed out to other teams in order to get some context. Golden State obviously has the highest over/under, at 67.5, while the Boston Celtics come in as a distant second with 56.5 games.
The lowest number of any team in the Eastern Conference is the Chicago Bulls at 21.5 and the lowest number in the Western Conference is, drum roll, the Phoenix Suns. Well, to be fair, it is a two-way tie between the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns, who are both listed with 28.5. Oh, and is now the time to mention that Vegas gave the Brooklyn Nets the same over/under as the Suns, again at 28.5?
So, for a quick recap:
- Vegas thinks that the Suns are going to be the worst team in the West
- Vegas thinks that the Suns are going to be as bad as the Nets
- Vegas doesn’t think…
Yes, the last point is coated with a thin layer of sarcasm. And yes, everyone is aware that Las Vegas has perfected their method for creating over/under’s. And of course, it’s clear that the Suns are not going to be world-beater’s this season. But, is it fair to expect them to finish the season above 28 wins? Of course it is. This roster is a year older, filled with promising talent and will be bolstered by the arrival of Josh Jackson.
So, will the Suns prove Las Vegas wrong, or will the bookies once again come out on top? We are just going to have to wait and see.