Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Phoenix Suns getting no respect from Vegas

By Dan Volpone

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns attends the game between the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns attends the game between the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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While the Phoenix Suns figure to be significantly improved over last season, the Vegas oddsmakers put out a very bearish prediction for the team in 2018-19.

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook just released its over-under win totals for every NBA team. Only three teams were given worse outlooks than the Suns’ projected 28.5 wins. Those three are the Atlanta Hawks (23.5), Sacramento Kings (25.5), and Chicago Bulls (27.5).

Coming off a season with just 21 wins, the Suns have made some pretty significant improvements. They selected Deandre Ayton with the first pick in the draft, and they got one of the most NBA-ready talents at ten in Mikal Bridges.

Devin Booker is another year further a long in his development. Josh Jackson is no longer a rookie. They signed quality three and D wing Trevor Ariza away from Houston. And they have a new coach, which can only be an upgrade over last year’s situation.

And that doesn’t even touch on the fact that last season the team wasn’t really looking to win. This year should be a different story. No more benching hot players at the end of games to improve lottery odds. No more losing on purpose. That alone has to add some wins.

Sure, the Suns are still young. Sure, it’ll take time to get acquainted to a new coach and new players. And sure, Vegas often has a “prove it” attitude when it comes to teams coming off a poor season. But 28.5 wins is too low for a roster as talented as this one.

Next. Josh Jackson goes Hollywood with recent commercial. dark

With everything the Phoenix Suns have done this offseason, there’s no reason to think they can’t win more than 30 games. They won’t be in the playoff conversation, but winning just seven or eight more games than last season and finishing with the league’s fourth worst record would be a major disappointment.

Take the over on the Suns.

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