Will the Phoenix Suns force their way into playoff contention, or will the hype-train eventually lose its steam?
After a statement win Monday against the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers, the Phoenix Suns improved to 5-2 on the season and are starting to turn more heads.
MVP chants even broke out Monday for Devin Booker, who is off to an exhilarating start to the season. The young star put on a show Monday night, going for 40 points on 15-19 shooting and hitting big shots down the stretch.
Fans have now seen the Suns win almost every type of basketball game already this year; what is next for the Suns to reach their ceiling?
Consistency.
The Suns have only played seven games this year, so as much as fans deserve the raw joy this early season has brought, it is important to remember it has only been 7 games.
However, that feeling of cautious optimism will be different if the Suns are still playing like this at the 20-game mark, or even at the All Star break.
Nonetheless, from what they have shown, they seem to be a team that is going to compete day in and day out. We have seen the Suns perform extremely well, but who is to say the Suns can’t get better? One of their best players, Deandre Ayton, has played one game!
I believe the ceiling for this Phoenix Suns team, based on what I have seen thus far is 50 wins.
Yes, that is right, 50. The Suns only need 45 more.
But news flash: this team is GOOD.
Monty Williams has these guys playing on a different level, and he is an early favorite for coach of the year.
Booker might even finally break through as an All Star.
Last year the Suns won 19 games, and it took them 29 games to win five. The tides have turned in 2019, as it has only took seven games for the Suns to win five.
If the Suns win 50 games, a 31 game turnaround from last year, that would have to go down in the record books as one of the greatest improvements in back-to-back seasons in league history.
Now, 50 wins is assuming the Suns are as good as they have played thus far, stay healthy, stay hot shooting the 3, and retain their defensive level.
If so, Booker and Ayton could become the NBA’s sweetheart as the team rides Kelly Oubre’s wave into the playoffs as a 4 or 5 seed.
We still have to remember that this is still the Phoenix Suns we are talking about, however this team has set out a goal to change what it means to be a Suns fan. So far, it is working.