The Phoenix Suns fans heard it all, starting with the reason their team finished with the league’s second-best record: Everybody else had star players hurt, what do you expect?
The recent release of NBA title odds for the 2021-22 season reflect a certain level of disbelief among oddsmakers, too, with WynnBET putting the Suns’ chances at only a tie for fifth-best behind the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.
The odds for the NBA Finals champion for 2022 show the Phoenix Suns continue to have their non-believers.
As draft day arrives and the Phoenix Suns consider what they can find at the No. 29 overall pick, the team faces key decisions while finding a level of national disrespect.
Whether the doubts are warranted is a matter of opinion, but the Warriors? The NBA odds are always interesting.
The WynnBET numbers:
Brooklyn Nets: +200
Los Angeles Lakers: +400
Golden State Warriors: +1000
Milwaukee Bucks: +1200
Philadelphia 76ers: +1500
Phoenix Suns: +1500
Denver Nuggets: +2000
Dallas Mavericks: +2500
Miami Heat: +2500
Utah Jazz: +2500
LA Clippers: +3000
As of Wednesday, Golden State was still considering options involving James Wiseman – and certainly has no guarantee that standout Klay Thompson will be 100 percent for the first month or two.
A certain amount of oddsmaking art, however, is designed to predict what the public will do. In this case, sportsbooks are assuming there are more Warriors and Lakers believers out there in the West than those lining up to bet the Suns.
And the Phoenix Suns still need to cement their rotation – with everything set to pivot from Chris Paul’s situation.
The Hall of Fame-bound point guard will likely have his immediate future crystallized in a few weeks, given other teams’ needs to get the proverbial free-agent ball rolling.
Paul is more likely than not to return to Phoenix, but the cap hit will help determine what general manager James Jones and the personnel folks are able to do the rest of August and September.
As for the perception that injuries paved the way for the Phoenix Suns’ playoff run?
That point has at least some merit.
Several All-Stars such as Anthony Davis (Lakers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets) and Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) missed all or parts of their respective series against the Suns.
The way to show these early odds are an insult is to go out and win the Western Conference championship again … and go a little further.
The favored Lakers could tilt the scales to an almost-impossible level if the recruiting efforts of LeBron James end up landing Chris Paul with the Lakers.