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Phoenix Suns: General Managers provide Western Conference Predictions

By Peter O'Keefe

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 02: Devin Booker #1 talks with Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns before the game against the Adelaide 36ers at Footprint Center on October 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 36ers beat the Suns 134-124. 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. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 02: Devin Booker #1 talks with Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns before the game against the Adelaide 36ers at Footprint Center on October 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 36ers beat the Suns 134-124. 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. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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Despite a tumultuous offseason that leaves a cloud hovering over the franchise, NBA general managers believe the Phoenix Suns are in for another successful season.

In fact, the league’s survey of general managers suggest the Suns should enter the 2022-23 season with the same expectations as the corresponding time last year.

NBA general managers have the Phoenix Suns ranked third in the Western Conference, coincidentally the same position as prior to last season.

General Managers were asked to rank their top four teams in the conference; Phoenix received 3% of first-placed votes, 21% of second-placed votes, 41% for third and 10% for fourth. The Suns received 17% of the total votes, with the Los Angeles Clippers (32%) and Golden State Warriors (29%) expected to battle it out for the Western Conference title.

The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers met in the 2021 Western Conference Finals. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers met in the 2021 Western Conference Finals. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Surprisingly, that leaves a quarter of general managers who believe the Suns will finish fifth or below in the conference. They also failed to garner a vote in NBA championship expectations, with the Milwaukee Bucks favourite to win the title according to 43% of general managers. The Warriors (25%), Clippers (21%) and Boston Celtics (11%) also gained votes.

These predictions should be taken with a grain of salt though, at least based on the same survey undertaken prior to last season. A monumental 72% believed the Brooklyn Nets would take out the championship, with 80% thinking they’d face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

In reality, the Lakers would have a disastrous season as they failed to even make the play-in tournament, while the Nets would be swept in the first-round by the Celtics. Boston were sixth favourite to win the East but had an extraordinary mid-season turn around, while the Warriors were fifth favourite in the West.

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The Suns bucked the trend of their third-place prediction for the entire 2021-22 regular season, and they’ll be hoping to do the same again with the added element of ultimate playoff success.

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