I think fans of the Phoenix Suns are going to like this Matt Ishbia guy. After buying the team from the notoriously cheap and allegedly creepy Robert Sarver, Ishbia and general manager James Jones swung a mega-deal for Kevin Durant.
Following repeated offseason attempts to pry KD away from Brooklyn, Phoenix finally did it last night for the price of one Mikal Bridges, one Cam Johnson, a Jae Crowder, and four future first-round picks. TJ Warren is also making his triumphant return to the Suns.
How quickly Durant and Warren will be in the lineup is the big question now. The Suns are in Atlanta to take on the Hawks. At 30-26 the Suns are fifth in the west, but are getting a big shot in the arm. The Hawks are 27-28, in eighth place, and in need of an insurgence of talent.
Let’s take a look at the odds for this one.
Suns vs. Hawks odds, spread and total
Suns vs. Hawks prediction and pick
There is one problem with the NBA’s newest super team, at least for tonight. Devin Booker was already scheduled to miss the game for rest and I’m not sure when KD will make his debut in a Suns uniform. He hasn’t played since January 8. He and TJ Warren have both been ruled out tonight.
The Suns are down in Atlanta after beating Brooklyn in what now can only be described as a “winner-take-all” game. Deandre Ayton had 35 points and 15 rebounds in the win, the type of dominant performance that fans have been begging for. Will he be able to have another big night with Booker on the bench, and KD sidelined? I’m not sure that he’ll carry them on offense but there is one thing I am certain about; The Phoenix Suns just traded away a lot of defense.
The Suns are eighth in defensive rating this season, but a lot of that production is tied to having versatile 3-and-D wings like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. Those guys are gone and it’ll be some combination of Damion Lee, Torrey Craig, and Ish Wainwright playing the 2, 3, and 4 tonight. Atlanta is 19th in defensive rating, so Phoenix will still be able to score enough and the over is 4-0 in Atlanta’s last four home games.
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