How many games will the Phoenix Suns win in 2023-24?
By Luke Duffy
December 2023
The Suns have only 12 games this month, because a week has been assigned to finish out in-season tournament play. This team shouldn’t care about that, so we won’t include those games here. There is a delicious six game home stand to begin the month, with a chance to really build out what is looking like an impressive record.
The Warriors and Grizzlies come to town, but before that it is the defending champion Denver Nuggets in a marquee matchup. All things being equal, the Suns get some revenge here. The Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards are in town, and when all is said and done, this looks like a 5-1 run (that loss will likely be the Nuggets or Warriors).
Leaving the comforts of home, and the Sacramento Kings could give the Suns problems. They are a good young group that is only getting better. Christmas Day against the Dallas Mavericks is huge, and with it being at home, the Suns will put on their best performance in what is generally accepted as the unofficial start of the season.
Three games, one away and two home, close out the calendar year, with the final game at home to the Orlando Magic an interesting one. They are going to cause more problems than many expect, and have the youth to run the Suns out of the gym. Paolo Banchero is playing some stellar ball with Team USA.
Franz Wagner is quickly becoming one of the most underrated players in the league. A Magic win in Arizona is far from guaranteed, but we need to be honest with ourselves here. With so many big games to get up for, the Suns are going to let games like this slip away from time to time. That is also perfectly acceptable over the course of 82 games when you’re trying to win a championship.