Many expect the Phoenix Suns to have a dominant 2023-24 campaign, given that they’ve revamped their roster. The most notable change for the Suns is their new trio of stars. Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal have all been a treat for fans during the team’s preseason games.
We’ve watched them execute a fluid offensive strategy highlighting their playmaking abilities.
However, the West isn’t a simple conference to overcome. It’s always full of contending teams that have hindered Phoenix from a real chance at winning the title.
This season is nothing different as the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors are all trying to be the big winners of the Western Conference. Not only that, rising teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings could prove to be a problem this season.
Even with that, the Suns are in the right direction and could be the best team in their conference. Not only that, Phoenix can go as far as winning the title this season if everything works well. Here are three reasons they’ll be the best team in the West.
3. An improved bench unit
Last season, the Suns struggled to get their offense going due to the lack of scoring from their second unit. Cameron Johnson and Cameron Payne were the only players who averaged double digits in scoring for the bench unit during the 2022-23 campaign.
While the rest had decent production, the team’s second unit painfully struggled to execute their offense. This season, the difference in how the bench players score is evident. With the help of Eric Gordon, an offensive threat from the bench, the Suns have shown massive improvement in that department.
Additionally, Grayson Allen has started to create his offense, and it’s unlikely he’ll be a starter in most games this season. He’s even excited to share the court with his fellow role players.
"It's fun when you look up and you see shooters and you know they're gonna knock it down." - Grayson Allen, fellow shooter, on sharing the court with shooters like Eric Gordon and Yuta Watanabe
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) October 11, 2023
During their preseason finale against the Lakers, they defeated their division rival 123-100. The bench scored 77 points, which was a significant help for the starters.
Although that won’t always be the case, it’s a good sign that the team is in good hands when the stars have moments where they struggle. Plus, they have great shooters coming off the bench, who could all contribute to spacing the defense.