5 teams that could stand in way of Phoenix Suns winning 2023-24 NBA championship
The Phoenix Suns are expected to be NBA title contenders for the fourth straight season. But there are several Western Conference teams that could potentially be major roadblocks en route to the franchise's elusive first title. The Suns begin that road Tuesday night at Golden State.
Here are five teams that have the firepower to knock off Phoenix, based on their lineups and 2022-23 regular season and playoff performances:
Denver Nuggets
Never count out the defending champs, led by this generation's best center and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Add in a healthy Jamal Murray for a dangerous two-man game with The Joker, which will keep Phoenix’s defense honest picking its poison among Denver’s other offensive threats for closeouts and rotations. Phoenix didn't have enough firepower to beat them in the West semifinals last season, heavily relying on Devin Booker's and Kevin Durant's production that eventually wore them thin.
Phoenix a has since gotten Bradley Beal as its necessary third shot creator, and more 3-point gunners in Grayson Allen, Yuta Watanabe, and Eric Gordon. But Denver’s defense propelled them as well to the title, being second in defensive rebounds per game, third in both second chance points allowed and defensive rating, and was the West's second-best in points in the paint allowed in the playoffs. Denver won't be as deep without Bruce Brown (now with Indiana) as its sixth man catalyst that torched Phoenix, or veteran four-man Jeff Green (signed with Houston this summer) off the bench for his those run-sparking 3s. But Denver heavily invested money in second-year forward Christian Braun to step up his responsibilities off the bench and cause more havoc replacing Brown and Green.
Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant's 25-game suspension to start the season looks like a hindrance on paper for Memphis. But the team has been the West's second seed in the past two postseasons, and compiled a 31-15 record when he's not in their lineup over those past two regular seasons. Despite being dominated by the seventh-seed Los Angeles Lakers in May's first round, Memphis had the league's third-best defense in the regular season and playoffs, led by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Grizzlies added the previous season's DPOY and playoff-battle tested veteran guard Marcus Smart in a trade from Boston in the offseason. With said players and the imposing frontcourt of Jackson, Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama to cause problems for points in the paint and on the glass, continuing to be one of the league's most physical and younger teams. In addition, Memphis was second in fast break points percentage behind Phoenix last postseason. When Morant has a full head of steam pushing the pace in the open floor with his trailers, it's problematic for any team trying to stop Memphis.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Suns could see some trouble facing their most storied Pacific Division rival Lakers. Los Angeles made many notable free agent additions to improve its depth, outside shooting, and size. That includes one of the league's top 3-point shooting bigs in Christian Wood, re-signing solid four-man Rui Hachimura and one of the Lakers' best playmakers Austin Reaves, veteran hybrid forward Taurean Prince, high flyer Jaxson Hayes, and guard Gabe Vincent after his highly efficient performances during Miami's finals run. Vincent and could move him back to his natural two-guard post with D'Angelo Russell running the point.
Then there's LeBron James, the league’s 21-year Zeus still playing at an elite level. The Lakers had a lot of rim protection as the best in blocks and defensive boards in their playoff run. Anthony Davis, when healthy, is among the league's elite big men. After being the West’s best team at 17-7 after February’s trade deadline, the Lakers were the seventh seed that knocked off Memphis and the previous year champion Golden State before being swept by Denver in the conference finals. And those games against Denver were competitive, losing by a slim six-point margin.
Golden State Warriors
Having four future Hall of Famers and the league's most recent four-title dynasty can definitely stand in Phoenix's way. The Warriors won't have that black cloud from the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole punch fiasco last season, nor their abysmal 11-30 regular season road record anymore. Chris Paul could be one of Golden State’s best facilitators it’s had in a long time to complement Curry and Klay Thompson as a sixth man or starter, if the 19-year veteran and his fellow 30-plus aged teammates can stay healthy.
Paul was brought in from the Poole trade to Washington, which came after Phoenix traded Paul to Washington for Beal. Golden State was the league's second-highest scoring team behind Sacramento during the regular season, second in 3s made during the playoffs and rebounds per game. Curry (2023 playoffs' fourth-best scorer at 30.5 per game, and best 3-point shooter) has shown how he can beat teams by himself, just like he did scoring 50 points and eliminating the No. 2 Sacramento in Game 7 in April.
L.A. Clippers
This is the other L.A.-Phoenix rivalry that has been brewing since they faced each other in the 2021 West finals, and when the Suns beat them again in five games last year's first-round. The Clippers have three Hall of Fame-bound players in Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook who rejuvenated his career with them after the Lakers got rid of him at the trade deadline last season.
The Clippers also had great bench production, led by Norman Powell, who finsihed fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Only the New York Knicks got to the free throw line more than the Clippers in the playoffs. Plus, L.A. was the second-best in limiting made 3s in the playoffs, as well as were the third-best in bench scoring during the regular season. Phoenix has some newfound depth, but the Clippers have more continuity in its roster which could help give them an edge. That's only if Leonard and George and avoid injuries, something that has plagued both.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 NBA West teams that could stop Phoenix Suns' path to 2024 title
