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'We want more': Denver Nuggets favored to repeat, but where do Phoenix Suns rank as contenders?

duane rankin, arizona republic
·2 min read
5

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone put the rest of the NBA on notice right after coaching Denver to its first NBA championship.

"I got news for everybody out there, we're not satisfied with one," Malone shouted during his postgame interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters much to the delight of fans at Ball Arena. " We want more. We want more."

The Nuggets believe they are just getting started.

"We're not satisfied," Malone said in his postgame interview. "We accomplished something this franchise has never done before, but we have a lot of young talented players in that locker room, and I think we just showed through 16 playoff wins what we're capable of on the biggest stage in the world."

BetOnline has the Nuggets favored to repeat. ESPN ranks Denver first going into the 2023-24 season.

Where is everyone else?

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) looks to set the play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on March 5, 2023.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) looks to set the play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on March 5, 2023.

BetOnline

Next three: New Orleans Pelicans 20/1, Miami Heat 22/1, Cleveland Cavaliers 25/1.

Jayson Tatum reacts after a shot against Miami in the first quarter during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Jayson Tatum reacts after a shot against Miami in the first quarter during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

ESPN panel of NBA writers

  • Denver Nuggets

  • Boston Celtics

  • Miami Heat

  • Milwaukee Bucks

  • Philadelphia 76ers

  • Phoenix Suns

  • Los Angeles Lakers

  • Memphis Grizzlies

  • New York Knicks

  • Golden State Warriors

Next three: Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Nikola Jokic adds an NBA Finals MVP award to his two league MVP trophies.
Nikola Jokic adds an NBA Finals MVP award to his two league MVP trophies.

The Nuggets, Celtics and Suns are the only three teams in the top six of both lists. Denver and Boston are 1-2 in both while Phoenix is tied for fourth on BetOnline's odds and sixth on ESPN's list.

The Suns were the only team to beat Denver twice in the playoffs. The Nuggets eliminated the Timberwolves and Heat in five games and swept the Lakers in the West semifinals.

Phoenix won Game 3 and 4 at home to even the series before losing Game 5 in Denver and Game 6 at Footprint Center.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Denver Nuggets favored to repeat, but where do Phoenix Suns rank as title contenders?