The Suns enter as the four seed, but don’t let that fool you. They have dealt with injuries to their two MVP-level stars, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Their inability to get healthy at the same time caused the Suns to lose a lot of games they shouldn’t have. It’s unsurprising, considering they gave up several key pieces to acquire Durant at the trade deadline. The Suns looked good against a banged-up Clippers team in round one, but now they’ll face a Nuggets team that led the West for most of the season.
The Suns' most significant strength is their star power. Booker and Durant are boosted by one of the best distributors in the league, Chris Paul. The trio is a nightmare for any team in the NBA, especially with center Deandre Ayton down low. The young big man is a solid scorer and rebounder who generates second chances for this impressive offense. As long as they can stay healthy, Phoenix certainly has the weapons to win this series.
Phoenix’s biggest issue has been their depth. Their trade for Durant completely demolished their bench, causing them to rely on their stars. They will have Cam Payne back from injury, but besides him, the Suns don’t have many options. If they get into foul trouble or have an injury to one of their starters, it is unlikely Phoenix will hang with the Nuggets over seven games.
