NBA New Season Team Preview: Phoenix Suns – Champion Coach Aims to Help the Big Three Fulfill Their Dreams, Imbalanced Roster May Be the Biggest Weakness

The new NBA season is about to begin, and today we introduce one of the powerhouses in the Western Conference—the Phoenix Suns.

Review of Last Season:

Last season, the Suns assembled the big three of Durant, Booker, and Beal with the aim to make a mark in the West. However, they only managed a record of 49 wins and 33 losses, ranking sixth in the regular season of the Western Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, the Suns were swept 4-0 by the young Timberwolves, ending their campaign in disappointment. For the Suns, who invested heavily in forming the big three, this was clearly an unacceptable result. The offensive strategies of Durant, Booker, and Beal were too one-dimensional, and their defense was even worse, plunging the team into a quagmire.

Changes During the Offseason:

The Suns’ biggest move in the offseason was firing Vogel and hiring another championship coach, Budenholzer. The Suns quickly secured Buden, who had led the Bucks to a championship, within a day. Although Budenholzer’s coaching in the playoffs has been criticized, he is known for his excellent work in building rosters and integrating teams during the regular season. Constrained by the high salaries of the big three, the Suns could not make significant acquisitions during the offseason and could only make minor adjustments. They signed point guards Tyus Jones, Monte Morris, and Plumlee, while also renewing contracts with Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Damion Lee, and Bol Bol. The goal is to maximize the offensive potential of the big three while getting more support from role players on both ends of the court.

Outlook for the New Season:

With the presence of the big three, the Suns still have strong paper strength. With the addition of Budenholzer, the Suns should perform better than last season. In last year’s playoffs, the absence of Grayson Allen led to a defensive collapse for the Suns. In the new season, Jones’ arrival will free up Booker’s offense and bring more structure to the team’s attack. Durant and Beal can also find their roles under Budenholzer’s system.

Of course, given the generally strong teams in the West, it remains challenging for the Suns to stand out. The team’s weakness is still the depth of the roster. Players outside the big three have a significant gap compared to them. Additionally, Beal’s decline is evident, making the big three less formidable. Defensively, the Suns lack a core-level player, which will be a challenge for them in the new season.

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Durant, Booker, Beal, Grayson Allen, Nurkic

Predicted Regular Season Ranking:

4th to 6th in the West