This is sad. End of the road for the short-handed Nuggets.
Phoenix getting two injury riddled teams in the first and second rounds.
Yeah, Phoenix' success has nothing to do with the fact they're actually good.
They are really good. Personally, I have them 4th or 5th in the West behind Utah, LAL and Denver with the Clippers jostling with them for one of the next two spots. With Dallas in 6th.
I just wish we were seeing Phoenix go up against some full strength teams here. Sucks seeing them get a bye to the Conference Finals because they have met two injury hit teams.
At full strength, I think they are better than Utah and probably Denver and I wouldn't be surprised to see them beat the Clippers either. The Suns are very well put together, and while they don't have true top end talent, CP3 is a regular All NBA guy, Booker will be soon, and Ayton looks like he will as well. Plus they have lots of depth with a core that fits well and plays well together.
Yeah, I can see putting Phoenix ahead of Denver given the development of Ayton this season. I had Denver ahead of Phoenix to start the season but Ayton's growth has altered that landscape. I'll go Phoenix at 3rd best in the West.
I am sold on Utah though. I wasn't to start the year but I am now. Their offense is super-impressive as is their top 8 guys (8 starters). 3 quasi-stars in Gobert, Mitchell and Conley. Loads of 3 point shooting in the
3 ball era (I don't think this team works as well in any other era, only today's league).
I wasn't convinced by them earlier in the year because of their lack of high end talent (plus Conley's poor performance last year and Clarkson's breakout year shooting wise) but their depth, balance, shooting and the offensive reliability of Donovan Mitchell as a primary creator (unstoppable good but not elite off the dribble game) separates them from all the other pretenders we've seen in year's past that resemble them (like the 60 win Hawks a few years back).