PHOENIX SUNS

Where do the Phoenix Suns stack up in the NBA’s championship tier?

Oct 20, 2021, 4:06 PM

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) becomes entangled with Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul during ...

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) becomes entangled with Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 25, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

We’ve addressed the “why.” Why do we expect the Phoenix Suns to win upward of 50 games this year?

That may not have answered this question: In the context of the NBA as a whole, where do they stand?

The Milwaukee Bucks are the reigning NBA Champions, the Brooklyn Nets began the year Tuesday with two of their three superstars and the Los Angeles Lakers have remastered a very talented team that at worst is old and very top-heavy.

With that said, we asked Arizona Sports hosts and editors to make a simple list of where the Suns stand among the top-tier squads. Listed below are their preseason power rankings for the top five teams they believe will compete for the title.

Dave Burns, co-host of Burns & Gambo

1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Utah Jazz
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Los Angeles Lakers

Vince Marotta, co-host of Bickley & Marotta:

1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Brooklyn Nets
4. Utah Jazz
5. Miami Heat

Jon Bloom, Suns play-by-play voice and postgame show host:

1. Phoenix Suns
2. Utah Jazz
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Dallas Mavericks

Luke Lapinski, co-host of Wolf & Luke

1. Brooklyn Nets
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Utah Jazz

John Gambadoro, co-host of Burns & Gambo:

1. Brooklyn Nets
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Miami Heat
5. Utah Jazz

Kellan Olson, ArizonaSports.com editor and co-host of Empire of the Suns podcast

1. Brooklyn Nets
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Los Angeles Lakers

Kevin Zimmerman, ArizonaSports.com lead editor and co-host of Empire of the Suns podcast

1. Brooklyn Nets
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Utah Jazz

Tyler Drake, ArizonaSports.com editor

1. Phoenix Suns
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Los Angeles Lakers

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

17 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

21 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: How the Suns lost to the Spurs before they stepped on the court

Burns & Gambo react to the Phoenix Suns stunning loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and try to figure out why it happened.

2 days ago

Where do the Phoenix Suns stack up in the NBA’s championship tier?