Phoenix Suns
2017-18 record: 21-61
2017-18 season series: 1-1
2018-19 advantage: Sixers
The Suns will win more games this season. Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza are solid vets who complement the core. Devin Booker is primed for another leap and Deandre Ayton is an early Rookie of the Year favorite. Things are looking up in Phoenix.
Winning more games doesn’t mean they’ll be in the playoffs, though. The West is unforgiving and the Booker-Ayton core needs time to grow. Josh Jackson is still an enigma. He could be really good, but he could also revert to bad habits and struggle.
Mikal Bridges, Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton are all promising young prospects. Even Dragan Bender might find something in year three, although our friends at Valley of the Suns aren’t too confident. None of that equates to competitive basketball this season.
The Embiid-Ayton battles will be worth watching, but Embiid holds a pretty clear advantage one-on-one. The Sixers also hold the advantage overall, boasting an elite defense and a more dynamic offense. Give Phoenix a few more years.