Riding the momentum of an impressive seven-game win streak, the Phoenix Suns have ascended in ESPN’s Week 7 NBA power rankings.
Moving up from the 11st spot, the Suns were ranked 7th, with the reasoning:
“A seven-game winning streak has lifted the Suns to 11-6, meaning they’ve basically won two out of every three games this season with only two of their Big Three available, as Bradley Beal (back) has been out. They’ll have their biggest test thus far with a playoff rematch versus the Nuggets on Friday — a team they could beat only two times in six tries in the postseason before trading for Beal.”
Topping the power rankings were the Boston Celtics at #1, trailed by the 76ers in 2nd place, the Nuggets in 3rd, the Timberwolves in 4th, the Bucks in 5th, and the Thunder in 6th.
While some might argue that the Suns deserve a higher spot in the rankings, it’s crucial to acknowledge the impact of their early-season schedule.
Facing teams such as the 3-13 Grizzlies, 5-12 Trail Blazers, the Jazz (currently 6-11) three times, the 2-15 Pistons, and the 3-14 Spurs twice, nearly half of the Suns’ games have been against opponents with sub-.400 winning percentages.
Dunks & Threes reports that the Suns boast the easiest schedule among all NBA teams thus far this season, a factor worth considering when evaluating their current standing.
As ESPN rightly pointed out, a true litmus test awaits Phoenix this Friday as they square off against the Denver Nuggets, providing an opportunity for the Suns to prove their mettle against a more challenging opponent.