Can the Suns Reach the NBA Finals?

For the first time since Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash were running through the West, the Suns are back in a position to make a deep playoff run. How far can they go and are they good enough to come out of the West?

Let’s check out their futures odds.

Suns Championship Odds

• NBA Championship (+1600)
• Western Conference (+600)

*Odd courtesy of Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)

Can They Avoid the Lakers?

Truly, this may be the most influential variable in whether the Suns have what it takes to make it to the Western Conference Finals, or even the Finals.

When Phoenix had a shot at the number one seed, they fell flat with crucial losses down the stretch, so now they await the winner of the Lakers and Warriors play-in game. I don’t have to tell you who the Suns would rather face in a first round seven-game series.

If the Lakers win or lose against the Warriors may be the first bullet the Suns dodge or get hit by. If it is a matchup with the Lakers, it won’t be short unless the Suns get crushed. If the Suns win that series, they will need six or seven games to dispatch the defending champions.

The Sharp Pick

After that, it’s the wild west. Let’s assume LA wins the first play-in game and the Suns get past them. Next would be the Nuggets or Blazers and then potentially a series against the Jazz unless they are dispatched early by who I would assume is the Clippers.

There hasn’t been this much parity in the West in a while, which is truly exciting from a fan’s perspective. From a bettor’s perspective it’s even more gambling and not a ton of edge.

That being said, I don’t mind the Suns here as a Western Conference Finals winner at 6:1. The Suns were one of only four teams to finish in the top 10 in offensive and defensive rating this season. The other three teams are the Clippers, Bucks and Jazz, all three of which have NBA Finals potential.

The Clippers and Jazz might meet each other in the second round, so potentially, the Suns may not meet a team with as much balance as they have until the Western Conference Finals.

On the top sportsbooks, this makes them a value at their current price, which is behind the Lakers, Clippers and Jazz to win the West.

With that in mind, I wouldn’t go crazy betting on the Suns to make the Finals. Their road is tough and a road that goes through the Lakers in the first round is not one I’m willing to get involved in with much money, if at all. If the Lakers can beat the Warriors, I’m assuming the price for the Suns in that first round series would be the better bet.

That being said, this Suns team’s balance on both sides of the ball makes them a formidable opponent to anyone in the West. If they make it to the Western Conference Finals, they won’t be more than 2:1 underdogs against a team like the Jazz or Clippers.

With all that in mind, this is all predetermined by the Lakers and Warriors play-in game, so a lot of what has been said depends greatly on who that first round matchup is against.

The post Can the Suns Reach the NBA Finals? appeared first on Picks.