Even though the Phoenix Suns didn’t finish the regular season on top of the Western Conference, they’re still a dangerous opponent to face in the playoffs. And before their showdown against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant issued a massive warning for his opponents.
During the previous offseason , a lot of fans and critics have pegged the Suns to finish on top of the West after signing Bradley Beal to play with Durant and Devin Booker. Righfully so, because all three players can score the ball anywhere on the court and facing them may be too much for any team.
But after the regular season ended, the Suns didn’t finish as one of the top teams in the West. Their reliance on the All-Star trio of Durant, Booker, and Beal left them vulnerable. Apart from having a thinner roster than other contenders, injuries to Phoenix’ key players have robbed the team of any chance to finish the season stronger than expected.
Instead, the Suns hold the sixth seed with 49 wins and 33 losses. They also boast a ninth-ranked offense and a 13th-placed defense out of 30 teams in the NBA.
Before the playoffs formally start this year, Durant droped a massive warning for the Timberwolves ahead of their showdown. In a video posted by Duane Rankin on X:
“They’re going to come in here with a different mindset, different intensity. The crowd is going to be different, the game is going to be reffed different.”
Kevin Durant on #Suns facing T-Wolves 1st round after sweeping regular season series, 3-0. Game 1 Saturday in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/nuCgef6D7V
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 15, 2024
Durant makes a fair point, especially given how long he has been in the league. In contrast, the Timberwolves are a fairly inexperienced team in the playoffs and they’ll be facing veterans who have been there before.
In any case, this showdown between the two teams will be an exciting series to watch. Once the Play-In Tournament is done, expect fireworks to go up in the first round as these squads go against each other.
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