Hoops Habit
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The 3 most intriguing teams to watch in the NBA right now

By Luke Duffy

DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 01: Devin Booker #1 celebrates the game winning shot with Deandre Ayton #22 and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on February 01, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 01: Devin Booker #1 celebrates the game winning shot with Deandre Ayton #22 and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on February 01, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Phoenix Suns
NBA (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

NBA team to watch No. 2: Phoenix Suns

We all love to tell everybody else when we were right about something, and this is especially true for basketball fans on social media. But we have to be willing to own up to the ones we got wrong, and to that end, this is my public apology to the Phoenix Suns and their fanbase. The key error made was betting against Chris Paul, figuring that age would finally catch up to his undersized frame.

But he has been unbelievable, as he always is, for this franchise, changing the perception of them overnight as they vaulted themselves straight into the postseason conversation. Even those who thought the pairing of Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton was going to go well probably couldn’t have foreseen a possible one seed in their future.

This is where the Suns find themselves right now though, with homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and they are going to be a tough out for anybody else in the conference. It isn’t just Paul and Booker, although Paul should seriously receive some MVP love when the winner is announced, there is so much more going on here.

Behind head coach Monty Williams, all of the pieces just fit in a way that few other organizations can boast. Dario Saric, who had his moments with the Philadelphia 76ers in the past, is a more mature player now. His big frame and shooting touch invaluable when slotted in next to some of the smaller guys on the team.

Jae Crowder provides some of the same skills as Saric, but really you can never have too many guys like this in your rotation. Most others don’t, which is part of the reasons the Suns have had the success that they have had. They can score in a variety of ways, have an elite scorer like Booker, but can also switch it up defensively and have Ayton manning the inside.

Things have gone so well that the fact the Suns took Ayton over Luka Doncic doesn’t even get brought up nearly as much. Mikal Bridges is an excellent complement to the starting group, Cameron Payne saved himself from falling out of the league and Torrey Craig is one of the most underrated players in the league. It’s all happening in Phoenix, and they are poised for a deep run. A series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets or Utah Jazz would be fascinating.

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