Phoenix Suns, not Golden State Warriors, should be West favorite, ESPN's JJ Redick says
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The Golden State Warriors' resurgence this season has been well-chronicled (and over-chronicled?).
After all, Golden State is 32-12 overall and has a deep roster including the NBA MVP favorite in Steph Curry.
But there is a team ahead of the Warriors in the Western Conference standings and one ESPN analyst says that that team should be the favorite in the conference.
The analyst, JJ Redick, praised the Suns after the team's 121-107 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, a win that moved the Suns to an NBA-best 34-9.
"The Phoenix Suns should be and are the favorites in the West," Redick said on NBA Today. "They are the only team in the NBA with a Top 5 offense and a Top 5 defense. They are 34-9. The combination of Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton have only played in 23 games together. And they are still 34-9. This is a very deep team. And I want to give a shoutout to Mikal Bridges, who should absolutely be in the conversation for defensive player of the year and certainly a first-team all-defensive team selection this year."
Redick's comments seemed to endear him to Suns fans, some of whom think the Suns are flying under the radar despite their 34-9 record.
@jj_redick is the best on @espn.
— DomNAyton (@AytonDom) January 18, 2022
Imagine if the Lakers had the best record in the league w their top 2 players only playing half the games together and still having a top 5 offensive and defensive......NBA fans would never hear the end of it...but when the suns do it...👻👻
— Nora Outcast (@_donwany) January 19, 2022
He aint wrong
— IA (@AZNative92) January 18, 2022
It’s about time! 💜🧡
— Shawna Hudson (@MyStyledLife16) January 19, 2022
Thanks for the big shout out JJ, speaking the truth about the purple gang from Phoenix. #VALLEYPROUD
— Andrew (@Alphadrew88) January 19, 2022
Sadly those 37 seconds was all the air time the suns would get on an hour long NBA show after Booker drops 48. Affirming again why the only time I watch ESPN is for live sports.
— Caleb Merriman (@Comineyha11) January 19, 2022
about time someone speaks some truth about our guys in phoenix
— sistedtwista (@sistedtwista) January 19, 2022
NBA odds don't agree with Redick
The odds don't quite agree with Redick about the Suns, however.
Tipico Sportsbook currently has the Golden State Warriors as the favorite to win the Western Conference, at +240.
The Suns are second, at +300.
Interestingly, the sportsbook does have Phoenix as the favorite to win the Pacific Division at -180, with the Warriors behind them at +140.
As for the odds to win the NBA title, the Brooklyn Nets are +270 out of the East, ahead of the Warriors at +480.
The Bucks, also in the East, are +650, with the Suns tied with Milwaukee with those same odds.
More: 5 takeaways from Devin Booker cooking Spurs for season-high 48 in Suns win
More: Arizona Republic's NBA power rankings: Suns or Warriors No. 1?
VOTE: Which team should be the favorite in #NBA Western Conference now? (Analyst, odds disagree: https://t.co/QiyxC06WTV) @azcentral #DubNation #ValleyProud
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) January 19, 2022
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns, not Golden State Warriors, should be NBA West favorite