NBA Roundtable: The Suns are rising

BetAmerica is thrilled to be teaming up with Covers and Oddschecker for a new weekly feature breaking down the latest news and trends from around the Association. This week, NBA columnists Andrew Caley, Sam Farley and Ryan Murphy discuss the Suns' hot start, Carmelo Anthony's murky future and the state of Dennis Smith Jr.'s game.

The Suns are 5-2 and have impressive wins over the previously unbeaten Clippers and 76ers. Is it time for bettors to jump on their +30000 championship odds?

Andrew: The Suns have been shockingly impressive. They’ve covered the spread in every game and are doing so by an average margin of 12.4 points per game. Devin Booker’s efficiency has been remarkable, and the defensive numbers stand out for a team that really struggled at that end of the floor last year. But before you run out to bet that big payday on a Suns championship, know that the only top 10 team they have faced in terms of net rating is the Clippers, and three of the four teams they faced rank 27th, 28th and 30th. And the shooting numbers seem unsustainable for this roster. Use caution.

Sam: The Suns have been great fun so far this season. Devin Booker is balling out, while Ricky Rubio is helping the team all over the floor. This Suns team certainly has a sunny outlook for the season, however, I’m still not ready to jump on any Suns-for-the-championship bandwagon. This is a team that hasn’t visited the playoffs for a decade. Do they have the mettle to win out over the Spurs or Mavericks, let alone the Lakers or Clippers in a seven-game series? I’m not convinced. Let’s just enjoy this ride while it lasts.

Ryan: It's time to pump the brakes on the Suns hype train. The Clippers were bound for a letdown after two emotionally charged victories over the Lakers and Warriors, and the Sixers were playing without two-time All-Star Joel Embiid. New head coach Monty Williams has the Suns playing hard at both ends of the court, but they're still light years away from being a legitimate championship contender.

We’re two weeks into the NBA season and Carmelo Anthony is still nowhere to be seen. Will he be back in the league before the year is up?

Andrew: No. Plain and simple. The game has just passed him by. Melo can’t keep up with the high-tempo offenses of today and no one wants to play iso ball anymore. And while Anthony has always been a great scorer, he’s been a liability on defense for as long as I can remember. Not every player needs the Dwyane Wade victory-lap season. Melo, go to China. Put up 40 a game. Make a bunch of money. Star in movies. It worked for Stephon Marbury.

Sam: My head says no. Melo is washed up, and ultimately I’d have expected the phone to have rung already if he had any chance. My heart wants Melo back, though, and I’m sure most fans want a Hollywood ending. Let’s give him one last championship tilt alongside his buddy LeBron in LA, or maybe a season back at MSG, helping tutor RJ Barrett.

Ryan: We'll sooner see Ben Simmons in the Three-Point Contest than Carmelo Anthony back in the NBA. Melo can still score with the best of 'em, but his atrocious defense can no longer be ignored. That was especially evident during his brief stint in Houston, where opponents shot 54% when Anthony was the nearest defender. Like it or not, the game has changed considerably over the past five years, and there's no longer a place for a lumbering forward who is unwilling—or unable—to switch on pick and rolls and chase opponents off the three-point line.

What in the world happened to Dennis Smith Jr.? Two years ago he looked like one of the most electrifying young players in the league, but now he’s struggling to steal minutes away from Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina.

Andrew: It has been a rough go for Smith. The third-year point guard obviously fell out of favor during camp with head coach David Fizdale. The Knicks now have RJ Barrett to lead the offense, and Smith is a ball-dominant point guard. Those just don’t mix. Smith has struggled with his limited minutes, with just one made shot this season. Fizdale has sided with more defensively efficient players, like Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina, in that role. Unfortunately, Smith is now dealing with a personal tragedy, as well, and it could be a while before he returns to the team.

Sam: It’s not looking good for Smith in New York. He is struggling and now the crowd is on his back. We’ve seen this story before, and once that crowd has turned, it’s always going to be tough. The coaching staff needs to find a way to get his mojo back or the Porzingis trade will continue to look worse and worse for the Knicks.

Ryan: Smith took a big step back during his sophomore season with the arrival of Luka Doncic in Dallas. The EuroLeague MVP took over ball handling duties for the Mavs and pushed Smith to the two, where his shoddy off-the-ball skills and suspect shot were repeatedly exposed. A trade to the Knicks was supposed to breathe new life into his career, but he shot just 41% from the floor and 28% from beyond the arc last season and has been even worse this year. Smith has also been a disaster on D, with the Knicks allowing 119 points per 100 possessions when he's been on the court. The 21-year-old is currently away from the team for personal reasons, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's dealt before the trade deadline.

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