The Suns expected to shine bright this season…
but darkness now clouds the future in Phoenix. Might we suggest calling Caitlin Clark? She just proved yet again that she don’t miss.
Suns Fire Vogel After Flame Out
What Happened: Welp, that didn’t work out.
After just one 49-33 season and getting swept in the playoffs, Frank Vogel is out as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Over the last two seasons, the franchise has gone all in, featuring a top-heavy roster and title aspirations. The former never meshed well enough to deliver on the latter, and now, it appears this is going to be Mike Budenholzer’s mess to clean up, as the former Milwaukee Bucks coach is the front-runner to replace Vogel.
Why It Matters: Phoenix had the fourth-best chance to win the 2024 NBA title, per BetMGM, opening at +850 and trailing only the Nuggets, Celtics, and Bucks.
(Incidentally, Boston just got smoked at home and now find themselves tied 1-1 with Cleveland, the Nuggets’ season is on life support, and Milwaukee got bounced by the Pacers in Round 1.)
Do the Suns run it back and hope that a new coach can coax more success out of a roster featuring three All-Stars in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal? Or is one of them potential trade bait in a retool?
How We’re Feeling Today
Celebrating another Caitlin Clark victory.
Ok, so it wasn’t all Clark, but she undoubtedly plays a role here. This week, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed that for the next two seasons, WNBA teams will skip the commercial flights and travel via charter.
It’s a development long in the works, and long overdue. Players shouldn’t have been made cram themselves onto the same flight you and your hungover college friends were taking back from a debaucherous bachelor party. These world class athletes didn’t deserve that. (And frankly, neither did the rest of the people flying that day, shame on you.)
With more eyes on women’s basketball than ever before, this upgrade will only help to further legitimize the WNBA. Caitlin Clark Effect? Hard to argue against it.
The Look Ahead
Obi Toppin POINTS + ASSISTS – Toppin’s minutes down the stretch should absolutely be a concern if you decide to pursue this play, as Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has seem determined to staple Toppin to the bench in the fourth quarter this postseason. Nevertheless, Toppin has exacted a measure of revenge against his old team, unleashing a vicious dunk in Game 1’s 12-point outing. He followed that up with a 20-point night in Game 2’s loss, and Toppin now has scored 12+ points in six straight games. With 10 total assists across his last four games, his line of 12.5 at plus-money tonight has definitely caught our eye.
