AI Matchup Prediction
Advantage: 2020-21 Suns
Why: CP3's control and veteran savvy would exploit the inexperience and evolving roles of the 2025-26 roster. While 2025-26 has raw talent, 2020-21 had proven chemistry and a clear championship blueprint that would overwhelm a developing squad, even with Booker leading the charge. The 2020-21 Suns were a finished product, while the 2025-26 team is building one.
are we gonna forget that the valley team was legit the best team in basketball for a solid year/year and a half? current team would put up a fight but wouldnt win. either 4-1 or 4-2
One thing I will say is that we can’t even really compare these two teams till we’re fully healthy this year, but I think people would be surprised how good this team would stack up against the 21 suns. After watching Jalen Green’s rockets highlights I can really see him giving us one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.
This Booker, Green backcourt is gonna be disgusting.
I’m just saying, if this team gels really well come playoffs, they are really scrappy and remind me a bit of that Pacers team that nobody counted on being in the Finals. A Cinderella story is possible with this team if they remain healthy!
I hate that valley team so much because I’ve never had a team nuke my expectations like they did after that train wreck of a playoff meltdown they had you could not convince me they weren’t going all the way that year suddenly they were in a fight for their lives against the lowly pelicans i still don’t know what that was about so I’m going with the current team.
Love how Brooks is playing for us this year, but let's not forget just how much of a beast Mikal was on that team. I'd probably give him the edge but barely.
Also that crowder went to 4 straight finals and that da really was dominayton come playoff time(at least before he quit at the end) and sacrificed a lot of offensive growth to help the team but still had a great mid-range shot and defense on another level then current Williams. That years booker was also better outside of maybe passing and defense which he wasn't required to do that year.
This person never watched valley suns, they literally think every player on a top championship contender sucked. Every comparison he made was opposite day
Jae>Royce is questionable until you see the context that jae went to 4 straight finals as a starter. Some players have something intangible that separates them from other players that look similar on paper
Whole lotta recency bias on your list. 2021 CP3 was definitely better than JG. I would agree that Brooks edges Bridges, but only slightly. I think Jae edges Royce, mainly due to being bigger and stronger. DA at that time (especially in the '21 playoff run) was playing the best ball of his career, so I'd give him the edge over Mark.
Cam J and GA is a wash, IMO. CG so far is definitely better than Cam P, I'll give you that. I honestly think Ott may be a better coach than Monty but it's too early to say.
Basketball is a team sport though, and as aligned as the current team is, the '21 era team was just a well oiled machine capable of destroying any and every team in the NBA. It was so awesome as a fan turning on the game and EXPECTING to win every single night. We obviously didn't win every night, but they were so good it was almost shocking when they lost.
The current team is overall very young and motivated, so the potential for greatness is there. I'm hopeful.
I think a lot of posters are falling for the better record.
People didn't fear that team. It was a regular season team.
Nobody said 'shit we gotta play the suns'
They were a finesse team that made shots and did enough on defense. I wouldn't say they were scrappy, and they certainly wouldn't punch you in the mouth.
This team has more upside in a playoff environment.
But the real question is how 22suns would go against NEXT year's team. The one with maluach and rasheer in the rotation and Jalen actually playing.
I feel pretty confident in saying ott is better at coaching than Monty. Better adjustments, better substitutions, better growing of young talent. Better.
Valley. Love this year's team tho
Am I crazy for thinking it goes to seven regardless of which way it swings? I like our bench a lot more on this current squad.
If it’s the Suns team that went up against the Mavericks then absolutely lol.
Luka gave them Covid.
Slovid.
Think back to 2021 and say "Death, Taxes and the 4th Quarter Suns" and you have your answer.
Wasn’t that team undefeated with a lead going into the 4th?
Something crazy like that.
That Valley team was insanely good dude.
That team was a finely tuned engine for a couple seasons. They’d smack this current team if we’re talking 2021 Chris Paul
Per AI:
AI Matchup Prediction Advantage: 2020-21 Suns Why: CP3's control and veteran savvy would exploit the inexperience and evolving roles of the 2025-26 roster. While 2025-26 has raw talent, 2020-21 had proven chemistry and a clear championship blueprint that would overwhelm a developing squad, even with Booker leading the charge. The 2020-21 Suns were a finished product, while the 2025-26 team is building one.
AI's memory is probably still stuck in the beginning of the season which is why it only describes this team as a "raw" and a "building talent"
Let’s calm down guys lol
It’s just fun to discuss and really appreciate what that team did and what this current team is doing.
let's not get ahead of ourselves here. this teams fun but that team won 64 games
I don’t want to discredit that team, but did they have an easier path/season? A lot of big star players injured that year.
In the yoff run maybe but regular season wins are real
Not to mention the big strength of this team is defence and being clutch both things the valley sun's were just better at
Ya valley suns smoke us most likely but we are so good for what we have I love it just as much if not more
are we gonna forget that the valley team was legit the best team in basketball for a solid year/year and a half? current team would put up a fight but wouldnt win. either 4-1 or 4-2
No, this team would not beat in a seven game series a team that was 2 games away from a championship and then won 64 games
This team is built better, better overall roster, not a slight chance?
You're right. Mainly because this team has a COVID vaccine 😂
lol
21 suns dog walking this years team unfortunately.
We are talking about the luka meme team, not the finals team, just to confirm
Both of those teams are much better. To such a degree that I’m not sure why people think it would be competitive
Absolutely love our current team but that valley team smacks them down
This team but only because the 2021 team has covid in game 7
Current team wins in a 7 game series. The center from 2021-2022 ends up quitting by game 6.
One thing I will say is that we can’t even really compare these two teams till we’re fully healthy this year, but I think people would be surprised how good this team would stack up against the 21 suns. After watching Jalen Green’s rockets highlights I can really see him giving us one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.
This Booker, Green backcourt is gonna be disgusting.
The valley team wins based on having more talent. But it could go 6.
https://preview.redd.it/60ejzb8d1gcg1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da940a24fad4239131ecbcfd6f08a0bf277bb9c9
depends on if we’re getting playoff valley suns or regular season lol
I’m just saying, if this team gels really well come playoffs, they are really scrappy and remind me a bit of that Pacers team that nobody counted on being in the Finals. A Cinderella story is possible with this team if they remain healthy!
I think this team would just mostly because the bench is deeper
I hate that valley team so much because I’ve never had a team nuke my expectations like they did after that train wreck of a playoff meltdown they had you could not convince me they weren’t going all the way that year suddenly they were in a fight for their lives against the lowly pelicans i still don’t know what that was about so I’m going with the current team.
Well, the first one had Ayton so...
You have green better than the cp3 that got mvp votes???
This. Made it really hard to take OP seriously when he’s starting with that comparison
Ott >>> Monty
Love how Brooks is playing for us this year, but let's not forget just how much of a beast Mikal was on that team. I'd probably give him the edge but barely.
Also that crowder went to 4 straight finals and that da really was dominayton come playoff time(at least before he quit at the end) and sacrificed a lot of offensive growth to help the team but still had a great mid-range shot and defense on another level then current Williams. That years booker was also better outside of maybe passing and defense which he wasn't required to do that year.
This person never watched valley suns, they literally think every player on a top championship contender sucked. Every comparison he made was opposite day
CP3>jalen and maybe Jae>Royce
Jae>Royce is questionable until you see the context that jae went to 4 straight finals as a starter. Some players have something intangible that separates them from other players that look similar on paper
Whole lotta recency bias on your list. 2021 CP3 was definitely better than JG. I would agree that Brooks edges Bridges, but only slightly. I think Jae edges Royce, mainly due to being bigger and stronger. DA at that time (especially in the '21 playoff run) was playing the best ball of his career, so I'd give him the edge over Mark.
Cam J and GA is a wash, IMO. CG so far is definitely better than Cam P, I'll give you that. I honestly think Ott may be a better coach than Monty but it's too early to say.
Basketball is a team sport though, and as aligned as the current team is, the '21 era team was just a well oiled machine capable of destroying any and every team in the NBA. It was so awesome as a fan turning on the game and EXPECTING to win every single night. We obviously didn't win every night, but they were so good it was almost shocking when they lost.
The current team is overall very young and motivated, so the potential for greatness is there. I'm hopeful.
You lowkey have most of these completely backwards now that Im looking at it again
how did you manage to get every one wrong?
Current book probably edges finals book? Close one though
Wasn’t Booker 1st team that year? No way he’s currently better than that
Lol hell na. You’re fried. CP3 washes green. 2021 DA was better than Williams.
I think a lot of posters are falling for the better record.
People didn't fear that team. It was a regular season team.
Nobody said 'shit we gotta play the suns'
They were a finesse team that made shots and did enough on defense. I wouldn't say they were scrappy, and they certainly wouldn't punch you in the mouth.
This team has more upside in a playoff environment.
But the real question is how 22suns would go against NEXT year's team. The one with maluach and rasheer in the rotation and Jalen actually playing.
I feel pretty confident in saying ott is better at coaching than Monty. Better adjustments, better substitutions, better growing of young talent. Better.
Current team