The long wait is over, folks. Real and meaningful NBA basketball is finally here, as Wednesday marks the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, with two games on the schedule, including this marquee, can’t-miss meeting between the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.

Catch this game live on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 10 AM, Manila time

Away: Phoenix Suns (0-0/0-0 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Bradley Beal
  • SG: Devin Booker
  • SF: Josh Okogie
  • PF: Kevin Durant
  • C: Jusuf Nurkic

The Suns don’t have to wait long in the upcoming regular season to test their new-look roster against a legitimate title contender. Phoenix has made some significant changes to its lineup over the offseason, parting ways with Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton and acquiring the likes of Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. 

There are lingering objective questions about the fit and chemistry of Phoenix’s players, but what’s undeniable is that on paper, the Suns carry a scary cast that can beat any team on any given night — even the Warriors in the Bay Area. For what it’s worth, the Suns have won in four of their last five meetings with Golden State. Moreover, they are 3-1 against the spread in three of the last four matchups against the Suns.

Home: Golden State Warriors (0-0/0-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Chris Paul
  • SG: Stephen Curry
  • SF: Klay Thompson
  • PF: Andrew Wiggins
  • C: Kevon Looney

The Warriors also made some major tweaks to their roster in the offseason. Gone is Jordan Poole, who now has all the offensive freedom in the world in Washington. But the Warriors also added Paul, a move that has changed the dynamic of Golden State’s backcourt. How Paul exactly impacts the Warriors is something that remains to be seen, but he definitely brings a lot of positives to the table for Golden State, which finished the 2022-23 NBA regular season third in the league with 118.1 points per game. 

However, it must also be noted that Draymond Green has been ruled out for the Warriors’ season opener due to a sprained ankle. That likely means Kevon Looney will get to start versus the Suns, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While he’s not a table-setter and the versatile defender that Green is, Looney is a voracious rebounder and a high-percentage shooter (9.3 RPG/63.0 FG% last season). 

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Warriors (-1.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (234.5) hits the Under.