The Phoenix Suns shocked the world last season, as Devin Booker and Chris Paul led them to the NBA Finals. The Suns lost in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks, but fans are optimistic that they'll be able to replicate that success and make it to the Finals again.

However, if you ask former Suns forward Matt Barnes, the Suns aren't favored to make it back to the Finals. In an episode of “The Jump”, Barnes had this to say. (via Fadeaway World, NBA on ESPN YouTube)

“Love CP! Love Book! Experience is the best teacher and they have that now. But if the West is healthy, it’s going to be loaded, and it’s going to be tough [for the Suns] to get out. I wouldn’t bet on them, with all due respect. Like I said, great young team, one of the best floor generals we’ve ever seen in the history of this game. But again, a lot of things lined up perfect for them to do what they did last year.”

There's an inkling of truth to Barnes' statement. The Suns were great last year, but they were the beneficiaries of some luck in their Finals run. They faced a Lakers team that didn't have Anthony Davis, and they played the Clippers, who didn't have Kawhi Leonard. It's not a stretch to say that if one of those two players were healthy for that series, the Suns wouldn't have made it to June. If every team is healthy this season, there's a chance that the Suns are eliminated early.

However, that doesn't mean that the Suns won't be able to replicate their success. After a year's worth of experience together, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and the rest of the Suns have built some chemistry together, which is much needed in the playoffs. There's also the potential for improvement from their young guys in DeAndre Ayton and Mikal Bridges, who performed phenomenally in their first playoff run.

Booker, Paul, and the Suns have been here before. They've been counted out by others. Now, everyone is sleeping on them again.