Buckle Up Because The Day Has Finally Arrived For A Battle Between The Two Best Teams In The NBA

Noah Graham. Getty Images.

I'm not sure you could possibly find a regular season game with as much hype and high level play from everyone involved like what we're getting tonight in the desert. On one side you have the best team in the NBA in Golden State. They are destroying everything in their path and are led by the early leader for MVP. On the other end you have the team with the longest current winning streak in the NBA at 16 games in Phoenix. They haven't lost in a month. You would think that with the Warriors getting off to an 18-2 start that they would be blowing out the West, and here we sit with the Suns just 1 game back of the #1 seed. We have an elite road team in GS (7-1) going up against an elite home team in PHX (8-2). From what I can tell, it looks like everyone important will play tonight or at least at the time I'm writing this blog. 

It may be November 30th, but don't let that confuse you. This game, and then the rematch on Friday are very important for both sides. These two teams are in the same division. Neither look to be slowing down any time soon, so these H2H matchups will always matter. Seeding is most likely going to be tight all year between the two, so coming out on top in the Pacific Division is something both sides are striving for. In an effort to show just how awesome this game should be, all you have to do is look how both teams currently rank across all the important league metrics

Offense: 1st (GS) vs 7th (PHX)

Defense: 1st (GS) vs 3rd (PHX)

Net rating: 1st (GS) vs 3rd (PHX)

AST%: 1st (GS) vs 7th (PHX)

TS%: 1st (GS) vs 4th (PHX)

PTS: 2nd (GS) vs 4th (PHX)

FG%: 2nd (GS) vs 1st (PHX)

3PM: 1st (GS) vs 24th (PHX)

3P%: 5th (GS) vs 7th (PHX)

+/-: 1st (GS) vs 3rd (PHX)

Wins: 1st (GS) vs 2nd (PHX)

I mean you get the idea. I'll say, once you write out all the ways the Warriors are dominating the league right now it's a bit overwhelming. Then you add in all the random facts about their start and it's even more daunting. But you know what? This is about respect for the Suns. Look at how this game is being talked about by some of the national media

I'm sorry, has one team won 16 in a row or not? I'm honestly asking what the Suns have to do in order to get any sort of national respect and publicity. Go 8-0 in the bubble? OK, they did that. Back that up by making the NBA FINALS? OK, they did that. Back that up with the second best record in the NBA and a 16 game winning streak? OK, they did that. So why are we only hearing about the Warriors winning heading into tonight? I get it, Steph is awesome and is playing at an insane level. You know who else this is true for? Devin Booker

Unless you're a Suns fan or an avid NBA fan, would you have any idea this is happening? I say probably not. That's what makes these two games so important for the Suns. People are going to fawn over Curry and the Warriors regardless of what happens tonight. That comes with the territory. But the Suns have the opportunity to once again show why they deserve every bit of publicity and respect as a legit title contender. All they seem to do is prove this time and time again yet still they fly under the radar by comparison. I'm sure their fans don't mind, but it's still bullshit. This is not a flash in the pan Suns team either which is what makes this so bizarre to me. What started in the bubble has been backed up for a while now. This isn't all too different from what we saw last year when the Suns went a month without losing after their slow start and then lost only like 5-6 more times all year.

There's simply so much to love about this matchup as a basketball fan. To very good coaches going head to head. Two of the best point guards we've ever seen going head to head. Star power everywhere you look. Two teams that are extremely balanced in terms of talent and depth. Two teams that play some of the best styles of basketball the league has. I'm not sure what else you could want as a basketball fan, this game literally has everything.

The players may say this is just any other game when talking to the media, because why wouldn't they? But deep down you know this isn't true, especially for the Suns. When you factor in the hype going in, what it will mean for potential playoff seeding and H2H tie breakers, tonight is a very big night for everyone involved. All I hope for is that both sides remain healthy and we don't see a blowout. I want to see these teams in a battle where someone is going to have to execute in high pressure situations. Given how both sides have looked all year, something tells me there's a good chance we get just that.