Editor's note: We asked our panel of NBA experts, "Who will win the Pacific Division?"
1. Phoenix Suns (17 votes)
Henry Abbott, ESPN.com's TrueHoop: Amare Stoudemire is one of the most efficient scorers in the league. Shawn Marion is a candidate for defensive player of the year and MVP of your fantasy league. Then there's that Steve Nash guy.
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Maybe their way won't win out, but bless them for trying.
Jon Barry, ESPN: Love the Grant Hill addition. I could see him being the backup PG, or point forward. Leandro Barbosa's better off the ball; he doesn't handle the point as well. Nash's back woes raise concerns of closing windows.
Chris Broussard, ESPN Mag: Last season's Game 4 victory at San Antonio got Suns over a major mental hurdle (despite the subsequent suspensions), and they'll finally clear the hump entirely this year.
Ric Bucher, ESPN Mag: They've got issues but they've also got Steve Nash.
Chad Ford, ESPN.com: They are still the most fun team to watch in basketball. Everyone hopes a team that plays like them can win a title. But their lack of depth in the paint is going to be a problem.
Jemele Hill, ESPN.com: Still the class of this division, but expect a slight slide in the West's pecking order.
John Hollinger, ESPN.com: The Suns' depth worries me, but they're an easy call in what might be the league's worst division.
Mark Jackson, ESPN: They are a team that got better with Grant Hill. Amare's healthier, too.
Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com: Their only competition is themselves. The question is, in this battle, who wins?
Chris Palmer, ESPN Mag: Grant Hill deserves to be on a winner. Will be hard not to root for them.
Jack Ramsay, ESPN Radio: Their unique game style is too hard to defend. And of course, they have Steve Nash. 'Nuff said.
Jalen Rose, ESPN: Don't be surprised if the Suns hover around 70 wins. The distance between 1 and 2 in the Pacific Division is going to be the biggest gap in the NBA.
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: Are they seven deep or eight deep? Marcus Banks, your opinion? Doesn't matter much, really, in terms of picking them atop the league's weakest division.
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: The easiest call on the divisional board. Phoenix might have the Pacific clinched by the All-Star break.
David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.: Not much of a race here, and Phoenix is still smarting from its playoff loss to the Spurs. They will be focused and hungry all season, and should compete for the best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Kiki Vandeweghe, ESPN: Clearly the best in the division. Maybe a 60-win team. Nash has to stay healthy.