The Suns have proved many people wrong this season. They are very underrated IMO. But my question is how far do you think Pheonix will go this season? 1st round only? 2nd round only? Farther?
I think first round and out. I admit, they've surprised me so far. However, I think playing such a short team will come back and hurt them. Such a short team will only work for so long.
I'm going to second round. They are very inexperienced and will be facing the likes of elite western teams.
I believe the suns have a legit chance at the title, more so now than many western teams. "playing such a short team will come back and hurt them" As far as being a short team goes, this is the reason the suns are where they are at 11-2. They have been able to run other teams out of the game. There quickness and athletecism has helped them in rebounding which hasn't been a problem this year as so many expected. Amare is having such great success inside because four outside threats keep the double team away from him, besides Shaq and Z other centers in the league do not pose scoring threats, so a legit center is not needed because of the suns ability to block shots, out hustle teams for rebounds, and double-team when necessary. Throwing another bigman into the team would just slow down the pace of the game and clog the lane for Nash and Amare. Plus what other "center" can run with a fastbreak team like amare. This is my first message posted so I don't know how to make those special quote boxes, or all these sigs and stuff.
Depends on who they have to face if the have to face Dallas/Minnesota/San Antiono or Minnesota, those are the threating teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dee still ballin:</div><div class="quote_post">Depends on who they have to face if the have to face Dallas/Minnesota/San Antiono or Minnesota, those are the threating teams.</div> ^^Agree. If they can get their division then it will be a whole lot easier, 3rd ranked, possibly going past the 2nd round. We would draw a team like Seattle (if they drop down), Utah, but the team that really scares me to play in the first round is the Lakers, who if the playoffs started today we would be playing. BottomLine: 2nd Round and out. :thumbsdow
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtKing:</div><div class="quote_post">^^Agree. If they can get their division then it will be a whole lot easier, 3rd ranked, possibly going past the 2nd round. We would draw a team like Seattle (if they drop down), Utah, but the team that really scares me to play in the first round is the Lakers, who if the playoffs started today we would be playing. BottomLine: 2nd Round and out. :thumbsdow</div> It really is too early to make an accurate assessment of the Suns performance. They really havn't beaten any "elite" teams yet. However.... Scared of the lakers? You have got to be kidding!! They are a one man threat team..Period! The lakers may prove analysts wrong and make the playoffs but the Suns do not have that team to be worried about. Here are the teams they should be worried about: San Antonio, Twolves (if they wake up)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunky420:</div><div class="quote_post">It really is too early to make an accurate assessment of the Suns performance. They really havn't beaten any "elite" teams yet. However.... Scared of the lakers? You have got to be kidding!! They are a one man threat team..Period! The lakers may prove analysts wrong and make the playoffs but the Suns do not have that team to be worried about. Here are the teams they should be worried about: San Antonio, Twolves (if they wake up)</div> But that one man happens to be one of, if not the greatest players in the NBA, they have a PF in Odom who isn't all that bad, and is quite underrated plus a great coach in Rudy T. I don't see how the Lakers can be that bad... Kobe has been to 3 finals, so they got experience, and a nice center in Chris Mihm and coming off the bench they got one of the best passing centers in the game in Divac. And I disliked like Lakers since the Finals in 01' so I am not biased. Sure you have to worry about the Spurs and TWolves, but we won't have to play them until the later rounds, the point that I am trying to make is that the Lakers would probably be the worst team I would like to see the Suns play in the first round of the playoffs, because of Kobe, because of Odom, and because they got experience, (and one of the best players in the league) something that the Suns don't have.
The Suns with the exception of Nash making it to the conference finals, have no playoff experience plus theire small lineup will greatly hurt them. They will play teams like Minnesota, San Antonio, and Sacremento. Those teams have much experience and be argued better than Phoenix. I see them making it out of the first round playing the low seeds however, playing in the second round is where the playoffs really start and I don't think that Phoenix is quite an "elite" team yet. I guess you can argue they have a shot at wining the title this year but, they will be playing teams that are simply better than them. Maybe next year when Stoudemire turns into even more of a beast they can advance further into the playoffs.
Amare is the key and Q-rich is the x-factor. Nash and Marion pretty much contribute every night, Richardson is streakier. If Q-rich hits his outside shots, your team is pretty much unstoppable. You have slashers, and an elite post player. Jump shooters for a half court offense, and a pg who likes to run teamed up with finishers for the fast break. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Suns are contenders.
I think they will make the second round at most. They have been playing great so far but the West is a great conference and they can't get much farther than that IMO.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtKing:</div><div class="quote_post">But that one man happens to be one of, if not the greatest players in the NBA, they have a PF in Odom who isn't all that bad, and is quite underrated plus a great coach in Rudy T. I don't see how the Lakers can be that bad... Kobe has been to 3 finals, so they got experience, and a nice center in Chris Mihm and coming off the bench they got one of the best passing centers in the game in Divac. And I disliked like Lakers since the Finals in 01' so I am not biased. Sure you have to worry about the Spurs and TWolves, but we won't have to play them until the later rounds, the point that I am trying to make is that the Lakers would probably be the worst team I would like to see the Suns play in the first round of the playoffs, because of Kobe, because of Odom, and because they got experience, (and one of the best players in the league) something that the Suns don't have.</div> Kobe can score 40 points and still the lakers lose. That is why the suns should not be worried about them. Jordan had pippen, who does kobe have? I'm sorry but i don't see odom as a real threat. The suns are not a one man threat team. They have many options to score. After this week's games we will be able to assertain what the suns season will be like. Next up: Jazz, Cavs, and Timberwolves If suns go 3-0, then its a pretty good bet they are not fakers.
Im thinking at least Western Finals. I think they have one of the most legitament teams in the NBA right nows... Amare so far is playing MVP status and Nash on point is his best ever and best in the league. And Im not complaining over the rest of the team. Marion playing great, Qrich playing his best dropping lots of shots. Then Joe Johnson whos a great 6th man type player and we havent even seen what Tabuse can do yet. Well at least I havent...
They definately look good now. But I think a veteran Team like the Spurs or Wolves will take them out in a series. 2nd round and K.O. for the Suns. I've become a fan of Amare! He is an amazing player! Trade for DIVAC? LOL
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunky420:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe can score 40 points and still the lakers lose. That is why the suns should not be worried about them. Jordan had pippen, who does kobe have? I'm sorry but i don't see odom as a real threat. The suns are not a one man threat team. They have many options to score. After this week's games we will be able to assertain what the suns season will be like. Next up: Jazz, Cavs, and Timberwolves If suns go 3-0, then its a pretty good bet they are not fakers.</div> Who would you rather face in the first round? Right now the Lakers would be the team that we would probably face, would you rather face the Clippers or the Lakers? I think I would be a little more scared of the Lakers in the first round. How can you not see Lamar Odom as a threat?!? The guy is averageing a double-double, 14 points and 11 boards a game! He also is shooting 48% from the floor so I can't see how you cannot see Odom as a possible threat, he is a point guard traped in a forwards body. You have to remember that I am a little scared of playing the Lakers in the first round, no later. After the first round I wouldn't mind playing them but as a first round oppenent I think that this Laker team would be too tough to face in the first round. I would rather see the Suns face the Clippers (who are currently the 8th seed), Portland, Memphis (if they turn it around), and Utah in front of playing the Lakers in the first round. I am not saying that we would lose to the Lakers, but I think that, this series would take a lot out of the team, possibly go to 6 or 7 games and maybe effecting on the 2nd round series. It might be a little too early to talk about the playoffs, who knows Amare could go down with an injury (let's hope not) or maybe the Suns can make an amazing deadline deal, landing a center for either JJ or Q. As for the Suns right now, they are currently on top of the West! :beerchug: Our next 2 games are a big test though, playing LeBron tonight and then playing KG and the T'Wolves, probably 2 of the best players in the league for us to contain.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe can score 40 points and still the lakers lose. That is why the suns should not be worried about them. Jordan had pippen, who does kobe have? I'm sorry but i don't see odom as a real threat. The suns are not a one man threat team. They have many options to score. After this week's games we will be able to assertain what the suns season will be like. Next up: Jazz, Cavs, and Timberwolves If suns go 3-0, then its a pretty good bet they are not fakers.</div> Suns are better than both the Clips and Lakers, but not by much. The question is, will Steve Nash break down as the season winds down? Also, their lack of size will hurt them in the playoffs. They may have the best record in reg. season, but that really doesn't matter much in the playoffs.
Odoms stats are stats on a poor team. The lakers lost to the Bulls this week...THE FREAKEN BULLS!!! No excuse for that..... I admit that Kobe is an awsome player and could probably go off in the playoffs. But, he can score 40 and his team still lose, are you scared of that? If the suns beat the timberwolves, then they are the real deal..period. The suns will only have the spurs to be scared of, and they should be. That would be a great matchup because suns are high powered offense and spurs are high powered D. Which would out perform the other? BTW....The regular season does matter!! Home court advantage is huge. There is nothing like playing more games at home than away.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Hoggamill:</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns have proved many people wrong this season. They are very underrated IMO. But my question is how far do you think Pheonix will go this season? 1st round only? 2nd round only? Farther?</div> I agree, they are or were underrated. I say they make it to the second round. I don't know how farther they can go because I haven't seen them face some of the elite Western Conference teams. I think they'll win the division and are on pace to grab the #2 seed (if Seattle doesnt cool off).
Just a quick note about beating the Timberwolves...the Warriors didn't have much trouble with them the other night, so don't believe that you've got the rings won just in case you do in fact beat them, because the season has just started. As far as Phoenix goes, I didn't underrate them. I knew they'd be pretty good, especially with Nash throwing assists...but to win the division? I wasn't sure about that...and actually, I'm still not so sure...but they have a shot at it. FYI, I was the biggest Suns fan when Sir Charles was on the court...until Kobe was drafted...so I know what it's like when the team is on pace to winning 60+ games.
