Ok I'm going to try something new in here. I'm going to list a team and you have to say the likelihood of the Suns finishing ahead of that team in the standings at in the end of the season. Use percentages to state the chance of the Suns finishing ahead of that team (e.g. The Suns have a 100% chance of finishing ahead of the Nuggets at the end of the season). Then in order to prove what you say you have to analyze the teams roster as it stands at the moment. That means tell who you think has an advantage in head to head matchups, who has an advantage in coaching, etc. I'll start it off to hopefully give a clear picture and maybe some people will participate. If there are any more ways to try and make this better or make it work at all just post what you think. The first team will be the Jazz. I think the Suns have a 100% chance of finishing ahead of the Jazz at the end of the season. At center the Jazz have the advantage with Keon Clark compared to Jake Voshkul. Both are energy players, but Keon Clark is just flat out better. He doesn't hustle as much as Jake or play as good overall defense, but he can lift the crowd up. He can dunk on someone, block some shots, alter even more shots, and can ran create various problems for the opposing team with his abililty to run the floor. Despite being at a disadvantage at center, the Suns definately have the advantage at PF. They have last year's ROTY in Amare Stoudemire compared to Andre Kirilenko. Kirilenko definately has the better defense, but Amare is a more threatening presence in the paint with his body frame. Amare also has a better post up game where he is fearless and will try to dunk on someone as often as possible. What's scary is that he is also starting to hit the 13-15 foot jumper more consistently. Andre is surprisingly athletic, but Amare beats him in that category too. For SF Shawn Marion is pitted against Matt Harpring. Harpring had a surprisingly good year last year with the Jazz, but we'll see how that keeps up with the absence of Malone and Stockton. Meanwhile, Marion is an all-star SF who can simply do it all. He has Harpring beat offensively with his combination of slashing and jump shooting, he is better defensively, and he has more impact on games than Harpring. At SG Joe Johnson and Deshawn Stevenson go at it. Though both aren't exactly mind blowing players JJ has shown more consistency (which is sad actually) over his career, but so far this year Deshawn has gotten off to a good start. I'll give the nod to Deshawn as he has a more expanded role with the Jazz than JJ has with the Suns. PG, no contest at all. Marbury against Arroyo. Though Arroyo has shown some promise early on he can not measure up to what Marbury does. As for the bench, neither the Suns or Jazz are really strong in this area. However, the Suns get the nod because they have a nice mix of veteran leadership and youth. Penny, Googs, and Knight provide that leadership while guys like Zarko are the ones who use their energy to impact the game The Jazz have the Suns beat easily in coaching. Jerry Sloan has had a system and each and every year the players buy into that system which is why the Jazz have remained in the playoff hunt the past couple years despite the dip in talent. This will certainly be his toughest year coaching, but he should be able to guide the young players in the right direction. So the Suns have the advantage at a majority of the positions on the court, and they have more experience playing with each other. The Jazz are trying to get used to life without Malone and Stockton. For those reasons I believe the Suns have a 100% chance of finishing ahead of the Jazz in the standings at the end of the year.
Stevenson has played well so far, but I credit that to the fact that there is little else around him, so therefore, he gets more opportunities. Its not like he can be doubled up on the perimeter easily w/o exposing someone else easily. (where as the post, you can double up a bit easier and still cover). Id give the nod to Penny(or JJ). Stevenson had shown a little bit of his supposed talent last year early on, but slipped. Harpring surprised many last year, no doubt. But he is a capable scorer. More suited to the 2nd scorer role than the first, which he will be in Utah. What will hurt is the lack of playmaking at PG, setting him up for shots, and a great passing PF who commands attention and can pass out of the double team, setting up shots as well. This season will put more pressure on Harpring to be a playmaker, as opposed to a complimentary scorer; his role last year. Back to topic...... 100% Suns finish better.
