If the Spurs win against PHX

[spurs10]

we just need to keep rooting against the thunder... no matter how much it looks like we can jump up to that 4 seed it isn't very likely. We are a lot more likely to drop down to 8 then to climb that far... which means we need OKC to lose every game possible so the worse we end up is 7.

So go Nuggets tomorrow!!

Ex%^&(zactly!

[DesignatedT]

Call me crazy but to me Phoenix is the team I would like to avoid... besides LA of course.

I know we own them psychologically but this team isn't exactly the same, and I think they would take out years of frustration out of on us + they are playing as well as anyone right now.

Im kinda confused on Utah.. In the beginning of the season I wanted to avoid Denver at all costs but now im not sure about them either.. K-mart is supposed to come back soon so that should help them, but karl being out round 1 will hurt them.

Dallas is overrated.

[VBM]

Dallas is overrated.

Against most of the league? Yes. Against us? Horrible matchup. We still have no answer for Dirk, we make scrubs like JJ Barea look like real NBA players...I want to avoid Dallas almost as much as LA. My dream standings would be this

1. LA vs. 8. OKC (the Kobe-Durant showdown would be epic)
2. Utah vs. 7.Portland
3. Denver vs. 6. Spurs (esp. if K-Mart is still banged up and Karl out)
4. Dallas vs. 5. Phoenix (Spurs could get to the WCF without facing LA, Dallas or Phoenix on the way...I'd take it)

[DesignatedT]

Against most of the league? Yes. Against us? Horrible matchup. We still have no answer for Dirk, we make scrubs like JJ Barea look like real NBA players...I want to avoid Dallas almost as much as LA. My dream standings would be this

1. LA vs. 8. OKC (the Kobe-Durant showdown would be epic)
2. Utah vs. 7.Portland
3. Denver vs. 6. Spurs (esp. if K-Mart is still banged up and Karl out)
4. Dallas vs. 5. Phoenix (Spurs could get to the WCF without facing LA, Dallas or Phoenix on the way...I'd take it)

word.

would you rather play denver with a healthy k-mart but no karl or utah first round?

[lennyalderette]

That will be our 3rd game in 4 nights, and on the back end of a back to back, and it's at Phoenix, and it's PHOENIX aka lots of running.

I'm honestly saying this just as a preemptive strike against the slew of 'SEASONS OVER GUYS WE'RE TERRIBLE' that i'm semi expecting to come if we lose tomorrow...let's not let it get to that.

I know we're playing great but with fatigue issues I wouldn't be surprised if we lose tomorrow, but what's more is we shouldn't let it get to us.

def. agree with you on this and theres more to come after a lowsy 1 day of rest then yet another back to back but if we cant handle it we shouldnt be going to the finals or wcf!!! so either we get younger or keep figuring out how to get old players to last longer! i really dont mind doing it for timmy and manu though they are excellent loyal spurs players, but pop needs to stop signing old dudes already its getting well.. . . old (wuank wuank wuannnnk)

[lennyalderette]

Against most of the league? Yes. Against us? Horrible matchup. We still have no answer for Dirk, we make scrubs like JJ Barea look like real NBA players...I want to avoid Dallas almost as much as LA. My dream standings would be this

1. LA vs. 8. OKC (the Kobe-Durant showdown would be epic)
2. Utah vs. 7.Portland
3. Denver vs. 6. Spurs (esp. if K-Mart is still banged up and Karl out)
4. Dallas vs. 5. Phoenix (Spurs could get to the WCF without facing LA, Dallas or Phoenix on the way...I'd take it)

yeah

[Sean Cagney]

Spurs vs Denver it might be, but I would not doubt us vs Utah in round one! I am just saying I would not doubt it.

[jb4g]

well if we beat PHX, we are only 1 game behind them in the standings then.

Damn, had we just won vs NJ, Atl, and Cleveland. We would be the 2 seed right now if we could have those 3 games back.

This

even to have 2 of those wins right now would be huge, Would have us right there with DAL for the division lead and a top 4 seed.

[urunobili]

1. LA vs. 8. OKC (the Kobe-Durant showdown would be epic)
2. Utah vs. 7.Portland
3. Denver vs. 6. Spurs (esp. if K-Mart is still banged up and Karl out)
4. Dallas vs. 5. Phoenix (Spurs could get to the WCF without facing LA, Dallas or Phoenix on the way...I'd take it)

[wijayas]

Big underdogs this game. Schedule does not do us any favors in this one. Don't be shocked if we drop this one.

Frankly though, I'm not sure I even want a high seed. The scary teams are at the bottom (see: OKC) and the easier ones are at the top (Dallas, Denver).

Yep. I am mentally prepared that we'll drop this one.

[Sec24Row7]

I'm prepared that we lose this game...

But who knows... it is PHX... They are the Spurs...

Not necessarily a great combination for a PHX win...

[VBM]

word.

would you rather play denver with a healthy k-mart but no karl or utah first round?

I think so. I think Boozer gives Timmy more problems than a healthy K-Mart. When Denver smoked us back in January, he was raining mid-range jumpers on us...I'm willing to gamble on the idea that he won't hit with that percentage again.

[jiggy_55]

Jumping Dallas in the seedings is a very real possibility. If Dallas loses one more game then us during the final stretch the season finale will be for the division since we end up 2-2 (if we win) and hold the tiebreakers vs Dallas. With the way Dallas has been playing lately and the way the Spurs are playing lately i'd actually give it a 50-50 chance to win the division and a top 4 seed. That Is what we should be aiming for.

Doubtful. Dallas will have to lose 2 matches minimum, and the Spurs would have to go unbeaten for them to be tied. or Dallas to lose 3, and the Spurs lose 1. Remember, we have @PHX, @DEN, @DAL. Not an easy schedule, definitely all winnable games, but chances are we don't win all three of these tough games meaning we'd need Dallas to lose 3 in 5.

They play MEM, @POR, @SAC, @LAC, SA. It's expected they win 3 of those games as a minimum as the grizzlies, kings and clippers don't exactly pose such a threat this late in the season with nothing to play for.

[5in10]

word.

would you rather play denver with a healthy k-mart but no karl or utah first round?

Denver. They don't have the discipline to beat us in a 7 game series. Utah nor Denver can stop Timmy or Manu, but if I had my choice it would be denver because Karl is the only thing that keeps that team together, and him missing affects them a lot.

[jiggy_55]

Denver. They don't have the discipline to beat us in a 7 game series. Utah nor Denver can stop Timmy or Manu, but if I had my choice it would be denver because Karl is the only thing that keeps that team together, and him missing affects them a lot.

Agreed, Karl looks likely to miss some games or even rounds, and the Nuggets are looking weak. K-mart is out and may not return soon enough and will be very rusty. I believe he JUST returned to practice, possibly yesterday.

Remember, parker had been practicing for quite a while before making his return, and he was rusty last night. Martin will need longer to brush off the rust.

[BronxCowboy]

word.

would you rather play denver with a healthy k-mart but no karl or utah first round?

Definitely Denver, Kmart or no Kmart. I'm surprised that there aren't more people saying that the one team we should hope to avoid is the Jazz. They always play the Spurs tough, they're playing well recently, and they did sweep the Spurs this season.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Some of you guys are overrating how hard this game will be for SA. Them being on a B2B makes it tough, but Jaron Collins (yup him) is the only healthy guy on the Suns roster who will be able to make scoring remotely difficult or exhausting for TD, and is also the only guy capable of stopping Duncan from having a huge night on the glass. He'll see a lot of Frye and Amare in the post, which will lead to a lot of double teams and a lot of open shooters. As big a night as Duncan can have, the Suns wing defense has been the biggest problem all year, Jef and Manu are in store for huge nights.

Does anyone know if that Temple guy is starting again? I could def. see Pop opening the game with him on Nash, Pop has always been one of the few coaches who knows Nash is bothered a lot more by taller, bigger defenders who can fight through screens and hurt his court vision than he is by extremely athletic defenders.

[pawe]

I wouldn't be worried that much as long as Manu is playing. TD and the other bigs should also feast tonight with the absence of Lopez.
But hey, they're the Suns, they still have the Amare and Nash PNR.

[ohmwrecker]

We own the Suns. Amare can score 40pts and Nash can dish 15 dimes and we can still beat the Suns. We need every win possible just to hold position and possibly(fingers crossed) get the 4 spot and HC in the first round. Let's do this!

[Baseline]

I'm interested to see how Dice does against Amare tonight. I realize we're on the 2nd of a B2B, but I think Dice can slow him a bit.

If Amare scores under 28, the Spurs definitely win.

[VBM]

We need every win possible just to hold position and possibly(fingers crossed) get the 4 spot and HC in the first round. Let's do this!

Screw the 4th spot. I'll take LA in the WCF, not the 2nd round. Homecourt doesn't mean much for us IMO

[Xylus]

I'm interested to see how Dice does against Amare tonight. I realize we're on the 2nd of a B2B, but I think Dice can slow him a bit.

Good one.

Amare's the only Sun the Spurs can't really stop, or choose not in favor of covering the shooters. Pop rarely doubles Amare because it frees up our shooters, giving Nash more flexibility. If all the shooters are covered, Amare does his damage, but no one else does anything. But McDyess won't do on Amare. If Duncan can't stop him, that old ass man Dice won't either.


Anyway, I don't know who's going to win this game. Everytime I'm sure the Suns are going to win a game against the Spurs, something bizarre happens and I turn out to be wrong.

The sooner this game is over, the better.

[jestersmash]

I fear the Suns more than I fear the Lakers. Amare can go off for 40+ on any given night, and Nash is crafty as with a phenomenally high basketball IQ.

Yeah I know, it sounds odd. We've taken them out every time in the playoffs, but I still fear them more than the Lakers, at least at this moment in time.

[ohmwrecker]

Screw the 4th spot. I'll take LA in the WCF, not the 2nd round. Homecourt doesn't mean much for us IMO

Whatever. If LA is the best team then we are going to have to play them anyway. I don't see why it matters. HC in the 1st would be huge, but I'm just glad the Spurs are in with a chance to upset somebody. I don't care about dodging teams. That's a real lame way to go into the playoffs. Wrong at ude, Bubba.