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okay, let's put it this way: Suns beat the Spurs in Phoenix 30+, I might reconsider that they're the best right now.
I just wonderif HOW this team fares if Nash gets injured? Can Amare maintain his "dominance"?
Spurs have some Suns kryptonite or something? No chance huh?
Amare scored what, only 37 that game? Rasho sure had a big impact on Amare.
okay, let's put it this way: Suns beat the Spurs in Phoenix 30+, I might reconsider that they're the best right now.
I just wonder
This team remembers me more the Timberwolves of last year.
They add two great players, a point guard (Cassel/Nash) and a scorer (Spreewell/Q Rich). The both have a player running for MVP award (KG/Amare) and I think both are going to take the first seed and manage to go to WCF.
But in the same way Twolves have lost to the lakers, the suns will lose against the Spurs. Suns are as inexperienced as Twolves were last year, they don't have bench, they don't have defense and unless playoff type of game is going to change tremendously, they just can't go through the Spurs.
I don't care that Phoenix has the first seed if San antonio win 2 of their 3 games.
The only problen that I see for the Suns is their lack of bench minutes. The starters will tire out by March if they do not get some rest. Otherwise, this team can win 66 + games.
None of all this back and forth means anything now. One isolated game during the season means little. Wait until the playoffs. If the Suns have home court on everyone they will be very hard to beat. Spurs need to get the number one seed.
Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson are great players but it is Steve Nash that has taken the Suns to the next plateau....Nash makes his teammates better players...
To me the Suns look fragile...One Steve Nash away from being a 2nd round elimination team....
That's right! He held Amare under 40!Amare scored what, only 37 that game? Rasho sure had a big impact on Amare.
you guys are whistling in the dark thinking Phoenix starters will be too tired to play up to potential in the playoffs...assuming they are healthy the spacing of playoff games plays right into the hands of teams with short benches...no back to back games, long TV timeouts, getting rest after closing out a series early etc...virtually all teams shorten their playoff rotations for this reason...
There's no doubt that the Suns have had the best season so far. They have the best overall record, the very telling best road record (Spurs suck on the road), have given away no games to lesser teams (a Spurs speciality), and have the game-to-game consistency (vs box-of-chocolates Spurs).
It's silly to wish or hope that the Suns collapse or tire out. (It's just as silly to excuse the Spurs' 6 giveaway losses.) Suns have a top-flight coach, and the team doesn't seem to have any headcases or lockerroom problems. The Suns also have plenty of playoff experience, esp against the Spurs. I think the only thing that can slow down the Suns is injury, esp to Steve or Amare.
Friday 21 Jan will be a statement game. The Suns will be playing for payback and for bragging rights to be considered champion-favorite team to go along with their best record. Both teams will have a day's rest, and both will have been at home that week.
Last edited by boutons; 01-12-2005 at 11:38 AM.
I think the Spurs are the best right now. Their main advantage is their experience and depth. They also have Duncan, who is probably the best player in the world. The Suns don't really have anyone to matchup with him.okay, let's put it this way: Suns beat the Spurs in Phoenix 30+, I might reconsider that they're the best right now.
I just wonder
Sure Nash could get injured but how good would the Spurs be if Duncan or Parker were injured? It is a possibility for any team. Take one of the two best players off any team and they will most likely struggle.
Suns could be competetive without Nash but nowhere near 31-4.
Interesting. So then Szczerbiak=Marion and Hassell=Johnson? No contest there, advantage Suns.
Hoiberg = Jacobsen?
Hunter + Voskuhl = Olowokandi and Johnson?
Barbosa = Hudson?
Pretty close to a wash in production but maybe a slight advantage T-wolves.
T-wolves had a big three, the Suns have a big 5. However just like the 'Wolves not one of those "bigs" is a real center.
Also just because Phoenix doesn't play the bench as much doesn't mean they don't have one. They have an unproven bench. I don't think anyone could argue that the Suns don't have talent in Hunter, Lampe, Barbosa, even Jacobsen. We have yet to see Lampe even play much. Once he learns to play defense he could be a serious x-factor with his shooting. My only problem with the Suns is I wish they would play the bench more just to get them some minutes to develop. Of course when the team is 31-4 it is hard to argue with what the coach is doing.
I understand people not wanting to admit the Suns are for real. Most Phoenix fans are still a little stunned with disbelief right now. All I know is this season is much more fun than last. I plan to enjoy every minute of it no matter how many games are won and how far they go in the playoffs.
I think their record is legit....my question is can they sustain it into the playoffs?
Cosmic- I respect your BB knowledge but the Suns better hope that they DO NOT meet the LAKERS in Round ONE of the Playoffs...Because I have it on very high authority that the Lakers will NOT be eliminated until Round 2!
You should listen to Sportscamper. I know I do. Just like the little voices tell me to do.
The Mavericks started 31-5 two years ago. They didn't even end up with the top seed in the conference.
Sustaining this kind of play over an entire season is very, very difficult, and the Suns are racking up a ton of miles on their starters. Even though most of them are young, it catches up with them.
I'm just really concerned about how much gas they will have left in the tank at the end of the year, and how well their style of play will translate in the playoffs.
It's called scoreboard. Amare could have scored 80, point is you still lost.Spurs have some Suns kryptonite or something? No chance huh?
Amare scored what, only 37 that game? Rasho sure had a big impact on Amare
My point on Rasho was that he had one of his better games of the year against you guys. He's basically our weak link in the starting five, so if he's playing well you're screwed.
"The Mavericks started 31-5 two years ago"
What a co-incidence! Who was Mav's PG then?
82 games is 82 games. Whether you win or lose them, the wear and tear is basically the same. ie, it's no more physical effort to play 60-22 than 22-60. I say winning is psychologically easier, and provide positive, free-flowing energy that builds the team up, where the stress and onus of losing tears the team down. Your confidence grows with wins. And having confidence make the games/wins easier.
Get over yourself, it was one game. Congratulations! You have scoreboard. The Spurs are the best team, seriously. Happy now?
I thought you guys had all this great depth? You are worried about your starting center, the weak link on your team, when he couldn't stop a 6'10" PF playing out of position?
Suns defense lost that last game not their offense. How often do the Spurs score 115? Rasho will get some opportunities against the Suns with his size. But then when has Rasho ever been the deciding factor in anything? What the Suns need to be concerned about is letting Parker and Ginobili score uncontested layups. The Spurs are a tough matchup for anyone but the are not unbeatable, even for the 'undersized' Suns.
Only as high as Nash can take them, apparently.
When they play defensively inept teams like the Suns.How often do the Spurs score 115?
Problem is, in the playoffs, defense is priority 1, and offense is priority 2.
Suns, cant play defense, and there out of position forward, needs to improve defensively, before Phoenix is taken seriously.
You beat me to it, that would be my observation also. But I would add only as far as a "healthy Nash" can take them.
Funny how things can change in a week in the NBA. I heard tonihgt that the Spurs are only 1/2 game back of the Suns for the best record in the league after tonight's win and their loss.
By playoff time, the Sours will be ahead and have home court advantage all the way through the playoffs. Western conference: Spurs beat Suns in 6
Western Conference standings (WC conference games only)
Phoenix 18-4
Seattle 15-4
San Antonio 16-7
Minnesota 14-7
Sacramento 13-9
Houston 13-9
Dallas 23 5-4
LA Lakers 13-11
Memphis 11-11
Utah 13 3-3
LA Clippers 9-15
Portland 5-12
Denver 15 1-5
Golden State 5-18
New Orleans 4-17
First part I disagree with, the second I agree completely.
How are the Suns 'defensively inept?' As far as opponents field goal percentage goes, they are in the middle of the league.
They are an average defensive team. They aren't 'inept.'
What makes you think that they are?
They give up a lot of points, but they score a lot and run a lot so they'll certainly allow the opponent more possessions. That's a given. But as far as holding teams to a decent shooting percentage, they do a decent job. They are in the middle of the pack in steals and near the top in rebounding.
That having been said, they could use a little bit more size. If they can get one decent banger to play some solid minutes off the bench, they'll be dangerous.
^the only reason they are average in opp. fg percentage is because by their scoring they force ppl to take shots they wouldn't normally settle for adn of course, they will miss. thats not defense.
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