17 Games Left

[boisesuns]

We should win the rest of the games this month, but April has some tough ones on the schedule. We are 45-20 right now. If we start playing D, I think we can end the season 14-3 with this schedule, which puts us at 59-23 for the season. Despite our lack of defense, and if you add in games that were close but we lost, we've done very well this year.

Tue 21 @ Utah
Thu 23 Portland
Sat 25 Denver
Mon 27 @ New Jersey
Tue 28 @ Milwaukee
Thu 30 @ Indiana
Fri 31 @ Toronto
Apr
Sun 2 @ Detroit
Wed 5 L.A. Clippers
Fri 7 L.A. Lakers
Sun 9 @ Seattle
Tue 11 @ Sacramento
Thu 13 Dallas 7:30pm
Fri 14 @ Golden State
Sun 16 @ L.A. Lakers
Mon 17 NO/Okla. City
Wed 19 @ Portland

 

[devilalum]

We only need to win about 8 to rap up the #2 spot. This would be the perfect time to incorporate a new big man.

 

[playstation]

assuming we'll be working grant back but not amare, i see the following:

Tue 21 @ Utah W
Thu 23 Portland W
Sat 25 Denver W
Mon 27 @ New Jersey W
Tue 28 @ Milwaukee L
Thu 30 @ Indiana L
Fri 31 @ Toronto W
Apr
Sun 2 @ Detroit L
Wed 5 L.A. Clippers W
Fri 7 L.A. Lakers W
Sun 9 @ Seattle W
Tue 11 @ Sacramento W
Thu 13 Dallas 7:30pm L
Fri 14 @ Golden State W
Sun 16 @ L.A. Lakers W
Mon 17 NO/Okla. City W
Wed 19 @ Portland W

which is 13-4, and probably a little optimistic, especially at the end there, when i'm sure we'll be putting nash & marion on a minutes watch if we've wrapped the division up. maybe as bad as 11-6. not a bad season at all.

 

[elindholm]

I think it's been a very good season. Whether the Suns win 55 or 58 games doesn't matter much. We all had championship aspirations, but it wasn't mean to be this year. Once Stoudemire went down, even making the playoffs was in doubt, but a lot of players blossomed and the future looks promising.

 

[playstation]

Amare's not out yet. This season isn't over yet. The magic of last year may come back. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Eric. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the Suns win the title when so much bad has happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the Suns shine they will shine out the clearer. That is the story that will stay with you. Don't turn back now. Hold on for the awesome ending

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm with Eric on this. It's not about giving up (as if whether fans giving up mattered), but tempering expectations. This season has been a remarkable success and it will be disappointing if /when they lose in the playoffs. But it won't be crushing because they have laid the groundwork for a really exceptional team.

I might note that losing in the playoffs would be crushing to the Spurs. This is a team stocked with aging players who may not have much future. The birth dates of their rotation players include:

Robert Horry - 8/25/70
Brent Barry - 12/31/71
Nick Van Exel - 11/27/71
Bruck Bowen - 6/14/71
Michael Finley - 3/6/73

Bowen is having a career year statistically, but the other four seem to be slipping (witness the Spurs attempt to trade Brent Barry for JR Smith).

To make matters worse for the Spurs, they are going to have to try to resign Mohammed who will be an unrestricked free agent. This will be onto a roster that Hoopshype estimates will have salaries of $60.9 million next season BEFORE trying to sign Mohammed. My guess is that the going rate for a quality center will start at no less $7 to $8 million.

For the Spurs, this could be the last year this team is together. Losing the playoffs would be devestating and probably force a major overhaul.

 

[nothin' but net]

Amare's not out yet. This season isn't over yet. The magic of last year may come back. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Eric. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the Suns win the title when so much bad has happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the Suns shine they will shine out the clearer. That is the story that will stay with you. Don't turn back now. Hold on for the awesome ending

That was beautiful!

I agree, it's not a Cinderella Story until everyone leaves for the ball. George and Eric could be right, but what's the fun in that?

 

[jbeecham]

Sounds a little like Samwise Gamgees speech to Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings.......

 

[playstation]

Sounds a little like Samwise Gamgees speak to Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings.......

exactly

 

[devilalum]

Sounds a little like Samwise Gamgees speech to Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings.......

Sounds like you oughta take one of these quizes.

http://www.freewebs.com/frodosgal/quizzes.htm

 

[jibikao]

So I guess Amare ain't coming back.... only 17 games left. I am going to treat the game as if Amare isn't coming back this season. If the team relies Amare to be the savior in the playoffs, we are done.

The biggest goal is to get to WCF with or without Amare.

At this moment, I would rather have Kurt Thomas back than an unhealthy Amare. Offense doesn't seem to be our problem but defense is. We can shoot better than Spurs but we can't secure our boards. Can't wait to see if Brian Grant can contribute the way Kurt Thomas did.

 

[George O'Brien]

I am never quite sure what people mean when they say "offense isn't a problem". Against the Spurs, offense is always a problem.

The Suns scored only 102 in the last game dispite having Nash. The Spurs take away the three pointers, so the usual way the Suns get points can be a problem. A healthy Amare causes problems because Duncan can't stop him without help and help opens up the Suns shooters.

So what? The Spurs want to run against the Suns, which is harder against made baskets. Offensive efficiency is just as crucial as physical defense for the Suns to have a chance.

 

[Chaplin]

So I guess Amare ain't coming back.... only 17 games left. I am going to treat the game as if Amare isn't coming back this season. If the team relies Amare to be the savior in the playoffs, we are done.

Huh?

At this moment, I would rather have Kurt Thomas back than an unhealthy Amare. Offense doesn't seem to be our problem but defense is. We can shoot better than Spurs but we can't secure our boards. Can't wait to see if Brian Grant can contribute the way Kurt Thomas did.

I actually think it's hilarious that everyone is thinking of Kurt Thomas and Amare Stoudemire as "either/or". Like you or anyone else is going to make a choice of who to bring back, when quite frankly, it is likely that BOTH will be back, maybe at the same time. It's not like if Amare comes back we won't see Kurt Thomas, and it's equally unlikely that if KT comes back, we won't see Amare Stoudemire.

 

[mavsfan1000]

I am never quite sure what people mean when they say "offense isn't a problem". Against the Spurs, offense is always a problem.

The Suns scored only 102 in the last game dispite having Nash. The Spurs take away the three pointers, so the usual way the Suns get points can be a problem. A healthy Amare causes problems because Duncan can't stop him without help and help opens up the Suns shooters.

So what? The Spurs want to run against the Suns, which is harder against made baskets. Offensive efficiency is just as crucial as physical defense for the Suns to have a chance.

I say the suns problem is rebounding. Their offense is great and defense has its moments but it is the rebounding that they need improvement in. Kurt Thomas and Amare together could really help that and is the best lineup to challenge San Antonio.

 

[jibikao]

Huh?



I actually think it's hilarious that everyone is thinking of Kurt Thomas and Amare Stoudemire as "either/or". Like you or anyone else is going to make a choice of who to bring back, when quite frankly, it is likely that BOTH will be back, maybe at the same time. It's not like if Amare comes back we won't see Kurt Thomas, and it's equally unlikely that if KT comes back, we won't see Amare Stoudemire.

I also find it hilarious that quite a few of you think so positively of the situation right now. I am not hoping too much from Amare even if he comes back and when he comes back, I hope he doesn't try too hard and re-injure himself.

 

[Chaplin]

I also find it hilarious that quite a few of you think so positively of the situation right now. I am not hoping too much from Amare even if he comes back and when he comes back, I hope he doesn't try too hard and re-injure himself.

We're all hoping he doesn't come back and injure himself. But just writing him off is an alarmist point-of-view with little or no basis in the actual situation.

 

[Tank]

I'd be happy if he came back and gave us his ROY type stats... 13/8 but in fewer minutes.

 

[jibikao]

We're all hoping he doesn't come back and injure himself. But just writing him off is an alarmist point-of-view with little or no basis in the actual situation.

I just think it's better for the team to play as if Amare isn't coming back this season and that's how I view this team right now.

And how is it "no basis" in the actual situation? What more evidences do you need to realize that Amare needs more time to come back? At first, we thought he would come back in early March, then his right knee doesn't feel right, and then we only have 17 games left. I think it's pretty clear that Amare needs more time to come back, don't you think so?

I am also afraid that if Amare does come back in time and we lose, people will blame on Amare ruining the chemistry or Amare being over-rated. Remember, by the time Amare comes back, it's close to playoff time.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Western Conference Finals don't start until June. In fthe first two rounds the Suns will face some combination of the Lakers, Kings, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Denver. The Suns have a reasonable chance of beating any and all of those teams with the guys they have now.

Grant comes back tonight, KT in early May, and Amare --- whenever. If Amare comes back near full strength by early June (allwaing for some acclimation), the Suns should win the WCF. If he can't, then they are far less likely to win.