After 20 games

[JCSunsfan]

The Suns will be at least .500. So projecting out over the season and with the performance of the rest of the league, where will we be for the draft?

Assuming they have overachieved some so far, and the fact that the schedule gets tougher, its still hard to imagine this team winning less than 35 games. If they don't make the playoffs because of the tough WC, it still puts them in the 11-14 pick range.

So, do we go all out for the playoffs, since we arent bad enough for a high lotto pick?

They way our picks are playing out, we might never a first rounder from Minny. Our pick and the Wizards pick will likely be mid-first round and the Indy pick will be at the bottom of the first round.

We are going to have to find our #1 player through a trade or free agency.

 

[JS22]

May as well push for the playoffs since it doesn't look like this team is going to fall apart. Fortunately they've got money & picks to make some moves in the offseason. For the first time in years I can see players actually wanting to come here. Exciting system and a team that seems to be on the rise.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, the Suns pushing to make the playoffs is the worse case scenario. Even if they made the playoffs they would not go anywhere. The Suns should play it out, try to develop their current talent, decide who are keepers and then try to pull off a trade at the trade deadline or do a trade when the draft rolls around that significantly improves the team.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am thinking this too. The playoffs themselves should not be in consideration. They should just look at every game individually. Try to see what they have on the roster. Develop young talent. Get players to mesh if possible. If they win, they win.

 

[devilalum]

We're just a trade away from being the old 50 win run and gun Suns for the next 7 years.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Making the playoffs as a bottom feeder last year made absolutely no sense, and I'm glad it never happened.

This year however, making the playoffs would be valuable experience for a significantly large portion of the team. The only players with playoff experience are Dragic, Bledsoe and Frye. With a young team like this, I think getting them first hand experience of the intensity and atmosphere of the playoffs would be good.

If I understand the draft rules though, all the playoff teams are ordered by record so given how weak the East is, it'd be a significant drop in draft position (although I'm not positive on that).

 

[95pro]

We're just a trade away from being the old 50 win run and gun Suns for the next 7 years.

We have better D IMO tho, and the making of a very solid coach.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We seem to have solid players at every position. We just need a superstar type. It probably doesn't matter what position, except probably not pg.

 

[BC867]

All of the above!

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I am thinking this too. The playoffs themselves should not be in consideration. They should just look at every game individually. Try to see what they have on the roster. Develop young talent. Get players to mesh if possible. If they win, they win.

I think that sends a terrible message to a team that currently has a winning record. As long as a team has a chance at the playoffs they should be doing what they can to make it happen. Which means playing guys that give them the best chance to win.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[95pro]

NBA power rankings has us at #10

 

[JCSunsfan]

NBA power rankings has us at #10

In the top third of the league. It is a testament to just how bad this league is this year. There has been alot of rebuilding, but amazingly, the rebuilding teams expected to be bad like the Suns, Boston, and Philly or doing pretty well. While teams that were expected to be good are bad, like Brooklyn. Jason Kidd is a train wreck of a coach.

 

[JustWinBaby]

In the top third of the league. It is a testament to just how bad this league is this year. There has been alot of rebuilding, but amazingly, the rebuilding teams expected to be bad like the Suns, Boston, and Philly or doing pretty well. While teams that were expected to be good are bad, like Brooklyn. Jason Kidd is a train wreck of a coach.

I thought Kidd was a good choice at the time he was chosen. Thus far he has been a train wreck as you and most everyone else suggests. I thought they would play hard for him. In the games I have watched he appears to have no idea what to do.

However, I am not sure what coach could really make a huge difference with that roster. On paper they look very good but what player or players would you really want on your team other than possibly Lopez?

Most everyone else is both over paid and over the hill.

I doubt that even Phil Jackson would make a huge difference.

Which team will finish will a better record, the Knicks or the Nets?

 

[95pro]

The Kings with Cousins and Williams...if they can mesh and produce like they did last night, they'll be a sleeper team. Then if Gay can add some positive net value in terms of production then they are looking to be a team who could upset a team come the playoffs.

 

[JustWinBaby]

The Kings with Cousins and Williams...if they can mesh and produce like they did last night, they'll be a sleeper team. Then if Gay can add some positive net value in terms of production then they are looking to be a team who could upset a team come the playoffs.

Their starting five could be:

Cousins
Williams
Gay
McLemore
Thomas

If they play to their potential, they could be fun to watch and very dangerous.

However I think they really need a legit playmaker. I think Thomas is a shoot first point guard and is far too small.

Could their next move be to give Kendall Marshall a look? It could be a great landing spot for him.

Let's say they add Smart or Exum in the draft next summer. Their talent level will be off the charts.

If I were a King fan I would like the moves for both Gay and Williams. I don't think they are done yet. Fredette and Thompson are reportedly on the way out.

 

[Phrazbit]

That is a lot of guys who do not pass the ball. When they have some guys feeling it the Kings might look good, but their ball movement is going to be awful. Disciplined defensive teams are going to kill them. I also dont really why they would do this trade now. They just added a significant amount of payroll to a team with absolutely no hope of the playoffs.

It will likely take, at least, 46 wins to make the playoffs in the West. For the kings to hit that mark they'd need to go 40-22 the rest of the way. Basically an impossibility.

I like the Williams trade, I think he was just drafted by the wrong team. But I dont get this Gay move.

 

[JustWinBaby]

That is a lot of guys who do not pass the ball. When they have some guys feeling it the Kings might look good, but their ball movement is going to be awful. Disciplined defensive teams are going to kill them. I also dont really why they would do this trade now. They just added a significant amount of payroll to a team with absolutely no hope of the playoffs.

It will likely take, at least, 46 wins to make the playoffs in the West. For the kings to hit that mark they'd need to go 40-22 the rest of the way. Basically an impossibility.

I like the Williams trade, I think he was just drafted by the wrong team. But I dont get this Gay move.

The owner basically said it was because all they had was bench players. It appears he believes Gay could be a star. With the right group and coach he could be and he still is only 27.

I agree with you on their chances to make the playoffs this year, slim and none.

However you add a legit pass first point guard this off season and things could change quickly. They could have the chance to fill that role in the upcoming draft.

It will be interesting to see how it all works out. It cannot get much worse then it was prior to the trade for Gay.

 

[95pro]

If the playoffs started today, suns face the blazers and could possibly win the series???

 

[JCSunsfan]

Teams that outwork everyone else in the regular season often get smoked in then playoffs. That's when other teams that are coasting finally start putting out effort.

 

[95pro]

power rankings have us at #6

 

[ProdigalSun]

power rankings have us at #6

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/powerrankings/12/16/week7/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt6b

The Sizzling Suns...it's so nice to be getting positive press again

 

[Superbone]

Blazers, Thunder, Pacers, Spurs, Heat, ... then Suns?! This is crazy!

So many had us down to be the worst team in the league. Bill Simmons thought we'd be the least watchable team in the league. Boy were they wrong!

Eat it, Simmons!

 

[devilalum]

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/powerrankings/12/16/week7/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt6b

The Sizzling Suns...it's so nice to be getting positive press again

Plumlee's block on Cousins has to be the block of the year. Not only did he block the shot, he should have got an assist on the play as well.

 

[82CardsGrad]

OK... so we have all been caught off-guard and have been pleasantly suprised by this team. But now, after 23 games and working on a 5 game win streak, should we continue to be surprised?? I mean, I think it's safe at this stage to accept the reality that 1.) This team is extremely well coached, 2.) This team is extremely athletic, 3.) This team is extremely talents, and 4.) This team is very well put together - at least 7-8 deep.

When you compare this team to the successful Suns teams over the past 10-12 years, IMHO - this team stacks up very favorably and in some areas, may be better. No doubt the biggest hole is at the #1 position... I truly believe Plumlee would be a beast if he were a back-up at the #1, backing up a bigtime legit center and/or, starting at the #2.
But damn... Dragic, Bledsoe, Morris x 2, Tucker, Plumlee, Goodwin (can't wait to see the star he eventually develops into), Green (needs to mature but amazing athlete), Frye (not my favorite - too inconsistent)...
Then you consider all of the picks they have - some to be used in trades... How can you not be excited!! Go Suns!!

 

[Errntknght]

At the time we traded for Okafor we expected to be in the hunt for a top pick so we were happy to let him do whatever he wanted. I hope McD is re-visiting that decision because with a relatively healthy Okafor holding down the center - with stout help from Plumlee, naturally - we become a dangerous team. Add a breakout by Goodwin and we're a contender.