Can the Suns win it all from the 6th seed?

[mojorizen7]

Broken record i know but: The SUNS have for some reason or another(i have a couple theories as to why) have traditionally played softer and generally inconsistent at home during the playoffs over the years.
While they've traditionally won some very big games on the road and IMO play better defensively, and with more fire & focus in other teams buildings.
I am worried about having to deal with alot of bad officiating when on the road in the 4th qtrs, but personally i think this may be a blessing in disguise.
Teams have never really been intimidated by playing in front of our crowd anyway.....and have traditionally shot "lights out" in our building since it opened in '92-'93.
The SUNS will be known as the road warriors this year.
"Come out and Play...."

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Personally, I'm STOKED to see the current seeding. My prediction:

Quarterfinals
1. Hornets
8. Denver
4. Jazz
5. Rockets
3. Spurs
6. Suns
2. Lakers
7. Dallas

Semifinals
1. Hornets
4. Jazz
6. Suns
2. Lakers

Conference Finals
1. Hornets
6. Suns

NBA Finals
Celtics
Suns

Beating the hated Spurs, then the rival Lakers, then the X factor Hornets, then the best NBA finals game ever. To go all the way through this year will be orgasmic.

When I see it like that, it could easily playout that way!!

 

[French Fries]

hca is the only issue here right? it really isn't that big, coz if you win the first game they all of a sudden lose hca. and it's really not fair to compare us to the rockets of 95 (?) coz we're only what, 3-4 games behind the first place? that's hardly a failure. sure the suns CAN, whether they WILL, we'll have to see...

for the record, i like our chances...

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

To be honest, if Dallas dropped to 8th but then beat the Hornets, and then the rest of my prediction played out the same, and we faced the Mavs in the conference finals, it would be THE best storyline ever.

 

[French Fries]

To be honest, if Dallas dropped to 8th but then beat the Hornets, and then the rest of my prediction played out the same, and we faced the Mavs in the conference finals, it would be THE best storyline ever.

hah! if we pull that off, that would be the best playoff run in nba history. although we'd have to buy spare parts for our players for next season. actually, any team in the west who wins it all would be one of the best playoff runs in nba history. if an east team wins it, not much...

 

[Ninjafish]

To be honest, if Dallas dropped to 8th but then beat the Hornets, and then the rest of my prediction played out the same, and we faced the Mavs in the conference finals, it would be THE best storyline ever.

I don't think so. I think the story would be much better going up against a team that swept us in the regular season as well as the team with the #1 record in the west. Plus, it's my two favorite teams so I wouldn't be in as much agony if we lost to the Hornets as I would be if we lost to the Mavs, Lakers, Spurs, or Jazz.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Hornets current record vs isnt isnt as significant as facing our 3 longtime rivals in the spurs, lakers and mavs imo. Every suns fan loves watching the suns play any three of those teams, and all 3 have a knack for creating memorable games vs us, win or lose.

 

[sunsallday]

I don't think so. I think the story would be much better going up against a team that swept us in the regular season as well as the team with the #1 record in the west. Plus, it's my two favorite teams so I wouldn't be in as much agony if we lost to the Hornets as I would be if we lost to the Mavs, Lakers, Spurs, or Jazz.

Seedings are irrelevant as the games that separate the leaders are small. Being 1.5-3 games behind is not a lot meaning teams can switch seedings everyday. Its not like the east where its separated by 10-15 games. That means the team on top is truly the #1 team like the Celtics and Pistons. The West, however is much more powerful than the weak east and all these teams can cause a upset and just as good as the next team. Its just the matter of who plays harder for that ring.

 

[jandaman]

As some said, the 1-7 seeds can really beat anyone on any given night.

Nuggets is the only team, that shows a glaring weakness, Warriors however, gives a couple of teams a bad matchups.

Suns basically need to play for keeps the first 2 games, try to steal one, because the other team (1-7) who ever they face, can just as easily steal a game from them, it always seems that the Suns work harder winning games than other playoff teams.... because they really have to be shooting well or playing out of their minds in the offense, the defense is still very inconsistent.... while other teams 1-7, atleast 4 teams there can play consistent D, and win games through Defense...

 

[sunsallday]

I don't think the Suns will a 2008 championship this year. Or for the next few decades sadly.

 

[Bufalay]

I don't think the Suns will a 2008 championship this year. Or for the next few decades sadly.

I think their chances of winning the 2008 championship are pretty slim in the future.

 

[arwillan]

I think their chances of winning the 2008 championship are pretty slim in the future.

lol i was going to say the exact same thing

 

[Proteus]

With the Mavs loss to the Blazers today, the Suns have clinched no worse than the #6 seed.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Mavs need to be 8th seed and take out NO then the jazz while we play the spurs then lakers so we can meet up in the conf finals absolutely exhausted and play a respectable gentleman's game of bball.

You know a spurs suns game will be rough.
A lakers suns game has a promise of rough and exhausting.
The mavs and suns always play well against one another without heavy contact or roughage.

FTW

 

[slinslin]

The Rockets and Spurs are the teams I'd want in the first round so #6 is fine. I'd rather avoid the Lakers and Jazz as long as possible.

 

[cly2tw]

The Rockets and Spurs are the teams I'd want in the first round so #6 is fine. I'd rather avoid the Lakers and Jazz as long as possible.

I agree.

 

[Covert Rain]

I waited a couple days to post because I wanted to think about it. I am worried about the Suns. The team at times still seems lost which I guess is still to be expected since we made so many changes late in the season. However, expected or not we are out of time now. No more "trying" to learn each other and get comfortable.

We have also had a split personality with coming out and winning some great games then absolutely laying an egg after. This team is so Jekyll and Hyde and that will not get it done in the playoffs. This team has enough talent to go all the way. However, this team cannot play inconsistent like it has to this point.

We are the 6th seed. This team kept saying they would like to have home court but then didn't go out and get it. We didn't exactly make things easier for ourselves by losing some of those important late games. Is that lack of mental toughness or again inconsistency?

This team has to 2 things in the playoffs. It has to show more consistency. It also has to prove it can be mentally tough. We are not going to get any breaks and are probably not going to have any home court series throughout. Mental toughness to steal home court and win the next 3 series and advance is going to be a huge challenge.

I think this team is capable. Now let's see it. Go Suns!!!!!

 

[TheHopToad]

Mavs need to be 8th seed and take out NO then the jazz while we play the spurs then lakers so we can meet up in the conf finals absolutely exhausted and play a respectable gentleman's game of bball.

New Orleans losing last night means that if the Lakers take care of business their last two games, then they will be the #1 seed and the Hornets will be the #2 and face #7 Dallas. Also, by beating San Antonio, the Lakers can push the Spurs down to the #5 and allow Houston to move up to #3 (to play the Suns), providing they beat Denver, which would in turn give the Warriors a chance to claim the #8 seed away from the Nuggets with a win against the Suns. Then you could have a Warriors-Lakers first round, which would be pretty exciting and has more potential for upset than Nuggets vs anybody.

Got it straight? Me neither, but it sure is fun!

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

New Orleans losing last night means that if the Lakers take care of business their last two games, then they will be the #1 seed and the Hornets will be the #2 and face #7 Dallas. Also, by beating San Antonio, the Lakers can push the Spurs down to the #5 and allow Houston to move up to #3 (to play the Suns), providing they beat Denver, which would in turn give the Warriors a chance to claim the #8 seed away from the Nuggets with a win against the Suns. Then you could have a Warriors-Lakers first round, which would be pretty exciting and has more potential for upset than Nuggets vs anybody.

Got it straight? Me neither, but it sure is fun!

Not true. Houston controls everything. If they win out, they will have the tiebreaker against the Lakers and will be the #1 seed.

 

[TheHopToad]

Not true. Houston controls everything. If they win out, they will have the tiebreaker against the Lakers and will be the #1 seed.

Only provided that New Orleans also loses another game. If the Hornets win both of their remaining games (Clippers, Mavericks), and the Lakers win both of their games (Spurs, Kings), and Houston wins all three of their games (Nuggets, Jazz, Clippers); then all three teams will be tied for the #1 seed. However, this would also mean that New Orleans and Houston would be tied for the Southwest Division title. Division ties are broken first, and the Hornets hold the tiebreaker over Houston by virtue of a better division record. In this scenario, the Lakers would be #1, the Hornets #2, and the Rockets #3.