Do you think the Suns will make playoffs?

[sunsfan88]

I think Lopez is supposed to be back around the All Star break. They're also missing another backup center IIRC.

Steve

Yea Joel Freeland.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yea Joel Freeland.

And Batum went out of last night's game against Boston with a sprained (?) wrist. They are looking at a remaining schedule that is almost as difficult as the one we face. Missing the playoffs isn't at all out of the question for them.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

"Staying ahead of the Thunder" is a losing mentality. The Suns should be trying to catch San Antonio, and maybe Portland.

Look ahead, not behind.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Aldridge has decided to postpone his surgery, he will play tonight against the Wizards. Apparently he can't injure the thumb further and it's his off hand. I don't know if he's delaying it short term or if he's putting it off until after the season? I can't see him lasting long though because someone's going to hit that thumb, intentionally or not. It's also going to hamper his ability to put the ball on the floor and fight for rebounds.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

"Staying ahead of the Thunder" is a losing mentality. The Suns should be trying to catch San Antonio, and maybe Portland.

Look ahead, not behind.

I have expressed similar sentiments as well.

 

[sunsfan88]

LaMarcus Aldridge is expected to be out 6-8 weeks after tearing the radial collateral ligament in his left thumb and he reportedly will need surgery. Maybe this makes Portland more vulnerable for the Suns to catch. However, they have six less losses than the Suns in the loss column. The Spurs have only one less loss than the Suns in the loss column. Maybe catching one of the teams above the Suns is easier than holding off OKC.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...ut-6-8-Weeks-With-Ligament-Tear-In-Left-Thumb

He's back & playing unfortunately.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He's back & playing unfortunately.

And playing well, at least tonight. Oh well.

Steve

 

[Ronin]

I wish the picture was done more cleanly but I'm guess the Suns odds are 70.7% to get in and 45 wins get us in the playoffs?

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Our Projections for Western Conference Playoffs, after last night’s win by Phx and OKC loss:

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[sunsfan88]

Let's hope Durant rests that injury some more

 

[elindholm]

Hollinger has them at 55% today (Jan. 29). Everyone's model is going to be a bit different, but none of them (I'm guessing) is projecting how good Oklahoma City will be if they ever get healthy.

 

[mojorizen7]

They'll get in...and play hard, high effort offensive basketball.

 

[FArting]

OKC and New Orleans play against each other in the next 2 games

Tonight and Friday

 

[AzStevenCal]

OKC and New Orleans play against each other in the next 2 games

Tonight and Friday

We suck so bad they'll probably both go 2 - 0.

Steve

 

[Ronin]

Durant is out for tonight game.

 

[sunsfan88]

Pelicans have beat the Thunder and the #1 Hawks in the past week.

 

[Mainstreet]

Pelicans lose to Bulls to fall a game behind the Suns in the loss column. Anthony Davis injures his shoulder in fall but x-rays are negative.

 

[95pro]

That fall was nasty. Could have been a lot more damage done than what happened.

 

[sunsfan88]

It was kinda like the Len injury in the sense that they were both shoved in near identical situations. Of course the injuries are much different.

 

[Hoop Head]

Even with all of Portland's injuries they are leading their division. For them to drop out of the playoffs they'd have to fall behind both OKC & either New Orleans or Phoenix. I can see them drop due to their injuries but not enough to lose their playoff spot altogether. I think they're a lock for the postseason. They have an 8.5 game lead over OKC right now. I don't think the Suns can hold off OKC the rest of the way, although Durant is sitting out a lot more games than probably most expected at this point. San Antonio will turn it on after the All Star break, like they usually do, so catching them doesn't seem likely. The only 2 teams I could see the Suns catching up to ahead of them right now are the Mavericks & Rockets. Key injuries on either team would hurt them the most and they really aren't playing as well as they did before they made their moves this year. Dallas seems to have taken a step backwards since acquiring Rondo, the same could be said for Houston & Josh Smith. If the Suns make the playoffs though I don't see it being any higher than the 8th seed and I'd put their chances at that around 35-40%. With a healthy Len I would have thought it to be a 50% chance. How much time he's out and how he comes back will be a big factor in the teams postseason chances.

 

[95pro]

It was kinda like the Len injury in the sense that they were both shoved in near identical situations. Of course the injuries are much different.

Davis wasn't shoved. He just couldn't hold on to the rim. Alex Len clearly had Lopez beat but Lopez thought he'd prove he's hustling and go up late and lay out Len.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Adding further complication to the playoff race, Blake Griffin will need elbow surgery to drain a cyst. http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...clippers-staph-infection-elbow-all-star-break

 

[95pro]

Freakin Clippers laid and egg today even though they were missing Griffin.

 

[sunsfan88]

Both the Pelicans and Thunder have won the season series over the Suns right?

 

[Suns_fan69]

Both the Pelicans and Thunder have won the season series over the Suns right?

Not yet. We're 0-2 vs OKC with 2 games to play and 0-1 vs NOP with 2 games left to play.

We lose one more to either and we've lost the season series.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Freakin Clippers laid and egg today even though they were missing Griffin.

Clippers have to be the target for the Suns to catch now if they want to make the playoffs. San Antonio just pushed them to 7th, they've got a brutal stretch of 7 games including 2 games each with Houston and Memphis and now Griffin is out from 2-6 weeks.

Still they're 4 games ahead of Phoenix right now and they have an easier overall schedule till the end.