how many wins for the suns this year?

[zett]

as long as sarver is not out there shooting 3's I think we can win 64

 

[panfolk]

my guess is 57 but could be higher. id be happy with 57 wins if coach D would use a deeper rotation, but nothing shy of 62 if he doesnt.

Excellent point. Exactly how I feel. If giving NAsh rest costs us a few games but gives the backup point brigade more experience I'm all for it. Plus I'd like to see Burke thrown in every once in a while before someone gets injured.

 

[PhxGametime]

70-12

Championship Season... but what happened to the dynasty (sp)

 

[The Commish]

You guys are all drinkin the . With that said I think we have a better team for the playoffs though.

54-28

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Without Joe Johnson and with Sarver as the owner??????

Simple math, Amare cancels out foamy. and don't forget my man BD!

Go Suns

 

[zett]

54-57 wins

They won 62 games last year, but they started something like 37-3. They won't sneak up on anybody this year.

Joe

joe we don't have to sneak up on teams to beat them anymore. we are good enough to beat them all on talent, I know it seems strange to look at it that way, but we are that good!

 

[BC867]

... and either cruise at the end or turn it up a notch (depending on seeding). in the playoffs they're gonna be a beast. i can't wait for the season to start.

There's the key. Resting players as the playoffs approach will be more important than how high we can go in the Win column.

So if we don't maintain the pace we'd be on target for, to be ready -- really ready -- for the post-season, I'll be happy.

Not being able to rest your starters as the season winds down means that you're in a race that takes its toll in the playoffs.

Especially if the Suns can be as good a road team as they were last season, and not have to worry as much about seeding.

 

[Errntknght]

I need to keep my carefully cultivated image of being a pessimist so I'm saying 50 wins.

I think other teams will be gunning for us out of the gate and we have so many new players that we'll get off to a slower start. We had almost a fairytale season as far as injuries go and I don't expect that to happen again. I do think we have the talent to do better than that but I expect D'Antoni to struggle coaching this team - last year's team fit his style better.

 

[George O'Brien]

Last season after the first month, it certainly sounded like other teams were gunning for the Suns. I don't think they sneeked up on anyone after maybe the first three weeks.

What may change is that opponents are going to have spent a lot more time working on ways to deal with the Suns running game with the three point shots off the break. This is a style that is radically different from everything teams are used to playing against.

This year I expect opponets to be a lot better prepared with an outside-in fast break defensive scheme like what the Spurs used. At the same time, I expect opponents will focus on getting the ball out of Nash's hands on the greak and will put even more emphasis on slowing the game down and on getting back.

I'm not sure how all this translates in wins and losses because it is hard for weaker teams to make that many adjustments, but for the Suns to beat stronger teams their half court offense will have to improve.