Jazz/Spurs = Our Season

[High Stakes]

These next two upcoming games will determine if our soft, light hearted, ancient squad has what it takes to win a title. Listen haters, the suns did not make this trade to beat the likes of Denver, Portland, Philly, etc....We made this trade to beat the Mavs, The Spurs, and The Lake Show.....In a seven game series we will bring enough intensity to beat average western conference teams such as denver....lets wait to see what happens in these two games, as they are our season....I predict 2-0...and we will right this ship....If not we will go down like the titanic, but only like most of you, this captain will go down with his ship....

 

[Phade]

we still arent in sync nothing will matter till the playoffs..

 

[dreamcastrocks]

we still arent in sync nothing will matter till the playoffs..

If we lose both of these games, it is possible that we could be in 8th place.

 

[AzKarl]

It really is put up or shut up time for the Suns

I think the Suns must win the next 2 home games and hold serve at home or I fear the season is done. There will be no excuses about late night flights or high altitude etc.. The Suns veterans need to step up and play. I am hoping that my greatest fear is not realized and that is that key veterans like Nash, Bell and Hill are not suffering the onset of severe deterioration of their physical abilities all at one time. Nash seems tired and heavy legged on the court leading to lazy looping passes and half speed on defense, and Raja just looks like he's a step or two behind most people he is covering. His offensive contribution has been next to nill. The Suns need to lose these high double digit turnover games which are being converted to quick and easy points and subsequent losses.

I love the Suns but, the almost expected melt downs replete with turnovers, matador defense, and other teams slam dunking in our face are becoming difficult to watch and bear. I'd like to see someone get pissed off and show it besides Shaq. The officiating in the past 2 games has been atrocious and in my view D'Antonio and the Suns should risk the fine and say something because it is really making the games almost unwatchable and makes me question the integrity of the league. These referees need to understand what is on the line before they whistle the type of technicals they called on the Suns. I heard Amare say "that was ********" and the ref gave him the technical. Grant Hill waved his arm after he was clobbered and was T'd up. Anyone who has sat near the court has heard much worse than that particularly directed at the officials with no T. I heard Rasheed Wallace throw an F bomb at an official and not get a T.

The Suns reflect their Coach in that he makes no meaningful statement or support of his guys publicly to show his support. It's time for this franchise to grow a pair and speak up if it wants to get respect. Shaq was grabbed, held, etc.. and Amare was similarly handled under the basket. The Dirk's, Duncan's, AI's and Kobe's of the world get the infamous appearance foul calls( where the defender gets air on their arm reaching motion) and teams like the Suns need to be sprawled to the floor or draw blood before a call. It almost makes the NBA look foolish and corrupt. A foul is a damn foul no matter who the hell is involved. Make no mistake, these refs idolize and have favorites. I had a long time NBA ref as a neighbor and his home office was covered in signed memorabilia from the likes of Jordan, Magic and Bird.

I think this homestand is do or die for the Suns. I think a sweep is imperative. I'll be there for them no matter the outcome and hope you all will be too.

 

[STATfan4Life]

Good post AzKarl. I agree with you 100%

 

[Phade]

you guys do realize the last few games we've lost the opposing team had one of their best games of the season..

noh
lakers
denver
philly

look at the stats..

 

[jandaman]

Not really... any team against the Suns will usually shoot the ball well, have more steals, more layups than their season average...


now, apply that to good teams and its usually a very good win... against the Suns.

 

[nashman]

Please.. Denver was still pissed we lit them up with 20 3 pointers last time we played so how many did they shoot last night? Not to mention it was in Denver on a road B2B and the refs were not calling to many fouls on Denver on lots of contact. It was set up perfect for us to lose and we did. Not worried we could work them in a series a regular season win doesn't mean much, I too think this homestand against the Jazz and Spurs will be important to see how we stack up. Even if we do not win they must be close competitive games in order to evaluate how we stuck up heading into the playoffs.

 

[Roca Dolla]

the suns will win both this games!

 

[Trophytown]

Please.. Denver was still pissed we lit them up with 20 3 pointers last time we played so how many did they shoot last night? Not to mention it was in Denver on a road B2B and the refs were not calling to many fouls on Denver on lots of contact. It was set up perfect for us to lose and we did. Not worried we could work them in a series a regular season win doesn't mean much, I too think this homestand against the Jazz and Spurs will be important to see how we stack up. Even if we do not win they must be close competitive games in order to evaluate how we stuck up heading into the playoffs.

How do you figure you can defeat someone like Denver in a series when youve seen Nash get his lunch money or his milk taken on a regular basis (in one game) by guards like Carter/Iverson ? Tell me how you arrive at this conclusion.

 

[nashman]

First of all would not be worried about the likes of Carter and Iverson wouldn't be gaurded by Nash in a whole series. If you think Denver who might not even make the playoffs is the team they showed last night your crazy. They played their starters all game pretty much as they were DESPERATE to win that game, it simply meant way more for them than us. Go check the box score and check our starters min. against theirs. Than ran them all game long because it was a must win for them and they still wanted to stick it to us. I am confident that we could light them up as they play less defense than we do and most nights we are gonna win shootouts.

 

[D-Dogg]

First of all would not be worried about the likes of Carter and Iverson wouldn't be gaurded by Nash in a whole series. If you think Denver who might not even make the playoffs is the team they showed last night your crazy. They played their starters all game pretty much as they were DESPERATE to win that game, it simply meant way more for them than us. Go check the box score and check our starters min. against theirs. Than ran them all game long because it was a must win for them and they still wanted to stick it to us. I am confident that we could light them up as they play less defense than we do and most nights we are gonna win shootouts.

When you tell people to go to a box score, you might want to have a deeper understanding of things.

Only two starters played more than their normal average minutes...Kenyon and Carter. Kenyon's backup Najera was in foul trouble and only got 12 minutes and Carter's backup was out with a groin injury. BTW, their bench stinks...

They were damn sure wanting to beat you; they need every win they can get. But the minutes played don't show they did anything against you they wouldn't have done any other night...they simply didn't have the horses so the starters had to log heavy minutes.

 

[Agloco]

These next two upcoming games will determine if our soft, light hearted, ancient squad has what it takes to win a title. Listen haters, the suns did not make this trade to beat the likes of Denver, Portland, Philly, etc....We made this trade to beat the Mavs, The Spurs, and The Lake Show.....In a seven game series we will bring enough intensity to beat average western conference teams such as denver....lets wait to see what happens in these two games, as they are our season....I predict 2-0...and we will right this ship....If not we will go down like the titanic, but only like most of you, this captain will go down with his ship....

You need to make the playoffs first......

To do that, you need to beat the likes of Philly, Denver, Portland, etc.

Even going 2-0 does nothing to right the ship. You guys need to be consistent until the end of the season.

 

[Proteus]

First of all would not be worried about the likes of Carter and Iverson wouldn't be gaurded by Nash in a whole series. If you think Denver who might not even make the playoffs is the team they showed last night your crazy. They played their starters all game pretty much as they were DESPERATE to win that game, it simply meant way more for them than us. Go check the box score and check our starters min. against theirs. Than ran them all game long because it was a must win for them and they still wanted to stick it to us. I am confident that we could light them up as they play less defense than we do and most nights we are gonna win shootouts.

So if Nash isn't gonna guard Carter or Iverson who is he going to guard?

Stats for the season indicate that the Nuggets are better defensively than the Suns.

Iverson, Anthony, and Camby played about their season average in minutes.

We're 7-12 this season when the opposing team scores 110 or more points.

 

[nashman]

Didn't say he wouldn't gaurd Carter, I said not worried about Carter. And Raja would probally gaurd Iverson in a playoff series if they even make it. And they could use Hill, Boris, Strawberry, Giricek on Melo. Just saying this wasn't your normal game against the Nugz. Our starters all played less min than normal and we have a better bench as well, I will stand by what I said we would beat them in a series. And Donald if thats what their starters average they will be dead come playoff time anyway and wouldn't worry about them one bit, if they can even make it as personally GS is a better team than the Nugz.

 

[nashman]

I am sure the Nugz don't shoot over 62% from 3 every night either. They had a good game against the Suns who were on a B2B not too worried about this loss.

 

[D-Dogg]

And Donald if thats what their starters average they will be dead come playoff time anyway and wouldn't worry about them one bit, if they can even make it as personally GS is a better team than the Nugz.

I don't argue with that at all. I was SHOCKED when I saw how bad their bench is.

The backup PG is the Cancer Chuckthrees Atkins.

 

[nashman]

I think some people just need to take a break and let the team gel a little bit before all the nonsense after any loss.

 

[Covert Rain]

I am sure the Nugz don't shoot over 62% from 3 every night either. They had a good game against the Suns who were on a B2B not too worried about this loss.

They might if the played us every night. Teams going off on us from the perimeter is becoming habit forming for the opposing teams. Perimeter defense and turnovers has got to become a focus right now for this team.

 

[Rab]

Honestly, if they just take care of the turnover issue first, they should be okay. They're not going to be a good perimeter defensive team. They could put more effort into it, but they're still going to get burned.

 

[Trophytown]

First of all would not be worried about the likes of Carter and Iverson wouldn't be gaurded by Nash in a whole series. If you think Denver who might not even make the playoffs is the team they showed last night your crazy.

I do believe Denver is one of the higher scoring teams in the NBA (4th actually behind the Warriors, Suns, and Lakers). They can and DO score points on just about anybody. And with a team so explosive on the offensive end faces an opponent with suspect defense, you'll see what you just saw. So last night wasnt an illusion.

They played their starters all game pretty much as they were DESPERATE to win that game, it simply meant way more for them than us. Go check the box score and check our starters min. against theirs. Than ran them all game long because it was a must win for them and they still wanted to stick it to us.

Well doesnt that make you a bit concerned that the Nuggets have already deemed these games as "must-wins" and are desperate enough to go out and do something about it ? Sleep too long in the train station and you will be left behind. The Suns perhaps need to "want" these games desperately NOW before its too late.

I am confident that we could light them up as they play less defense than we do and most nights we are gonna win shootouts.

I wouldnt be (confident)........Your chances of winning a shootout vs playoff caliber teams have decreased since the Marion trade. Opposing backcourts have lit the Suns up over the past few games and the Suns arent making things difficult for anybody on defense. As evident by the Lakers (130pts-23 over their avg) Detroit (116-18 over their avg) Memphis (113-14 over their avg) Golden State and NOH both scoring 10pts above their avg's and the Sixers with a plus 23. Teams on the regular (some not even playoff contenders) are rolling the Suns on offense and having their best games vs the Suns. You should be very worried. Especially in a playoff series vs a team with good coaching that knows how to exploit weaknesses and can make great in game adjustments (which Mike hasnt show the ability to do effectively)

I think you're more concerned than you're letting on. You just dont wanna admit it.

 

[Bufalay]

we still arent in sync nothing will matter till the playoffs..

stupid comment.

 

[Phade]

stupid comment.

stupid response

 

[Griffin]

Here we go again.

Team: we are trying to completely reinvent our game plan. This can take months; we are trying to do it in weeks.
Fans: if they don't win the next couple games, the season is over!

But don't get me wrong, I do understand the urgency. We are very quickly running out of time. It seems that the timing of this trade could not have been worse. On the other hand, if the team believes they were going nowhere before the trade, what else were they to do?

But the thing is, they can already play a lot better than they did against the Nuggets. It's a matter of whether they can bring that intensity and desire every night. A lot of the turnovers last night were unforced. We didn't commit many of those against the Blazers. Right now the margin for error is shrinking, and the Suns need to realize that the training camp is over.

But let's not forget, the teams we are playing have a lot to play for too. They couldn't care less that we are struggling. And they have a lot more confidence than we do at the moment, and confidence is everything.

 

[bigfoot]

We can give all sorts of ultimatum to this team, but really, what purpose does it serve?
They will set their own goals and those goals may not coincide perfectly with ours. They may not even share our opinion about which games are must-win, how much time they have, what their current strengths and weaknesses are, what strategies must be tried, and so on.
We feel so involved as fans and that's a good thing, but there are also times when we just have to trust that the team is doing what they collectively think is the right thing to do given the circumstances.