Suns-Portland Thread

[NashDishesDimes]

I have to say, i couldnt have picked a better matchup for the suns or better seedings.Obviously minus Roy and suns at home should help suns win in 5-6 games max. People read to much into that portland won the season series, they beat phoenix by 6 points and 7 points i believe. I hope Stoudemire takes these playoffs on his shoulders because if that guy can put aldridge in his place this series is as good as over.

Secondly, i dont know about anybody else but im kind of hoping san Antonio beats Dallas so we see san antonio at home in the 2nd. We need to beat those clowns finally.

Lastly, If all goes well and suns see L.A in the conference finals; win or lose well see a great finals. Either suns-cavs, or kobe vs Lebron.

Obvious keys to suns playoffs:

Amare needs to demand the ball and be an overall monster

Lopez needs to come back because i cannot stand watching Frye try and rebound. Frye will be exposed in these playoffs. I have never seen him put a body on anybody.

The bench - I know dudley, admundson, and barbosa will be ready but i hope dragic keeps it going because rotations tighten up in the playoffs.

Overall, i think the biggest key is really Stoudemire, when that guy gets agressive he either gets fouled, scores, or both atleast 70% of the time. Plus he gets more agressive on the defensive end..

GO SUNS YO!

 

[Sunshooter]

Suns 4:0 Blazers

 

[TJ]

I love this match, but this team should not underestimate the Blazers even w/o Roy. They won the season series against us and I believe one of the games was with Roy on the bench. They have bench players, such as Bayless, who can step up at any given moment and bury you with hot shooting. And LaMarcus Aldrige is just a beast.

By the way. I got the text that the game was going to be on Saturday night, so I called my buddy in San Diego who wanted to go to game 1. Saturday night was the only time he could make it out here. I bought the tickets and 20 minutes later, the NBA decided to change it to Sunday. Crap....

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Sunday and Tuesday. Perfect for me, as I have class Monday and Wed.

 

[TJ]

Sunday and Tuesday. Perfect for me, as I have class Monday and Wed.

That doesnt help me!!

 

[carey]

It's worse for me. I'll be in Phoenix the morning of the 23rd to morning of the 26th... While they are in Portland.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That doesnt help me!!

Nothing I can say or do can help you.

 

[PoolBoy]

TJ i will take the tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AfroSuns]

Played this simulation for the first time this morning and how awesome would it be if pans out as simulated.

 

[jagu]

It's HIGHLY unlikely the Nuggets can beat the Lakers. I have more hope in the Jazz beating the Lakers than the Nuggets. I'm still hoping we can beat Portland in the first round and have Rolo in there for the second and third rounds. Right now, the way Amare is playing, Portland and San Antonio will have a tough time beating the Suns.

The fact is that the Suns team beat a whole lot of good teams in high pressure games late in the season that we should be pretty confident that they won't fold up. I hope Gentry keeps the team focused on the game plan. We have a lockdown defensive unit off the bench and that sure can help in the playoffs.

 

[TJ]

TJ i will take the tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will still go, but if my buddy doesnt make it out, that means I have one extra.

If he cant make it out, perhaps you can come w/ me.

 

[95pro]

i'll go with you, lol

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think we'll beat them in 5, and hopefully have Rolo back for the next series. (Although I see him as most valuable against the Lakers)

 

[Bufalay]

It's HIGHLY unlikely the Nuggets can beat the Lakers. I have more hope in the Jazz beating the Lakers than the Nuggets. I'm still hoping we can beat Portland in the first round and have Rolo in there for the second and third rounds. Right now, the way Amare is playing, Portland and San Antonio will have a tough time beating the Suns.

Haven't the Jazz lost 14 in a row to the Lakers?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Secondly, i dont know about anybody else but im kind of hoping san Antonio beats Dallas so we see san antonio at home in the 2nd. We need to beat those clowns finally.

Well, I wouldn't call them clowns but yeah, I prefer SA to Dallas in the 2nd round. I think this Dallas team (for only the 2nd time ever) is actually good enough to win it all. I think we have a slight advantage over SA unless Duncan finds the Fountain Of Youth. It won't be easy but assuming reasonable health on our part we should win.

Lopez needs to come back because i cannot stand watching Frye try and rebound. Frye will be exposed in these playoffs. I have never seen him put a body on anybody.

Lopez would definitely help but if you've never seen Frye put a body on someone then you haven't been watching Suns games. Frye gives good effort on defense and is occasionally effective. His problem is that he can't always hold his ground once he tries to body up. He has a very weak foundation and is easily rooted out of position by players that have a lower center than him. But watch him, he's always putting a body on someone.

Overall, i think the biggest key is really Stoudemire, when that guy gets agressive he either gets fouled, scores, or both atleast 70% of the time. Plus he gets more agressive on the defensive end..

I disagree. I think Stat is the one guy we know we can count on. For me, the key will probably be Jason. He's been playing well of late for the most part and if that keeps up we should be able to beat Portland. If he looks like he's playing Milwaukee this will not be a fun series. Of course, that's assuming the every other day format allows Nash to be at or near full health and we draw reasonably decent referrees. Regardless, I doubt this will be the cake-walk some here expect it to be even with Roy injured.

Steve

 

[jagu]

The Suns have given up on average 98.7 PPG to the opposition in the last 7 games. They have averaged 107.14 games in that same 7 game stretch.

 

[Gaddabout]

Suns need about 25/12 from the three-headed center and stay out of foul trouble so Amare can stay at the 4. If Amare has to play the 5, I think the Suns are in deep trouble.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Suns need about 25/12 from the three-headed center and stay out of foul trouble so Amare can stay at the 4. If Amare has to play the 5, I think the Suns are in deep trouble.

If Amare can get Camby in foul trouble, the Suns have the ability to sweep them.

 

[Mulli]

If Amare can get Camby in foul trouble, the Suns have the ability to sweep them.

No way the Suns Sweep!! No way.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

No way the Suns Sweep!! No way.

I didn't say they would. I said they could. I think the Suns win in 6.

 

[Mulli]

I didn't say they would. I said they could. I think the Suns win in 6.

And I was saying they could not. I guess it is possible, but not probable

 

[SactownSunsFan]

You know Barbosa will be ready? He's had flashes of his former self, but mostly dude has looked out of sync and has made some bad plays since he's come back from the wrist surgery.

If he doesn't pick up his game the way he's capable of playing within the first 3 or 4 games of the Portland series, I'd say it's time to shut him down for the season.

 

[Bert]

You know Barbosa will be ready? He's had flashes of his former self, but mostly dude has looked out of sync and has made some bad plays since he's come back from the wrist surgery.

If he doesn't pick up his game the way he's capable of playing within the first 3 or 4 games of the Portland series, I'd say it's time to shut him down for the season.

I have nothing against the Blur, but I honestly dont think he fits into this offense anymore. We needed him in the past because we had nobody to backup Nash and so the only way we could get any offense going when Nash wasn't on the floor was for LB to take the ball and make something happen.

With the emergence of Dragic, there is another QB on the floor when Nash sits and so you can see it in LB. He's lost...

I dont know, if he can learn to play with Dragic and stop being so crazy with the ball he might fit in well but honestly, I think LB's days on this team are numbered.

 

[joshstmarie]

The only thing that worries me about the blazers is camby. That guy is going to make or break the series for them IMO. They have shown resilience all year long and winning in portland is going to be REAL tough. Gunna be a great series. Im about to buy my tickets to game 3 here in Portland right now!

 

[mojorizen7]

No predictions from me.

I think highly of Gentry, i just hope his inexperience as a playoff HC doesn't show itself too often....i doubt it will....i'm hoping it doesn't. I think we're already in much better hands than we were with Pringles and his tunnel vision in a 7 game series.

GO SUNS