The next five days

[Griffin]

So far we've had a very difficult schedule. But over the next five days, it gets downright brutal. Four games in five nights against Lakers, Nuggets, Heat and Magic. Two sets of back-to-backs with three of the four games on the road.

What's more, while the Suns will play Denver after playing Lakers in LA the night before, the Nuggets will be enjoying a three day rest. How fortunate for them. Well, at least the Suns aren't playing the Lakers on a back-to-back like the last time. Still, the Lakers had two days off already to prepare for this game while the Suns played Friday. How fortunate for them. But after playing the Lakers and Nuggets back-to-back, the Suns will at least get a day off before going to Miami. Miami, however, we'll be sitting home waiting for the Suns for three days, not having played since Saturday. How fortunate for them. So what about the Magic, you ask? When the Suns go to Orlando after playing in Miami the night before, the Magic will have enjoyed a two day rest. How fortunate again for the other team!

So, to sum up, the Suns opponents over the next four games will have enjoyed combined 10 days off before playing Phoenix. Suns only days off were yesterday and will be Tuesday.

Tonight, at Lakers (Lakers on 2 days rest)
Tomorrow, back home to play Denver (Denver on 3 days rest)
Tuesday, day off
Wednesday, at Miami (Miami on 3 days rest)
Thursday, at Orlando (Orlando on 2 days rest)

​

 

[Nasser22]

Which means we better take care of business tonight while we're fresh. That is a brutal schedule for the week!

 

[Ninjafish]

Bring it on. We look forward to the challenge!

 

[Errntknght]

Miami would probably be tougher if they had only one day off... now they have three days to second guess themselves about what they've been doing wrong. They'll eventually get it sorted out but we can hope its not between now and Weds. Their most successful five has been a small one and we should match up with them pretty well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So far we've had a very difficult schedule. But over the next five days, it gets downright brutal. Four games in five nights against Lakers, Nuggets, Heat and Magic. Two sets of back-to-backs with three of the four games on the road.

What's more, while the Suns will play Denver after playing Lakers in LA the night before, the Nuggets will be enjoying a three day rest. How fortunate for them. Well, at least the Suns aren't playing the Lakers on a back-to-back like the last time. Still, the Lakers had two days off already to prepare for this game while the Suns played Friday. How fortunate for them. But after playing the Lakers and Nuggets back-to-back, the Suns will at least get a day off before going to Miami. Miami, however, we'll be sitting home waiting for the Suns for three days, not having played since Saturday. How fortunate for them. So what about the Magic, you ask? When the Suns go to Orlando after playing in Miami the night before, the Magic will have enjoyed a two day rest. How fortunate again for the other team!

So, to sum up, the Suns opponents over the next four games will have enjoyed combined 10 days off before playing Phoenix. Suns only days off were yesterday and will be Tuesday.

Tonight, at Lakers (Lakers on 2 days rest)
Tomorrow, back home to play Denver (Denver on 3 days rest)
Tuesday, day off
Wednesday, at Miami (Miami on 3 days rest)
Thursday, at Orlando (Orlando on 2 days rest)

​

I agree the schedule gets tougher but I don't think it's been all that tough up to this point. Granted, we've played 5 probable playoff teams but we've had plenty of rest along the way. The next 25 game stretch is tougher IMO than our first 8 has been. I still think if we can get somewhere around 15 wins in our first 33 games that we have a chance to make the playoffs if the FO doesn't panic.

Steve

 

[Chaplin]

I agree the schedule gets tougher but I don't think it's been all that tough up to this point. Granted, we've played 5 probable playoff teams but we've had plenty of rest along the way. The next 25 game stretch is tougher IMO than our first 8 has been. I still think if we can get somewhere around 15 wins in our first 33 games that we have a chance to make the playoffs if the FO doesn't panic.

Steve

Having 5 days off between games isn't actually a help.

 

[Irish]

I hate back to back games. There is no reason for them. It is not make any better when the second game is a home game, thus negating the value of home games.

If Stern really wanted to mess over a team, the schedule would be a great way to do it.

 

[elindholm]

I agree the schedule gets tougher but I don't think it's been all that tough up to this point. Granted, we've played 5 probable playoff teams but we've had plenty of rest along the way.

According to Sagarin, the Suns had had the league's 4th toughest schedule coming into tonight's games.

 

[AzStevenCal]

According to Sagarin, the Suns had had the league's 4th toughest schedule coming into tonight's games.

I have no idea what Sagarin uses to rate a schedule but let me ask you, how accurate do you think it is for a team 8 games into a schedule? I had looked at our opponents winning percentage before I commented and I'll admit it was a very impressive number.

As I acknowledged, 5 of our 8 opponents are probable playoff teams but I still think we've benefitted from only playing 8 games in 18 days and I'm not sure Sagarin takes that into consideration. Also, we've had a fairly mild travel schedule to date and again I'm not sure Sagarin rates that.

I didn't intend to suggest we've had an easy schedule so far but looking back at my first post it probably comes across that way. I meant to make the point that we had faced something less than "a very difficult schedule" when I initially responded.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

I have no idea what Sagarin uses to rate a schedule but let me ask you, how accurate do you think it is for a team 8 games into a schedule?

Better than a wild hunch, which is what you're going on.

As I acknowledged, 5 of our 8 opponents are probable playoff teams but I still think we've benefitted from only playing 8 games in 18 days

Now they've played 9, which is the league median. Three games a week is about normal.

Also, we've had a fairly mild travel schedule to date and again I'm not sure Sagarin rates that.

I don't think he does, but I disagree with your assertion. The Suns have already played in Memphis and Atlanta, both of which are on the other side of the country.

I meant to make the point that we had faced something less than "a very difficult schedule" when I initially responded.

It seems like you're trying to make an absolute claim rather than a relative one. The Suns have played one of the most difficult schedules in the league so far, no matter how you slice it. Whether it's "very difficult" is a question of semantics.

 

[jagu]

I hope we can beat Denver. I think Gentry needs to let the Dragon loose tonight and give Nash a breather for the Miami game. Watching every Heat game so far, I think we definitely can get good looks at the basket and if we shoot well we could possibly beat them.

It's going to be a scary proposition facing Orlando with Dwight Howard and we might be missing Rolo.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Not to mention the travel time, going from about as West (LA) as one can get to about as East (Miami) as one can get in that short time span.

Ouch!

 

[Bert]

All this discussion makes the fact that we beat LA in their house last night even more significant. What a way to start this stretch... if we can keep it going and beat Denver at home tonight that would be HUGE!

Go Suns!~

 

[jagu]

2 down, 2 to go. If we can go 3-1 on this 4 game stretch its an great feat IMO.

 

[Yuma]

2-0 so far! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting 2 victories. The next 3 games are rough! I would be happy to snag a win in one of them, 2 is over achieving, and 3 would be unconscious play by the Suns!