The Playoff Race

[jagu]

So now that Frye is done, who should we take with our late lottery pick?

We can still win games with this team. I think we might need to move Gortat into the starting role now though since we'll be severely short on rebounds.

 

[AfroSuns]

We can still win games with this team. I think we might need to move Gortat into the starting role now though since we'll be severely short on rebounds.

It is at least worth a try unless Warrick steps up big time

 

[Proteus]

We can still win games with this team. I think we might need to move Gortat into the starting role now though since we'll be severely short on rebounds.

As in starting him at power forward? The spacing would be very bad. Plus the rebounding from the 2nd unit would be non-existent.

 

[sunsfan88]

It sucks because Troy Murphy recently signed with Boston or else we could have went after him. He's a similar player to Frye.

 

[Griffin]

It is at least worth a try unless Warrick steps up big time

I think Warrick will get the call, but he won't be able to replace what Frye has been doing on the boards and defensively. Also, we lose a three-point shooter.

Frye will have an MRI tomorrow, but judging by other NBA players who suffered the same injury in the past, it usually takes about six weeks to come back from. Of course it depends on the severity of the dislocation.

 

[ninous26]

They'll keep on winning like the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies.

Yeah and the Nuggets.

Things are not looking good..

Looks like this Conference is plagued with injuries except the elite teams are healthy.

This looks like a 100% SA/LA/Dallas/OKC in the WCF and the NBA finals with 0% chance for the other teams in the Western Conference.

 

[FArting]

Teams to root for today
Orlando over Portland
Chicago over new Orleans
okc over Memphis

 

[ninous26]

Not too worried about memphis.. Even if they win today they will be 4 games ahead in the win column (4 games we haven't played). So we can tie them still. As long as we stay even at losses or they have more we'll be good IMO..

If we can win without frye tomorrow at home we'll be in good shape.

 

[Griffin]

Memphis beats OKC, Portland wins at Orlando. We are not getting any help at all. Well, almost. Chicago beat Hornets without Paul.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Memphis beats OKC, Portland wins at Orlando. We are not getting any help at all. Well, almost. Chicago beat Hornets without Paul.

It's like the reverse of last season when down the stretch (other than the loss of Lopez) we caught just about every break a team could catch. This year, it's looking like the complete opposite. We get screwed by the refs and lose in OT but we tire OKC out enough so that they lose to an inferior opponent that we're vying with for a playoff spot. Howard gets suspended for one game and it's against another team that we're competing against. And so on.

Steve

 

[Magnus]

It's not completely over though. If we count Utah out of the picture, there's just one team to get over. So far, my money is on NO. They are pretty far ahead, but are spiralling now, played much better in the first half of the season, maybe they could make a late freefall. I doubt we will ever catch Portland or Denver, but on paper, Memphis would be reachable. However they are playing good against elite teams lately, and it doesn't look promising.

What this team really needs is being clutch in the 4th quarter. There were oh so many games that should have been won, but weren't because of choking players. Suns need to practice holding a 5 point lead in 1 minute on training

 

[AzStevenCal]

It's not completely over though. If we count Utah out of the picture, there's just one team to get over. So far, my money is on NO. They are pretty far ahead, but are spiralling now, played much better in the first half of the season, maybe they could make a late freefall. I doubt we will ever catch Portland or Denver, but on paper, Memphis would be reachable. However they are playing good against elite teams lately, and it doesn't look promising.

What this team really needs is being clutch in the 4th quarter. There were oh so many games that should have been won, but weren't because of choking players. Suns need to practice holding a 5 point lead in 1 minute on training

I don't think that's a fair assessment. This team is much better defensively and much stronger than they used to be but they are still, by and large, a finesse team. Refs allow a lot more physical play in the closing minutes and as long as Nash is our PG we'll be susceptible to collapses late because of it. Nash turns the ball over a lot late but many of those would be called fouls at any other point in the game. It's the same problem we face in the playoffs. The net result is the same, I just don't think it qualifies as choking.

Steve

 

[BC867]

This team is much better defensively and much stronger than they used to be but they are still, by and large, a finesse team ... Refs allow a lot more physical play in the closing minutes and as long as Nash is our PG we'll be susceptible to collapses late because of it ... It's the same problem we face in the playoffs. The net result is the same, I just don't think it qualifies as choking.

I agree. Our reputation precedes us. Especially at the end of close games, during the stretch and in the playoffs.

We're moving in the right direction, but there is a lot of league mindset to change, even if Bill Kennedy is not officiating.

 

[Griffin]

Portland wins at Miami. Shame that we had to play Miami twice already early in the season when we were struggling.

 

[jagu]

I think Miami should dump Wade to the Suns for Carter next year and a first rounder. Carter could provide that veteran presence that is needed and Wade can play in an open court system and excel with Nash. It's a win-win

 

[BC867]

I think Miami should dump Wade to the Suns for Carter next year and a first rounder. Carter could provide that veteran presence that is needed and Wade can play in an open court system and excel with Nash. It's a win-win

And maybe DWade can convince Pau Gasol to join him in Phoenix . . . as long as they promise to not cry in the clubhouse.

 

[Proteus]

And maybe DWade can convince Pau Gasol to join him in Phoenix . . . as long as they promise to not cry in the clubhouse.

If these guys should miraculously join the Suns they can cry all they want.

 

[ninous26]

frye for bosh

 

[AzStevenCal]

frye for bosh

Bosh is clearly a better player but Frye might actually fit this current team better. I'd make the trade anyway because this current team won't last for long but I can't see Miami giving away Bosh in such a one sided deal even with the fillers that it would take to complete the deal. More likely it will be a 3 or 4 team trade that includes sending Odom and Artest to Miami and Bosh and a handful of future unprotected lottery picks to the Lakers.

Steve

 

[BC867]

So I headed down to Nashville, to become a country star
Every night you'd find me hanging, at every honky tonk & bar
Pretty soon I met a woman, pretty soon she done me wrong
Pretty soon my life got sadder, than any country song

Not if you play it backwards.

 

[ninous26]

Thank Carmelo right now.. He just hit a game winner for us against memphis live on nba tv.

Knicks were up by 17 and the damn grizzlies came back and tied it with seconds left.. I thought for sure the suns were cursed and that memphis was going to win.

 

[jagu]

I saw that

So glad the Grizzlies lost! and now we have less losses than both NO and Memphis! Hornets are losing to Dallas.

 

[Griffin]

Thank Carmelo right now.. He just hit a game winner for us against memphis live on nba tv.

Knicks were up by 17 and the damn grizzlies came back and tied it with seconds left.. I thought for sure the suns were cursed and that memphis was going to win.

NY avoided a complete collapse with the game winner by Anthony. Memphis made a great run, including a vicious dunk by Arthur, to get back in the game. NY still has lots of issues to work out, but they did manage to beat Memphis on the road without their starting PG.

On the other hand, Dallas is blowing another 4th quarter lead against a team we are chasing.

 

[Proteus]

Sigh. The Mavs just choked away another game to a team who's ahead of us in the playoff standings.

 

[ninous26]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! Just watched dallas collapse online.. ****ing HELL! again they lose by 1 point to teams they can easily beat and we need for Dallas to win.. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU