What team would you most like Suns to face in Rd 1?

[HooverDam]

So lets assume for a moment the Suns are going to make the playoffs, who would you most like to face? Obviously you can't pick someone like Memphis, be realistic. San Antonio, OKC, LAC or Houston?

In a weird way, I think I kind of hope the Suns stick at 8 and face the Spurs. The Spurs are of course always just one Tim Duncan ankle roll away from being quite vulnerable. It might be kind of fun to face them again for old times sake, though losing to them again would be painful---though not as painful as years past since just getting into the playoffs this year is a big deal.

Which team do you think the Suns match up with best, or could at least give a good series to?

 

[unseenaz]

God, this list scares me... Spurs are the most beatable out of the bunch though.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Clippers. Paul has been banged up and we've played them tough a couple times this season...and I might get to go to a couple of games.

The Spurs are the most beatable? Man, that team will just never get the credit it deserves. They've had injuries all year long, consistently trot out a team missing starters due to rest and are still on pace to win 63 games.

that team would fundamentally take us apart. It would be a clean sweep, IMO and an ugly one at that.

 

[Catlover]

I don't really see that it matters much. Other than Portland and maybe Dallas I don't think we'd have much of a chance against any of the probable playoff teams. I think we can push them in a couple of games but I don't see us winning more than one game against any of the likely opponents.

 

[HooverDam]

The Spurs are the most beatable? Man, that team will just never get the credit it deserves. They've had injuries all year long, consistently trot out a team missing starters due to rest and are still on pace to win 63 games.
.

The Spurs have some excellent, but older players. If Duncan or Manu gets dinged up, I'd agree they're the most beatable. At some point Duncan will sustain an injury that will keep him out for a while, it's finally happened to Nash, it's happening to Kobe, as Barkley says "Father Time is undefeated."

I don't think the Suns will win a series against any of the teams, but the Spurs age and relative lack of depth would maybe give the Suns a slim hope.

 

[sunsfan88]

OKC if Westbrook is healthy & playing.

 

[Mainstreet]

What, no choice, none of the above.

Gulp.

Oklahoma City Thunder

 

[WuRaider]

Rockets - PJ can lock up Harden enough for us to compete and take the series.

Clippers - Without the crazy Barnes quarter, we would have beaten them without Bledsoe. CP3 is dangerous but we have 2 elite PGs. Blake has been doing better against Frye lately but Keif can help out.

Spurs - Dragic owns them. I wouldn't mind playing them at all but think the Rockets and Clippers would be easier matchups.

Thunder - Naw.... if you must face Lebron or KD, wait till the end

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Spurs have some excellent, but older players. If Duncan or Manu gets dinged up, I'd agree they're the most beatable. At some point Duncan will sustain an injury that will keep him out for a while, it's finally happened to Nash, it's happening to Kobe, as Barkley says "Father Time is undefeated."

I don't think the Suns will win a series against any of the teams, but the Spurs age and relative lack of depth would maybe give the Suns a slim hope.

relative lack of depth? they continually win despite injuries and resting players. even if one of their guys did go down, I'd still be stunned if Pop didn't find a way to coach them to victory against us.

 

[Catlover]

relative lack of depth? they continually win despite injuries and resting players. even if one of their guys did go down, I'd still be stunned if Pop didn't find a way to coach them to victory against us.

Other than Memphis I don't think he'll have trouble coaching them to victory against any first round opponent. Take a lot at the minutes played for their key players, they're spread around like a 10 deep college team. I don't know if there is a player on their team they can't afford to lose. Compare that to Phoenix, I don't know if there is a player in our first 7 that we could afford to lose.

 

[FArting]

Bring on the Spurs

We are due for some luck against them.

 

[BC867]

Bring on the Spurs

We are due for some luck against them.

We need to count on more than luck on the spinning wheel.

It is going to take some David Clayton Thomas. **

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** Blood, Sweat & Tears

 

[leclerc]

1) Spurs
2) Clippers
3) Rockets

As WuRaider says, Dragon owns the Spurs, and we can beat The Clippers if Barnes plays like he usually does. Rockets can be tough. PJ is good but he can't keep Harden down in the playoffs. OKC is my last choice.

 

[Catlover]

1) Spurs
2) Clippers
3) Rockets

As WuRaider says, Dragon owns the Spurs, and we can beat The Clippers if Barnes plays like he usually does. Rockets can be tough. PJ is good but he can't keep Harden down in the playoffs. OKC is my last choice.

I suspect if we checked the records we'd see it's the reverse. I don't think anyone has "owned" the Spurs during the Pop era.

 

[Superbone]

It doesn't matter to me. We're the underdog big time no matter what. That leads me to look at the other side of the coin. The Spurs would be the most fun team to beat out of that group.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Rockets point guard, Patrick Beverley, is out indefinitely with torn meniscus in his right knee. The Rockets still have Lin and Canaan to play point guard. Lin will start for Beverley. If Beverley is not able to return, this could weaken the Rockets.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10689381/patrick-beverley-houston-rockets-torn-meniscus

 

[elindholm]

If Beverley is not able to return, this could weaken the Rockets.

I guess. The gap between Beverley and Lin is pretty small. The Suns need to make their own help; there are too many teams in the mix to count on any particular one cooling off down the stretch.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't know why playing the Spurs is so popular in fan voting. That team never loses composure and will methodically tear apart most teams.

 

[Phrazbit]

Bring on the Spurs

We are due for some luck against them.

To be fair we did sweep them the last time we played them in the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

I guess. The gap between Beverley and Lin is pretty small. The Suns need to make their own help; there are too many teams in the mix to count on any particular one cooling off down the stretch.

I picked the Thunder and I wouldn't change my vote even with the injury to Beverley. However, Beverley's defensive presence will be missed if he can't return. He will hurt the Rockets chances to go all the way.

 

[elindholm]

He will hurt the Rockets chances to go all the way.

I don't think they have any such chance anyway. The only real contenders are the Heat, Spurs, and Thunder -- I'd put even the Pacers at no more than a few percent. It's at least 30:1 against anyone other than those four teams winning this year's title.

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't think they have any such chance anyway. The only real contenders are the Heat, Spurs, and Thunder -- I'd put even the Pacers at no more than a few percent. It's at least 30:1 against anyone other than those four teams winning this year's title.

I'd throw the Clippers in there too. Not that I think they're odds are great, but I think they're as good as the Pacers are.

 

[elindholm]

I'd throw the Clippers in there too. Not that I think they're odds are great, but I think they're as good as the Pacers are.

I think the Clippers are as good as the Pacers, but when's the last time a team won the title without having (a) recently been in the conference finals or (b) made a major roster acquisition? I can't think of an example. The Clippers will have to prove themselves as contenders first; that's the way the NBA's annual postseason tournament works.

 

[Chaplin]

Los Angeles Lakers.

Wait.

 

[Catlover]

Los Angeles Lakers.

Wait.

For how long? Ten years? Twenty? We may have to settle for other playoff opponents for awhile, waiting on the Lakers to bounce back might be a losing proposition. I am so sad.