Who are we likely to face in the playoffs?

[Darth Llama]

I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be a little nervous to see the Suns in the 1st round. I'm really hoping the Lakers get a Golden State, Denver or Dallas in the 1st. It's likely that game 1 of the playoffs will be Bynum and/or Ariza's first game back, and I would like them to get back in sync before we tried to take on an elite team like New Orleans, San Antonio, or Phoenix.

Overall though, the chips might not fall in our favor. No matter what happens, it's going to be a tough road to the finals for anyone. While I want to face Phoenix just for the "get even" factor, they're going to be a damn tough match for anyone. Phoenix is one of the teams that others would rather not face if they don't have to.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be a little nervous to see the Suns in the 1st round. I'm really hoping the Lakers get a Golden State, Denver or Dallas in the 1st. It's likely that game 1 of the playoffs will be Bynum and/or Ariza's first game back, and I would like them to get back in sync before we tried to take on an elite team like New Orleans, San Antonio, or Phoenix.

Overall though, the chips might not fall in our favor. No matter what happens, it's going to be a tough road to the finals for anyone. While I want to face Phoenix just for the "get even" factor, they're going to be a damn tough match for anyone. Phoenix is one of the teams that others would rather not face if they don't have to.

Same here with the Lakers. I'd much rather face the Spurs this year than the Lakers.

The Hornets are the only team that I think the Suns will lose to in a 7 games series. Lakers/Spurs scare me, the rest we should beat.

 

[Darth Llama]

I'm scared of New Orleans too.

 

[nashman]

New Orleans is scary because they are an unknown, at the same time they are not scary because they are unproven come playoff time. Obviously you wouldn't want to face them in the 1st round but later on as the pressure grows I would take my chances with them opposed to LA or SA who have clutch playoff proven players.

 

[Cheesewater]

New Orleans is scary because they are an unknown, at the same time they are not scary because they are unproven come playoff time. Obviously you wouldn't want to face them in the 1st round but later on as the pressure grows I would take my chances with them opposed to LA or SA who have clutch playoff proven players.

Yes. I don't think New Orleans has the mental stamina to get through the second round. This is my opinion based only on their lack of experience. Once you battle through a seven game series, with its physical and emotional ups and downs, I imagine it takes some serious ganas to get up to do it all over again.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

While there are quite a few teams I would be worried about facing, my worry greatly diminishes with the odds of a 7 game series. I dont see any team rocking us more than once or twice with the hungry vets we have on the team.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Lakers lose tonight, now back to one game behind them for division lead.

 

[Lorenzo]

as a mavs fan I'm scared of of all eight other teams in the race. but I'm optimistic that they can hold their own vs. any of them. there isn't really a team that has a huge Playoff mental edge on them....not even GS anymore LOL. It's almost even playing ground. and the pressure really isn't there like last year. If they lose....no biggie. that's what's expected this time.

 

[Darth Llama]

Lakers lose tonight, now back to one game behind them for division lead.

Exactly why you guys shouldn't give up.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Laker fan, we all know that, and I want my team to win the division. I'm baffled however, at the number of Suns fans that think they have already given the division away. You guys are 1 game back, there are 4 games left on the Lakers schedule and 2 of them are the Spurs and Hornets. Our last 4 are

Clippers (It's billed as a road game, but yeah, whatever.)
New Orleans
San Antonio
Sacramento

Yes, they're all at home, but that's not an easy schedule. We could easily go 2-2 or worse. It's not over yet.

 

[cly2tw]

in 3 more days, we might have a clearer picture about the conference standing to end the season. let's just beat spurs and not worry about anything else!

 

[Lorenzo]

in 3 more days, we might have a clearer picture about the conference standing to end the season. let's just beat spurs and not worry about anything else!

yes...beat them so bad that they just give up all hope.

 

[arwillan]

we won and the lakers lost tonight, so we're 1 full game back of them. it's going to be tight down the stretch

 

[Darth Llama]

we won and the lakers lost tonight, so we're 1 full game back of them. it's going to be tight down the stretch

You're technically 2 games back because of tie breaker. A tie does Phoenix no good.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

It gives us hope!

 

[Stout]

Lakers lose tonight, now back to one game behind them for division lead.

If we could win the division, it would REALLY help our cause. We desperately need early home court advantage, IMO. We have to be as quick about putting a team out in the first round as possible, because I don't our small rotation will do well if we have to grind it out. A quick first round series is what we need, IMO.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

If we could win the division, it would REALLY help our cause. We desperately need early home court advantage, IMO. We have to be as quick about putting a team out in the first round as possible, because I don't our small rotation will do well if we have to grind it out. A quick first round series is what we need, IMO.

Which is why the Dallas loss stings so much. We'd be tied in the division lead, with only one more game to make up. Now we have to beat SA, and then have to lose to them, plus hope they throw up a duck against NO, but I don't see it. Kobe will see this as a chance to wrap up MVP and play lights out. The winner of that game may get the MVP.

 

[Stout]

Which is why the Dallas loss stings so much. We'd be tied in the division lead, with only one more game to make up. Now we have to beat SA, and then have to lose to them, plus hope they throw up a duck against NO, but I don't see it. Kobe will see this as a chance to wrap up MVP and play lights out. The winner of that game may get the MVP.

Yeah, I certainly wasn't as blase about that loss as a lot of people seemed to be. Unfortunately, I've been labeled a downer it seems, so I didn't comment simply because I didn't want to have to deal with the silly fallout.

 

[nowagimp]

I am starting to think the east wins the championship this year, the battle of attrition in the west will leave a fatigued survivor.

 

[Bufalay]

its funny that just about every playoff team in the west would be 3rd in the east.

 

[jandaman]

Jazz put the beating on Hornets...
I am worried about them, with Sloan's coaching against the Suns who doesnt really "fight" back in terms of physical defense, they can score with the Suns but can also clamp on....

 

[95pro]

Which is why the Dallas loss stings so much. We'd be tied in the division lead, with only one more game to make up. Now we have to beat SA, and then have to lose to them, plus hope they throw up a duck against NO, but I don't see it. Kobe will see this as a chance to wrap up MVP and play lights out. The winner of that game may get the MVP.

yes. the dallas loss sucked so bad. it was in the bag, the jello was jigglin, but no...

things might be looking better with these few 4games or so.

 

[nowagimp]

Jazz put the beating on Hornets...
I am worried about them, with Sloan's coaching against the Suns who doesnt really "fight" back in terms of physical defense, they can score with the Suns but can also clamp on....

Everyone should be worried about the Jazz, they just got done thumping the spurs and hornets who were fighting for their seedlings. The Jazz have the highest margin of victory in the west. their road record looked suspect, but then they just beat up the hornets in new orleans. I am of the opinion that the spurs or lakers would be a preferable 1st round matchup for the suns.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Everyone should be worried about the Jazz, they just got done thumping the spurs and hornets who were fighting for their seedlings. The Jazz have the highest margin of victory in the west. their road record looked suspect, but then they just beat up the hornets in new orleans. I am of the opinion that the spurs or lakers would be a preferable 1st round matchup for the suns.

Agreed. Okur is a nightmare matchup. Amare should be playing Okur and Shaq on Boozer. (assuming we play them)

 

[nowagimp]

Agreed. Okur is a nightmare matchup. Amare should be playing Okur and Shaq on Boozer. (assuming we play them)

If amare goes ou there to guard okur, the jazz will set a screen, force a switch, and then amare will find himself guarding a faster player on the perimeter, I dont like it at all. Amare could get in foul trouble even faster out on the perimeter. I actually like Diaw on Okur, he's a much smarter defender than amare. Problem then is who does amare guard?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Amare has guarded Okur the last 2-3 games at least. I dont see it changing unless you put hill on him and Amare on AK?

Okur may get his, but so will Amare. The focus should be on how well Shaq can contain Boozer.