Processing Loss

by ZonaFlash on Jan 21, 2009 12:43 PM MST

Some have paralleled the Cardinals experience this year as holding hope for the Suns. As you know, the Cardinals success this post-season followed a 7-47 loss to the Patriots just one month ago. Therefore, losing by 30 in January need not have any bearing in April.

While I don't weigh the Boston loss too heavily, it does shock me that it really means to me that the Suns are not contenders this year. While I might have already known that intellectually, I haven't dealt with it emotionally. It's like when you know your child is a serial killer, but haven't seen the dead bodies. You can live in the dreamy haze of not knowing and hoping for the best. You have no proof your child is a monster, and your child might be the most wonderful gift the planet has ever received. But now I've seen the dead bodies.

Upsets are possible in the NFL's single game elimination playoffs, but are less likely in the 7-game NBA series. I may be completely wrong, but I don't know if any NBA champion has lost by 30 (ok, 17, but it should have been like 35) in its championship year. Has it ever happened? If it has, start with the 2006 Miami team with Shaq....

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The most famous one:

The Memorial Day Massacre.

Celtics 148, Lakers 114, game 1, 85 finals. Lakers forget to panic, and go on to win the series 4 games to 2.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on Jan 21, 2009 3:22 PM MST reply actions

oh.. and the 96 Bulls

march 10, 1996 @ NY
Bulls 72, Knicks 104.

That Bulls team went on to win 72 games

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on Jan 21, 2009 3:26 PM MST reply actions

Thanks for the hope, Pliny

The Amare Initiative

by ZonaFlash on Jan 21, 2009 8:54 PM MST up reply actions

Not gonna happen

This team has no heart. Nobody cares.

"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"

by PanamaSun on Jan 22, 2009 6:57 AM MST up reply actions

Not offering hope...

just being a smartass.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on Jan 22, 2009 10:58 AM MST up reply actions

thanks for the support, guys.

no heart, no hope and smartasses for friends…. =)

The Amare Initiative

by ZonaFlash on Jan 22, 2009 4:33 PM MST up reply actions

What else can you ask for!

"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"

by PanamaSun on Jan 23, 2009 9:02 AM MST up reply actions

well, heart, hope...no wait, that was a rhetoric question wasn't it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

The Amare Initiative

by ZonaFlash on Jan 23, 2009 9:08 AM MST up reply actions

wow

thats a nice pattern :D

by RottPhiler on Jan 21, 2009 4:28 PM MST reply actions

ok, dudes, get a grip..

Look, I don’t worry about bad losses or losing streaks in January.

I just don’t, because it happens every year around this time. Nearly all teams go through it, just like the Celtics of 2 weeks ago. And we’re only, what?.. 4 games out of second place in the West?

Do I think this years Suns are capable of winning the NBA title ? Yes, absolutely. And I’ll go one step further, and say that this teams best is better than any other teams best. I don’t think this team is too old. Not by a long shot.

Nonetheless, that sentiment is tempered by some realism:

we have an immature 6-10 PF who spent too much time reading the Stephan Marbury book of how to be a professional, team-oriented Basketball player
our coach has no people skills, seems inflexible, is incapable of thinking a single creative thought wrt building an offense or a defense, and has tuned out his players.
our gm/owner seem to thrive on conflict, and have destroyed the morale of a group of people who were once bound by a common purpose.

I am deeply annoyed with our coaching, because this team at the end of last season, with the same players, was much better, particularly wrt offense, despite having a gimpy Shaq. My mind is overwhelmed, and my heart saddened, by the possibilities of what could have been.

The template for how to use these players, together, is there for all to see, if only someone would pay attention. I regret thinking that our coach was the kind of man who, to paraphrase, “Would have seen so far, by standing on the shoulders of giants”.

At the end of the day, we have what we have. I can only hope, that with our PF’s All-Star selection, and his ego restored, he will now start paying attention, harmony will be restored to this team, and consequently our playoff chances bolstered.

Still, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on Jan 23, 2009 11:39 AM MST reply actions