Phoenix Suns: The Home Stretch!
by TheRza82 on Mar 15, 2010 4:58 PM MDT
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Well Folks it's mid march and we're in the middle of a usual western conference home stretch battle. Lets take a look at our remaining schedule as well at our foes remaining schedule and try to get a sense of where we'll finish. I'm not sure if any of you have taken a look at our remaining schedule but It's a DOOZEY to say the least. Don't judge me for saying DOOZEY....I've never said it before but I decided to take a walk on the danger side and give it a try.
Anyways...back to the schedule.
March 16: vs Minnesota (14-53) W
March 19: vs Utah (42-24) M
March 21: vs Portland (41-28) M
March 22: AT Golden State (18-47) W
March 26: vs New York (23-43) W
March 28: AT Minnesota (14-53) W
March 30: AT Chicago (31-34) W
March 31: AT New Jersey (7-59 The Lopezapooloza...I'm on a friggin' role here, seriously.) W
April 2: AT Detroit (23-43) W
April 3: AT Milwaukee (36-29) M
April 7: vs San Antonio (39-25) M
April 9: AT Oklahoma City (41-24) M
April 11: vs Houston (33-31) M
April 13: vs Denver (45-21) M
April 14: AT Utah (42-24) M
Combined Record: 452-538
7 For Sure Wins, 8 Maybes
Legend : W=Win M=Maybe
As you can see that isn't tough looking but playing Minnesota twice and New Jersey has to do with it. To the right of the record I have put a predicted win or maybe based on hours and hours of scientifical mathematics, red bulls and edamacated guessing.
Basically what I'm saying is despite our long home stand we have a schedule that is going to KICK our ass. We have two crucial games against Utah along with games against SA, OKC, and Portland all of which are seperated by a measly 2.5 games...I didn't count Denver since I'd pretty much rule them out of reach. So, what do you guys(Or sexy ladies out there...Do we any sexy ladies on this site..If we do and you are single just know that I love you...I also loved the married ones but in a different forbidden lust kind of way.) think? I'd say we would be LUCKY to win 10 games.
Now, lets take a look at our four biggest threats...Utah, OKC, SA, and Portland
Oklahoma City Remaining Schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=okc&year=2010
Utah Remaining Schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=uth&year=2010
San Antonio Remaining Schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=sas&year=2010
Portland Remaining Scehdule: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=por&year=2010
Opponents projected record based on total guessing:
Oklahoma City: 7 Wins 10 Maybes
Utah: 11 Wins 5 Maybes
San Antonio: 5 Wins 13 Maybes...I marked Phoenix down as a maybe just because Tony Parker is out.
Portland: 5 Wins 8 Maybes
Did this post help your confusion or just make you more confused? I'd say outside of Utah we have the easiest schedule and I'm saying that lightly. It all depends on Nash's Back, Barbosa's reintroduction into the offense and our now in question center position. I'd say at the ABSOLUTE best we can get a fifth seed, our worst being the seventh seed.
What do you guys think? What's our ceiling and what's our bottom? How do you like your chances and who do you think is the best play off match up? Either way we're not getting home court advantage unless D-Williams blows up...Who would you rather play on the road...Utah, Dallas, or Denver?
Watch out....It's the symbiote STEVE NASH!!!!!
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Maybe 10-5 down the stretch
I think we are going to have at least one upset down the stretch; losing to a team we should beat. Whether it’s to NJ, or one of the times we play Minn, New York (again), Golden State, or even Detroit…I just see us losing one of those for some reason.
Other than that the games I’m concerned about are vs.Portland, at Denver, at OKC, and at Utah…I think we will have a tough time against these
I think we will come out FIRING against Utah on the 19th, after losing to them TWICE when we held a double digit lead for most of the game. No way in the world we lose that one, although the last game of the season at their place is a different story.
The Spurs won’t be the same without Parker…I don’t see us losing that one either.
I think we will finish the season relatively strong when it’s all said and done.
Gee, it isn’t that easy as it looks. Those last 6 games will be tough. Milwaukee and Houston are tough teams to beat and the other 4 teams are playoff caliber. Also, the last two games are back to back. We have Denver at home and than Utah on the road the very next day. I don’t think Steve Nash will be able to take the night off.
Yea, I’d like for us to be considered the hottest team going into the playoffs. We’ve got hot just right before the all-star break and on, so lets keep it up going into the playoffs. That’s how the Spurs rolled and it paid off for them(back when they were healthy of course).
We are the hottest team
heading into the Playoffs besides Dallas…The problem is OKC has pretty much matched our pace…We lose one game to The Lakers and all of a sudden we go from comfortably in fifth place to one game out of the 8th seed after going 13-5 since the start of February.
Also, with Barbs coming back on Tuesday shouldn’t we just sit Nash? I know for whatever reason the T-Wolves always play tough but giving Nash the night off would give him a much needed five days off and with how tough of a stretch we have coming up any extra days off we can give to Nash is a positive.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Nash doesn't want to sit
He thinks he’s better off playing to stay in shape. Too much rest isn’t good. Optimal is a game like Sunday where he doesn’t have to work to hard and can take off the 4th qtr.
That’s the best playoff prep for him
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Mar 15, 2010 7:25 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Couldn't agree more...
Nash doesn’t need to miss games to get rest, he just needs good play from our bench that allows us to rest him for large stretches at a time, especially in the 4th when we are already leading. As long as Barbosa comes back healthy and effective, and Dragic continues to stay on the mend regarding his ankle, I see no reason why we can’t rest Nash for at least 20 min a game, during most games.
This team can still be very competitive even without playing our legendary pg throughout the game. Dragic has already proven his all-around abilities, and Barbosa will be a great scoring option for our second unit!
Nash should be able to get plenty of rest down the stretch, and head into the playoffs primed for a nice run!
Agree to disagree...
I honestly think this injury is worse than the others…back injuries are career killers, it’s what made Bird retire in his early thirties….While, Nash has already passed that point the guy is 36 years old and he’s not going to fall out of basketball shape if we rest him a few games. This injury isn’t going away, it’s going to linger for the rest of the way and we have to learn how to manage it. I’m not suggesting sitting him for every game against a bad opponents but scheduled rest days and minute management is the key to his success and really the teams whole season.
Luckily we have a guy named Aaron Nelson…
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
I'm going to be conservative and say they will go 9-6 down the stretch...
I think the Suns still play too erratic to count any road game a win…Yes even 7-59 NJ is a threat…Potentially, they could win 12 as the schedule is not too bad, but realistically it will be 9 or 10 games…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Well, the Denver game could be a gimme...
Depending on the standings…They could have everything locked up by then which would be nice. I agree with 7footer, I do see us losing a game we’re supposed to win…Golden State or the Knicks have upset written all over them since they can light it up at any given time. As tough as our schedule is just know that San Antonio’s is atleast three times tougher and any season where we finish better than the Spurs is a success in my book.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Those last two gms
There’s a good chance that by that point it won’t matter.
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Mar 15, 2010 7:27 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
It's all about matchups
If we can get into the seed that plays Denver, that would give us the best opportunity to get out of the 1st round.
Denver is the only team in the top 4 that we have proven that we can beat. we should try our best to get the right seed to play them in the first round.
Sarcasm...Why would the Suns start Collins, Griffin, and Clark at the same time?
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Best Scenario for the Suns!!!!
I say they go 11-4 down the stretch. That puts them at 52-30. I agree with Chuck, I’ll take my chances with Denver. We’ve had our way with them this year. However, I think it would be better if we didn’t have homecourt advantage in 4th place being that if we got by the first round we’d have to play the Lakers in the 2nd round. All of use can see the writing on the wall on that one…. they’ll be rested and waiting for us at the Staples (Suns done in 5 games). We’re better off in 6th or 7th place…yes even without homecourt. I’d like us to be matched up to play Denver and Dallas in which ever order in the 1st and 2nd rounds. Dallas would be tougher to beat on their court….but we are a better road team than our record indicates.. Lets hand the Jazz to the Lakers in the 2nd round so they can bang them up a bit….and who knows, maybe we’d actually have a chance to make a series of it against the Lakers if we get to the WCF. It all depends on if Nash can get healthy and if Amare for once can make big plays when the team needs him too (last 2 minutes of the game) and be that Max player we’ve been waiting for.
by Gilbertsportsfan on Mar 16, 2010 12:46 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Why do people assume the Lakers would be an easier in the WCF than in the semis?
You know, good teams take the attitude that they’ll play anyone. Except for those special cases where there is a rival who has blocked one’s path consistently in the playoffs — then it is good to play that team and beat them; in the processing extracting revenge. I kinda feel that way against the Spurs. I would love to kick their sorry asses out of the playoffs. That would just feel so good…. Of course, it would be hard to get them due to matchups, but, if we did I think they’d be ripe for the picking this year. Thanks to Kerr we have a bench that is superior to theirs (this used to be their trademark, and , I think Kerr modelled our bench on the past Spurs model. Gritty, tough great defensive guys who can knock down the 3 pointer etc..)
As for the Lakers, they would be just as tough in the WCF as in the semis. You could hope they would be “beat up” by a prior series, but every team is tired in the playoffs. I don’t think you could expect an advantage there. You might get lucky and draw them after they suffered a key injury; say like if Gasol got knocked out , or if they lost Artest.
If we are healthy and everyone is playing to their capabilities I think we are capable of beating the Lakers though.
I think we want them in the WCF...
Because that means at least 2 rounds of Suns playoff action before what some might deem as the inevitable.
Twitter: @MikeLisboa
Point being...
I don’t think anyone thinks they’ll be easier then. Just more playoff action.
Twitter: @MikeLisboa
There would have to be a perfect storm...
I honestly think this team isn’t even trying it’s hardest…There this good in cruise control. There is a reason they signed Ron Artest and it’s for the playoffs. He is speedy enough to guard your quickest player and strong enough to take on your biggest. Lopez still has some maturing to do and it’s been proven so far in his young career that he has problems with strong, physical front lines and while the Lakers might not be the strongest they are the deepest.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Yes and No Rza...
I do really like Artest. He is tough and a great perimeter defender. I think the Lakers got him specifically to match up with two guys: LeBron James and Carmello Anthony. Both those guys and big and strong and virtually unstoppable taking the ball to the basket. I think they see Artest as being able to at least slow them down a bit. Where I think you’re wrong is this:
He is speedy enough to guard your quickest player (.)
I think you’re very wrong here. If you think he can guard the smaller, quicker guards like Chris Paul (when healthy), Brando Roy, or Jameer Nelson they you are kiding yourself. Of course that is not his role, but just felt I needed to correct you on that point. He is quite that versatile as a defender.
you can point that out but I'd say agree to disagree.
Chris Paul? No one can guard Chris Paul thats why he is so unstoppable but he could for sure stop Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Billups, D-Williams. It’s not all about speed it’s about angles and reading plays which Artest does not get NEARLY enough credit for or does he get enough credit for how truly athletic he really is.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Diagree on Roy. Maybe Billups. Jason Terry; are you joking?
Why would you include Terry with that group? He is a washed up journeyman.
Don’t get me wrong, I do respect Artest as a defender, I just don’t think he is invincible.
Terry is a washed up Journeyman...Are you kidding?
He’s played for two teams, is the reigning sixth man of the year and is currently scoring 17 PPG off the bench…
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Okay, he's still not a journeyman by any stretch of the imagination I was just pointing out that Artest can defend quick players.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Great teams will beat anybody good teams need favorable matchups
I want to believe the Suns can beat the Lakers, but then reality sets in. You’re right great teams take on the attitude that they can beat anyone. The Lakers are a GREAT TEAM. The Suns are not a Great Team (at least not now) but are a good team. For a good team to make it to the WCF and Finals, they have to rely on favorable matchups. Case in point, back in 2006 when Amare was out. The Suns would not have made it to the WCF that year had they not had the, at the time, favorable matchups of the Lakers and the Clippers of the 1st and 2nd rounds. If they played the teams that Dallas played which were unfavorable matchups for the Suns that year, they wouId have lost in the 1 or 2nd rounds. I agree with Mike, lets keep the Suns around as long as we can through the 2nd round and then take our chances with the Lakers.
by Gilbertsportsfan on Mar 16, 2010 5:55 PM MDT up reply actions
I beg to differ Gilberts. The Lakers are NOT a great team.
They are defending champs, and that is about all you can say for them. Look: the Lakers do not have a winning record against any of the top teams in the league. The Lakers are amongst the top five in winning percentage, BUT against the four opponents who are also in that group (Cleveland, Orlando, Dallas, and Denver) the Lakers are a combined 4-7 !
That is a piss poor winning percentage of only .363 ! They don’t have a winning record against any of that group.
The Lakers walk around with this swagger like they are just entitled to win; that the rest of the league will bend over for them. Well, the Nuggets won’t. The Cavs certainly won’t. I don’t know why so many Suns fans lay down and conceed a potential series to the Lakers. F*^^&^ the Lakers. That is what I say. That is Denver’s attitude and it should be our attitude as well. That is the mindset it takes to beat good teams. The Lakers are good. They are not great. And mark my words, they will not be representing the Western Conference in the Finals ! That’s right, I said it.
If you understand the psychology of that team and you have decent talent you can beat them. How do you think Larry Brown has managed to beat them over and over and over with both the Pistons and now the Bobcats. Because he is a good coach.
Come on you guys. The Lakers are NOT unbeatable. Kobe is a selfish egotistical child, and if you understand that you can use it against him and the Lakers. If you get up on the Lakers Kobe will fold up his tent and go home ; like he did in Game 7 against the Suns a few years back, or like Game 7 against the Celtics two years ago. The Lakers are not a team, they are a collection of high paid, spoiled crybabies. That why the tough, ballsy Nuggets have for the most part kicked their ass this year. They would have last year but for some questionalbe referee calls and good fortune by LA in Game 1 of the WCF. Mark my words — the Lakers will NOT win the West this year. If it isn’t the Suns who beat them then either Dallas or Dencer will !!
Wow...couldn't disagree with you more...
They operate the triangle offense perfectly with everyone being a decent passer on the team. The Suns aren’t the Nuggets plus we don’t match up well with the Lakers at all. The NBA is all about match ups and that is one match up that doesn’t work for us.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Also, there 1-1 vs Charlotte this year and comparing this years Laker team to
the 2004 Laker’s team isn’t a valid comparison…Gary Payton, Karl Malone and Rick Fox were a combined 450 years old and there was no chemistry on that team from the start.
I’m not Lakers fan either… In fact, I hate them but you don’t just win 50 games so far by sucking and being a bunch of selfish babies.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
True. Not a good matchup for us, but if you notice, I did say this:
If it isn’t the Suns who beat them then either Dallas or Denver will !
In addition, I must say that I disagree with this :
They operate the triangle offense perfectly with everyone being a decent passer (.)
LOL ! Really couldn’t disagree more here Rza. Kobe? If you think he runs the triangle I’ve got a bridge in Brookly I’d like to sell you. Yes, many of them are “decent” passers, but it is hardly a fact that they “operate the triangle offense perfectly.” Even Phil Jackson would tell you that !
I live in LA and know this team well. Just trust me when I tell you that they are not disciplined when it comes to running the triangle.
Well...
Michael played the triangle nearly his whole career as has Kobe and Kobe averages more assists per a game over his career than him and most people consider that Bulls team the perfection of the triangle offense.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Faulty logic. Kobe assist totals don't necessarily equate to "running the triangle."
Alot of those assist come on fastbreaks or in the open court. You have to watch Kobe play night after night to know what I’m talking about. Most people in Phoenix just don’t see him night after night like I do. You know, the fact that Kobe’s driving motivation is to be the greatest ever is really a joke. Kobe couldn’t carry Bill Russell’s jock strap. He’ll never be the player Russell was, or the person.
Okay, Jack...YOU WIN!
You are superior and smarter than everyone. Congratulations.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
The Lakers are 25th in fast break points and are 13th in forced turnovers and commit more turnovers then they force. I’m not getting into the greatness of Kobe or comparing his character or anything since I obviously don’t obtain nearly the amount of knowledge you have but It seems to me the Lakers run the triangle on at least 90% of set plays.
You don’t go to the championship game one year, win the championship the next year and be in the lead in the western conference the WHOLE year by accident. I’m not defending them or declaring them the best team ever but you don’t do what they did by accident. Damn right this team has swagger and act like the best team in the world because THEY ARE. The Bulls acted this way as did The Spurs not in a theatrical sense but don’t tell me Pop isn’t a smug son of a bitch.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
Oh Contrar Jack Frost
First of all, I really like your attitude Jack especially being from LA. Reading your blog was like music to my ears. You are preaching to the choir here in PLANET ORANGE!!! But as much as I enjoyed reading it, reason tells me different. The Lakers, and Kobe are the defending champs. They finally got that monkey off their back last year. They are the most talented team by far in the west. It’s true they are not necessarily playing with the best chemistry. The Suns have better chemistry right now then the Lakers. I think, though, this has more to do with the Lakers not being challenged this year and becoming complacent which is a concern if you are the Lakers. I think Dallas caught their attention though last week when they came within 2 games of the top seet. As much as I hope I’m wrong, I think the Lakers are addressing their chemistry issues right now and come play-off time they will be the team to beat.
by Gilbertsportsfan on Mar 17, 2010 1:32 AM MDT reply actions
Agree with comments about talent, but not chemistry issue solved/addressed....
Yes, Gilbert you’re right that on paper the Lakers roster is imposing. But, as I am sure you’d agree, championships are not won on paper. Just ask the 2003-4 Pistons. A team by the way, that ended up wiping the floor with the LA Lakers, who by all accounts had superior talent. The moral there is that Championships are won by TEAMS, not by collections of individuals. The Lakers won last year because Kobe was able, at least temporarily, to play within a team concept. In his defense he has learned to do this overall the last two years, and that is why he finally won the MVP two years ago. Unfortunately, Kobe, at his core, is a narcissist and a ME first kind of guy, and that nature will always return, as we are seeing this season. There have been grumblings from his teammates about his domination of the ball and selfishness (especially Gasol who came out in the press and criticized Kobe, and rightfully so…) and it has noticeably effected their level of play.
Can the Lakers turn it around come playoff time? I expect that they will. However, they are now the hunted and not the hunter, and that is a big thing. It takes great teams to win back to back Titles. Like the Lakers of 2000-2002,(note, those teams had Shaq leading the way in the middle) or the Magic Johnson teams of 87-88’… I don’t think this team is great, and , I think they will get beat by the Nuggets or the Mavericks. Only time will tell, but, I’d be willing to take bets with you guys if you give me some favorable odds. The Lakers are the favorites after all — and everyone here seems so sure there are going to win. So how about a little friendly wager?
In any case, the Lakers have accumulated their win/loss record against the crap teams in the NBA. As I showed above they have been exposed by other top notch NBA teams (Cavs, Nuggets etc.). Despite their record, they are not playing like a great team. Sorry, but that is a fact.
From Utah down to Detroit. We will lose one of those games and it won’t be the Jazz or the Portland game. Don’t forget we also blew a double digit lead to the Blazers in the 4rth. We also didn’t even show up the 1st half of the second game vrs them. This is pay-back time and I hope that the Suns will come out with that mentality and beat them. I think the lone loss will be to the Warriors or the Knicks and it only makes sense because we will be coming off of a couple tough wins against the Jazz and Blazers. We will be tired and not so focused. The Warriors or Knicks will run us to death.
From Milwaukee down to Utah. We lose two of these last 6 games. It won’t be Houstan because they no longer have Landry(who gives us problems) to make an upset happen. I think it will be Milwaukee because they aren’t a good team, but they are good enough to cause an upset. The other loss will be either to Utah or Denver.
There is my prediction. All in all we lose 3 more games in this stretch putting our final record at 53-29.
Lakers are somewhere between Good and Great
Even in Planet Orange, Jack Frost, you are going to have a hard time confincing us that the Lakers are eye ball to eye ball with everyone else. Too many times in the past I’ve been optimistic only to have my hopes dashed by either the Lakers or the Spurs. The Suns handed the Spurs their butts during the 07-08 regular season 3-4 games. But come play-off time, different story don’t even need to get into it. We all remember the humilation we felt of the Tim Duncan 3 pointer and the Amare debackle. It’s just years of frustration being a Suns fan. Your right, the Nuggets are a tough pesky team during the regular season, just as the Sonics were with George Karl. But they have not proven themselves in the play-offs. I’ve just seen too many years of Better then good Teams (won’t say great) like the Lakers that sandbag during the regular season giving hope to a team like the Nuggets and their fans (like Cavs during the Jordan years) only to put them in their place during the play-offs.
You make a good point about the Pistons winning a Championship playing as a team. It’s true they didn’t really have a major star on that team. But, here’s the thing, there was a lull in over-all talent in the NBA during the 2004 year. Terrible year for shooters. That’s why the Suns blew everyone away the next year with their high octane offense during the 04-05 regular season. No offense alone came anywhere’s close to outscoring the Suns that year. That has since changed with more and more good shooters in the league.
In most cases, to win a Championship, you need a Superstar and two other All-stars. The Lakers have it with Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum. The Spurs had it (Duncan, Parker, Ginopoli). The Bulls had it (Jordan, Pippen, Grant 1st 3 peat/Rodman 2nd 3 peat). You need three and they have to be able to play both sides of the floor which is why I don’t think the Suns will ever win it with Nash.
by Gilbertsportsfan on Mar 18, 2010 1:45 AM MDT reply actions
It should be interesting....
I definitely agree with your insights about the dominance of Superstars in the NBA. It has been said before, and I think it is true, the NBA is the one major American professional sport where you really have to have a Superstar to win it all. And there are only 5 or 6 of those in the whole League. The Pistons team I mentioned is probably the only time that rule has been violated in the last twenty-years, maybe 50 years! In any case, it shows that it can happen, even if unlikely. That is why I would never totally rule out a team like the Suns. I now consider Carmello a Superstar, and that is why I think they could topple the Lakers. Of course, the presence of All-Star Chauncey Billups is key as well — he totally changed the culture of that team. Kenyon Martin is also a key glue guy, and I think is at least as important to the Nuggets as Gasol is to LA. I like Karl as a coach as well. I like their chances…
I agree with others that the Lakers would be a bad matchup for the Suns. We lack the interior size and toughness to deal with their bigs. Does that mean we couldn’t win. No, absolutely not. We would have to play near flawless in terms of protecting the ball and we’d need to shoot real well. In short, the odds would be against (and probably the refs as well, ha…) us.
In ay
its kind of a chicken vs. egg thing with 'Melo
I personally wouldn’t call him a superstar yet. But if the Nuggets win a championship, he will “become” one for the rest of his career. Chauncey Billups might also be called a superstar in retrospect, since he would have won championships with 2 different teams.
Having said that, I don’t see the Nugs winning the whole thing. They have this tendency to let games get away from them. I look back on the series against the Lakers last year. In hindsight, the Lakers clearly won that series. Few people, if any, say the Nugs gave it away. Yet, that series was tied 2-2 and somehow the Nugs failed to show up as strong in games 5 and 6. Were there injuries? I dont recall any. I just recall the Lakers flexing muscle and the Nugs giving in.
Twitter: @dahking
Too late to change the stupid twitter name. Did it as a joke to my teenager, but now I'm hooked on the news-feed aspect of twitter.
Part II (re: Gilbersports..)
The Nuggets however, DO have the physical interior players to push the Lakers around, and they would not be intimidated. Another guy who is their Ace in the hole is J.R. Smith. I really like him. I think he’s underrated and he’s clutch! He’s the kind of guy that will hit big game winning shots in the playoffs. You talked about the difference between the regular season and the playoffs, well, I think that J.R. Smith is the kind of guy that will rise to the occassion and play big in the playoffs…Of course all this is just speculation. I think the main thing I have been trying to convey is that beating good teams like the Spurs and the Lakers is more mental that anything else. Both Popovich and Jackson understand the psychological aspects of winning in the post season. I think the Nuggets believe they can beat the Lakers. Correction, they know they can. That, more than anything, is why I think they will.
The Nuggets do feel confident in playing the Lakers. Last year after they lost they clearly said they were the better team and will show it next season. However, their bench isn’t that good. I can only think of two good players- JR Smith and Birdman. You must have a good bench in order to win a Championship.
The Nuggets and Suns need their Allstar to become a Superstar
You’re right, you need to be mentally tough to beat the best. You also need a Superstar, and two all-stars to do it. The Lakers and Spurs Superstar and two all-stars have been there and done it. They step it up to another level during the play-offs make big shots and big plays on defense. Carmello isn’t a Superstar, he has not proven that he is. Like Amare, he is an all-star with the talent and potiental of being a Superstar but has not yet become one. Over the past 4 years, both the Nuggets and the Suns have waited on these guys to step it up to that next level and become Superstars. I hope that this is the year. Am I expecting it to happen, NO! .
The Pistons were a 1 hit wonder in 2004. Sure, anything can happen, but in 04, it was just more likely to happen. Shooting is much better now then it was 04. Look at the average scores, much higher now. I believe the average score is over 100 now and was in the mid 90’s in 2004. Which is why even the Suns are now having to rely on defense because they cannot rely solely on outscoring their opponents like they could in 05-08. There are more and more great shooting point guards that play both ends of the floor and eat Nash up like Deron Williams, Brandon Roy and Chris Paul. Goran, though gives me some hope for the future with matching up defensively with these young tough shooting point guards.
Lakers do to have a bench, they have Odom, Brown and Farmar. The three of them combined average 25 points a game.
by Gilbertsportsfan on Mar 21, 2010 12:53 AM MDT reply actions
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