Phoenix Suns 2011-2012 Season Schedule, An Initial Analysis
by 7footer on Dec 6, 2011 10:18 AM MST
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No need to wait until 7pm EST to see the 2011-2012 NBA schedule for the Phoenix Suns on NBA TV tonight, we have it now! Thanks to Paul Coro and the AZ Republic, we have obtained the complete Phoenix Suns schedule before the official unveiling.
As expected, some of the NBA's biggest stars and marquee players will not be seen at US Airways Center this season; including Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Amare Stoudemire (although they will still face these players in away games). In addition, the Suns will face some unique challenges this season because of the condensed schedule. A shortened season creates less time to play the games; which means less rest for aging superstars Steve Nash and Grant Hill. What other challenges will the schedule bring for the Suns? Continue reading after the jump for the complete schedule and a breakdown of what the Suns can expect in the coming season.
- Dec. 26 ... vs. New Orleans
- Dec. 28 ... vs. Philadelphia
- Dec. 30 ... at New Orleans
- Dec. 31 ... at Oklahoma City
- Jan. 2 ... vs. Golden State
- Jan. 4 ... at Dallas
- Jan. 6 ... vs. Portland
- Jan. 8 ... vs. Milwaukee
- Jan. 10 ... at LA Lakers
- Jan. 12 ... vs. Cleveland
- Jan. 13 ... vs. New Jersey
- Jan. 15 ... at San Antonio
- Jan. 17 ... at Chicago
- Jan. 18 ... at New York
- Jan. 20 ... at Boston
- Jan. 23 ... at Dallas
- Jan. 24 ... vs. Toronto
- Jan. 27 ... at Portland
- Jan. 28 ... vs. Memphis
- Jan. 30 ... vs. Dallas
- Feb. 1 ... at New Orleans
- Feb. 3 ... at Houston
- Feb. 4 ... vs. Charlotte
- Feb. 6 ... at Atlanta
- Feb. 7 ... at Milwaukee
- Feb. 9 ... vs. Houston
- Feb. 11 ... at Sacramento
- Feb. 13 ... at Golden State
- Feb. 14 ... at Denver
- Feb. 15 ... vs. Atlanta
- Feb. 17 ... at LA Lakers
- Feb. 19 ... vs. LA Lakers
- Feb. 20 ... vs. Washington
- Feb. 22 ... vs. Golden State
- Feb. 24-26 ... All-Star Weekend in Orlando
- March 1 ... vs. Minnesota
- March 2 ... vs. LA Clippers
- March 4 ... vs. Sacramento
- March 7 ... at Oklahoma City
- March 8 ... vs. Dallas
- March 10 ... vs. Memphis
- March 12 ... vs. Minnesota
- March 14 ... vs. Utah
- March 15 ... at LA Clippers
- March 16 ... vs. Detroit
- March 18 ... vs. Houston
- March 20 ... at Miami
- March 21 ... at Orlando
- March 23 ... at Indiana
- March 25 ... at Cleveland
- March 27 ... vs. San Antonio
- March 28 ... at LA Clippers
- April 1 ... vs. New Orleans
- April 3 ... at Sacramento
- April 4 ... at Utah
- April 6 ... at Denver
- April 7 ... vs. LA Lakers
- April 9 ... at Minnesota
- April 11 ... at Memphis
- April 13 ... at Houston
- April 14 ... at San Antonio
- April 16 ... vs. Portland
- April 18 ... vs. Oklahoma City
- April 19 ... vs. LA Clippers
- April 21 ... vs. Denver
- April 24 ... at Utah
- April 25 ... vs. San Antonio
Here are a few of the biggest challenges I see the Suns facing based on this schedule. First, like every NBA season, the Suns will play some back-to-back games, but, this season it happens 17 times. Not only that, they also have two stretches where they will play three games in a row (Feb. 13,14,15 and March 14,15,16)...and in both cases the Suns will have to travel between both home and away games during these stretches. Another potential pitfall of the schedule is that the Suns will face every eastern powerhouse team (Heat, Celtics, Bulls, Magic, Knicks) in an away game...doesn't exactly seem fair.
The good news? The longest road stretch is only five games which isn't too bad, and the Suns also start and finish their season at home. Also, the three-in-a-row games are against Warriors-Nuggets-Hawks in February, and Jazz-Clippers-Pistons in March...So at least their opponents for these three game streaks are projected to be only average.
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January 20th
YES!!! The Suns still play in Boston for one game. The tradition of wearing orange once a year at the TD Garden (as my father and/or friends pretend to not know me) is still intact! I can’t wait to once again hear the ridiculous “Rondo is totally a better passer and playmaker than Nash!!!” statements!
by Bostonian Suns Fan on Dec 6, 2011 10:36 AM MST reply actions 2 recs
Youre in B-Town?
Me too! We should get together and watch a game sometime and drink a beer.
"We never tried Amar'e, Nash, and a live Grizzly bear." -Scott Howard, January 18, 2010
"All they’re fighting for is to stay as obscenely rich as they are now, based on their ability to bounce a ball and throw it in a hole." East Bay Ray, October 10, 2011
"the players and owners are squabbling over how to divide the pie that WE BAKE FOR THEM." East Bay Ray, October 31, 2011
If the Magic trade Dwight during All-Star weekend
which is held in Orlando… that could be fun
Voted most likely to say "I told you so"
by jc79 on Dec 6, 2011 10:42 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, but I think he gets traded before the season even starts...
At least that’s the rumor for both Howard and CP3. That would make a lot more sense too…The worst thing for a team is having to deal with the distractions of the inevitable loss of their superstar hanging over their heads for half of the season. I don’t think either Orlando or N.O. wants to go that route.
Did you see Ziller's article on how the CP3
trade demand is an impossible situation for David Stern?
If it were me, I would make him play out the season. That would send the right message to other NBA owners.
Voted most likely to say "I told you so"
It would be about the most disgusting display of irony in sports history
if the owners went into the lockout with the contention that they needed to institute a system that fostered parity and came out of the “agreement” with Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant playing for the Lakers.
Mission Accomplished.
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Dec 6, 2011 12:21 PM MST up reply actions
well, the lockout was resolved
when the owners decided to be content with boatloads of cash – and just dropped most of the system issues
but yeah, worst-case scenario for Stern/NBA to have to deal with coming out of that lockout
"There’s no such thing as off the charts, just get a bigger piece of paper. If you can’t figure that out you shouldn’t be charting anything" - Skep
by Duby Dub Dubs on Dec 6, 2011 2:42 PM MST up reply actions
The NBA refusing an owner that will move the Hornets
pretty much guarantees CP3 is gone. I don’t know why they are hell bent on keeping them there. The only reason they left Charlotte was because the voters turned down a free tax paid arena for the old owner. The NBA needs to let the Hornets move to Seattle and make things right.
by oLLiE Boombayay on Dec 6, 2011 2:50 PM MST up reply actions
I'm pretty sure if the Lakers acquire CP3 and Howard,
Kobe will be blasting this nonstop in his car.
I’m seriously praying that the Suns FO has some nefarious scheme in the works that will land both CP3 and Dwight Howard here. I know that not acquiring them next offseason won’t be the end of the world but with such an uncertain post-Nash future, I’d like to have some hope that we won’t have to settle for .500 seasons for the next decade.
I will love Steve Nash... forever and always.
Odom and Gasol are in their early 30's.
They’re good players, but getting old. They’re the kind of players championship teams trade for to get better not trade away. Andrew Bynum is a nice piece in a trade, but he’s not a guy you rebuild around. He’s got a bad injury history and he’s really just a role player. Overall, those aren’t the kind of guys a rebuilding team trades for.
The Lakers are dreaming if they can land both CP3 and Howard. I’ll admit that they might have a shot at Howard if Orlando is actually dumb enough to rebuild around Bynum, but they’ve made some stupid trades in the past so…dang it, the Lakers just might get Dwight Howard.
CP3 though? He’s going where ever Tyson Chandler goes. Gosh, the Clippers would be a sick team with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Tyson Chandler.
Don't trade Dudley!
looking at the schedule
i think we can at least go 500
"SIR ALEX FERGUSON" Greatest Manager of all time
Depends on how Nash's health holds up over this condensed schedule
I wonder how many games he will rest with so many back-to-backs (and a couple back-to-back-to-backs).
"The Knicks with the swiss cheese defense.
...Vince Carter likes cheese." -Walt Frazier
and who will back him up?
Channing Frye would NEVER catch flying french fries with his left hand!
From February 18 - March 18...
Only on the road TWICE (at OKC and at LAC). Should be a nice midseason rest for our guys. I don’t imagine any guys being invited to Orlando during the break…
"The Knicks with the swiss cheese defense.
...Vince Carter likes cheese." -Walt Frazier
i think
Gortat can be the reserve center for the west team at the all star game.
"SIR ALEX FERGUSON" Greatest Manager of all time
Gortat won't get that kind of recognition
Gasol brothers, Tyson Chandler, Nene, Bynum, etc. are all bigger names on more successful teams (depending on where they go in FA). Who knows, maybe Howard will be in the West by then.
Not saying he won’t deserve to go… but voters will most likely pass over him.
"The Knicks with the swiss cheese defense.
...Vince Carter likes cheese." -Walt Frazier
Exactly, the voters
That’s why reserves are named by coaches.
If he gets close to 15-10-2 (that’s a top 5 scoring, top 3 rebounding, top 10 blocking among C’s) it will be simply impossible to pass on him.
I also think it my just be a breakout year for the hammer. He just might finally become an inside threat (at least not a liability) which would make the all-star selection that much easier.
Feed the cutter!!!
by Piotr Szczesniak on Dec 6, 2011 12:30 PM MST up reply actions
Don't be so fast.
First he must convince a coach that he deserves to be a starter. Lopez didn’t sleep last months.
Seriously???
You really think Gortat just went to parties this summer?
Also it is probably Lopez who would have to convince his own mother he deserves to be a starter after last season…
Feed the cutter!!!
by Piotr Szczesniak on Dec 6, 2011 3:12 PM MST up reply actions
Whaaaaat?
Gortat wants to be great and he works very very hard. There is no way he is coming in worse than last season and out of shape. He is the starter.
I really understand you.
Have you forgotten your expectation about Lopez last year?
I also have big hopes about MG , but give him some games. We will see both players. Lopez knows that it could last chance for him.
Give who some games?
Lopez? He has started more games than Gortat has…. He is definitely not as good a rebounder or defender as Gortat and his offensive game wasn’t really more impressive, even in his best games. Lopez can earn more minutes but I really can’t see him overtaking Gortat. Hopefully he looks better than he has after the bulging disc injury. That really looked like it affected his explosiveness last season.
Agreed.
There is no way he is coming in worse than last season and out of shape.
I believe this statement should be reserved for Lopez, not Gortat. I’m not sure what Gortat needs to do to convince roby that he’s a pretty damn good center. He’s not a true star yet but he is a quality big man. He averaged a double double with us last season and that was simply scoring off P&Rs with Nash or knocking down midrange shots.
I seriously doubt Gortat spending the offseason training with the Dream has caused his game to regress. Give the guy some credit.
I will love Steve Nash... forever and always.
He does't have to convince me.
I believe that he can be a very productive player. But you know , I don’t like these words “star”, " all star player" after one quite good season. I knew a lot of cases, when media and fans created heros, but reality in the next seasons was brutal. Honestly, we don’t know anything about current form of players. We have only our hopes and expectation.
It wasn't even a good season from MG last year.
He came in after playing 5 mpg in Orlando into a completely new system revolving around mobility and speed.
He was incorporadted into offensive plays for the first time in his NBA career! So they way this kid adjusted considering his still limited offensive repertouire is stunning.
I believe something life-threatening would happen to Gortat for him to devolve into less than 12/8/1 – and that is still probably a top 10 center in the NBA nowadays.
My projection – he won’t make a huge leap offensively, but will be more efficient posting up and will break the 15/10 mark this season.
Feed the cutter!!!
by Piotr Szczesniak on Dec 7, 2011 8:59 AM MST up reply actions
That's a nice way to close the season
Finish against the Spurs at home.
Markers, scissors, crayons, pencils, folders, juice boxes, pretzel sticks, glue sticks, tape that sticks, and glitter. SO much glitter
by lixuec on Dec 6, 2011 11:25 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
I think it all hinges
On whether the Suns have a competent backup PG. Absolutely no chance Nash can survive through this brutal schedule playing big minutes each night.
Dowdell played very decent basketball last season. And we’ll also have Brooks in february, I think. Brooks, with this speed and quickness, will be very hard to contain this season that I assume all teams will play more tired.
http://phoenixsunsamazon.blogspot.com
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 6, 2011 12:13 PM MST up reply actions
I have always felt this way
And will continue to feel this way. After the deadline had passed for a full season I pretty much wanted no season only in the sense that our team is going to be killed with so many games in such a short period of time. If the team looks like a headless chicken with Nash out it is going to be a rough season.
This season will be really interesting
Considering we don’t have that much money to spend on free agency, we can assume we will end up playing with this roster for the entire season. And I don’t have a problem with that.
After Vince Carter leaves, we’ll have Dudley, Pietrus and Childress battling for the SG position. And I’m really looking forward to see what Childress can give us this year. He is a player I’ve always admired and I want to see him do well on our team. But I’m guessing he is better equiped for the SF position, right? Especially with Grant (if he stays) having to play all these back to backs.
The schedule looks fine for me. Two seasons ago, we started the season with games against the elite teams on the East and on the road and won beautifully. We just need to get our chemistry back and try to be succesfull leading with that.
One question: Is there a possibility that J Rich comes back?
http://phoenixsunsamazon.blogspot.com
Childress in not only better equiped for SF
That’s all he has played. He is a SF. he might be able to play SOME SG minutes but it would only be in a bind.
Hum...
When he was with the Hawks, didn’t he play SG?
http://phoenixsunsamazon.blogspot.com
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 6, 2011 12:11 PM MST up reply actions
Rá. ESPN is mistaken too.
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2373/josh-childress
http://phoenixsunsamazon.blogspot.com
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 6, 2011 12:22 PM MST up reply actions
Honestly, it doesn't really matter whether he's playing SG or SF.
If he’s playing next to Dudz or Peaches, it doesn’t really matter who is the SF. In that situation, we basically just have 2 wings.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
I am really excited for Chilly too
He never got a full opportunity to shine last year and he needs to develop a 3 point shot (only enough so it is respectable to spread the floor…). I see no chance in hell J Rich comes back to this team.
I must just have a strange way of looking at things...
Because I like shooting guards and small forwards who score points.
Out of 19 guys who suited up for us last season, Childress was 17th in scoring per 36 minutes.
Only Earl Barron and Gani Lawal scored less.
I'm Michael Beasley's imaginary friend.
The release of the schedule is anachronous
relative to the free agency period. This would normally be where Alex would divide the schedule into easily digestible morsels and presage how the Suns might fare in the treacherous and auspicious portions.
With the tempest of the preseason still on the horizon at this juncture, this practice seems less fruitful. I will abstain from offering my projections at this point and hope that the opportunity to engage in this diversion will still present itself before the season begins. Hate to break tradition around the holidays.
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
Right...It's really hard to offer any predictions at this moment
when there are still so many questions left unanswered. We don’t yet know who will even be on our roster when we begin the season, let alone our opponents’. I think the best way to get a feel for how our season will shape up at this point is by looking at road vs. away games and stretches of back-to-back games that could adversely affect our team…I’m sure we’ll be able to make more accurate assessments once the dust settles after the free agent and trade frenzy that is sure to occur at the end of this week.
Here's one prediction...
Eleven games into the season is a minatory five game road trip that may be revealing in terms of the gauging the team early on.
That sets up nicely to give a clear assessment of the team’s progress at approximately the quarter point of the season.
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Dec 6, 2011 12:38 PM MST up reply actions
That five game away stretch is a doozy
We will face San Antonio, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Dallas. If we somehow come out of that road trip with a winning record then you could definitely say we are better than expected. But conversely, even if we lost all five of those games would that really tell you anything about our team? Those are five brutal games that I don’t expect us to win anyway, aside from maybe the first game against San Antonio.
It's a little crazy to think how fast this is all coming up now, after the long lockout wait.
The Suns first preseason game is two weeks from today and their first regular season game is less than three weeks away.
A month from today, they’ll play their 7th game, after which they will have completed more than 1/10th of their regular season. I hope our guys are ready for all this more than our opponents will be.
Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo
I love how fast this is coming.
http://phoenixsunsamazon.blogspot.com
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 6, 2011 12:46 PM MST up reply actions
We only have two veterans.
But they’re our best players.
http://phoenixsunsamazon.blogspot.com
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 6, 2011 1:15 PM MST up reply actions
Big time diss to Sarver and Suns season ticket holders.
Why do I get the feeling that this is Stern’s way of getting back at Sarver for being a thorn in his side?
If I would have guessed one way for the NBA to slight Sarver with the reduced schedule it would have been to not give the Suns a home game vs. the biggest drawing East coast teams who now have most the star power. Chicago, Boston, Miami, Orlando, and NY.
I guess it is for travel reasons, but I find it strange and unfair that they decided to ditch the equality of playing an equal amount of games vs. the opposite conference in favor of whatever formula they used for this (TV ratings?).
I noticed that as well
It wasn’t long ago that the Suns were the ones getting lots of ESPN and TNT games…. Now? We can’t even get a home game scheduled against the top teams in the East…. I get it is a shortened season but come on NBA!
I don't expect the national TV games,
But in all this talk of “competitive balance” wouldn’t it have made more sense to trim the 16 games from the Western teams that the Suns play four times to three? I’m going to take a wild guess and say there isn’t another Western team that didn’t get a home game vs. one of those top 5 teams.
I would love to hear Sarver’s take on this. Those five games that Phoenix got slighted are easy sellouts. Miami even averaged over 100% capacity on the road!
by oLLiE Boombayay on Dec 7, 2011 4:43 PM MST up reply actions
I haven't checked
But I would believe we are the only team who got this kind of schedule. Everyone wins when the big boys come into your home arena. We get to see the stars play and see how our team stacks up against the best…
Seriously...
We can’t even get Amar’e and the Knicks back here?
"I refuse to die until the Suns win a championship."
Twitter: AlexSkinner, IMDB
by TheAlexSkinner on Dec 6, 2011 11:44 PM MST up reply actions
I just want to beat the Spurs on the January 15
Because that’s my birthday.
I rock so get used to it.
Haha that is why I was eyeing February 11th
Love when I can watch the Suns on my b-day. Too bad it is away =(
I'm getting so excited!
I’ts really almost here!
The games are all so close together, there should be no shortage of basketball fun during the rest of this season!
I think the Suns can do pretty good this season.
Not sure about us making the playoffs, but I think we can be relatively successful.
It’s a pretty good looking schedule.
NBA Blog: www.nbagirl.tumblr.com
Non-NBA Blog: www.reallycoolshenans.tumblr.com
Follow me on Twitter: @PhxSunsGirl84
"Great things come to those who work."
by Dragic_is_Magic on Dec 6, 2011 3:28 PM MST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
As long as...
those chinese or european websites have free streams of the PHX games then i will be fine. Yes i am poor and can’t afford league pass.
"Who are we kidding?..."
by Larfleeze on Dec 6, 2011 10:15 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Is it time to buy tickets????
I’m so excited let the season start!
Soo, it turns out I was right!!! Kinda disappointed now..
Is it just me
that’s not all that bothered with trades, FA, UFA and all that stuff?
All I want for Christmas is watching those livescore on yahoo that flashed “Frye with a 25 foot three point shot. Assist by Nash”, as seeing the schedule it become more likely that I don’t get Suns game on TV in this part of the world since they only show Miami, Boston and Lakers game.
The Suns can suck, they can be great, I don’t really mind either way. My enjoyment comes from seeing this guys in Suns uniform playing basketball. If we’re suck this season, there always next year, which from what I read, if we played our cards right we can improve quite well.
So roll on this season!
According to opponents winning percentages from last season
The Suns have one of the toughest schedules in the NBA. Also, March 20 – April 14 is a brutal stretch of games away from home (12 of 15) when we should be making a push into the playoffs.
Hopefully Brooks can give us a big boost when he returns, but I have a feeling he will be about as productive as he was last year filling in as a backup midway through the season. I was hoping for a training camp and full season out of him to gel with our team.
"The Knicks with the swiss cheese defense.
...Vince Carter likes cheese." -Walt Frazier
Injuries
are going to be greatly magnified this season. And it will definitely tell with the teams with the older stars. Steve and Grant seem to defy time but not this season I’m afraid.
It is up to Gentry and the whole medical staff
They need to watch minutes and make sure they maximize the use they get out of the role players because Nash (and hopefully Hill) need to make sure they are fresh and healthy.
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