Who do you want to win?

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 7, 2007 8:58 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns News

I'm watching the Utah/Golden St. game tonight and find myself rooting really hard for the Jazz. It made me wonder: is it because most of my family is in Utah and so I want them to be happy? Or is it because I would rather the Suns face the Jazz after they win the next four games against the Spurs?

I think it's a little bit of both. While I think the Suns can beat either Utah or Golden State, I do think it will be much easier against the Jazz because of they way they play. If the Warriors got through to the next round, I think the Suns would be the "underdog" in terms of how many people would be rooting for them versus rooting for the Suns.

What are your thoughts? Who do you find yourself rooting for in the other Western Conference series? Why?

I'll have more on the Suns tomorrow.

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watching also

24 utah, 15 G.S

I definitely want Utah to win. First, I don't like the Mavs, and this would be very funny to see G.S. go down in 4.

26-24 (wow they catch up fast, dangerous team)

I also think the Suns would have a better chance against Utah. It looks like G.S. is still shooting great. I really am liking watching Boozer down there, he's a maniac! I think this series should be a lot of fun to watch with Boozer in there.

by jasonsuns1 on May 7, 2007 9:06 PM MDT reply actions

Next round?

Please I cannot believe you are already looking to the next round. The Suns will not be there! The Spurs can sweep either team so it's no biggie. I think we will probly play against Detriot in the finals if you really want to know.

by spursROCK on May 8, 2007 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions

hey spurs fan

I'm a suns fan, and the last time I checked there were 4 playoff series going on, are you saying I shouldn't be looking at any other series. Your basically telling me what to think. Well, your a loser for posting on this. I go to pounding the rock, but it's a spurs blog so I don't get a login and post, i just read. You are just trying to stir up a fight. I will not respond to you again, it's a waste of time.

The people on this blog are making points about the game, your just trying to start a fight. Your a classless individual.

by jasonsuns1 on May 8, 2007 1:35 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm getting more concerned about Detroit

Detroit is basically getting a bye through the first two rounds so far. They're already half way to their second sweep. I don't think they're a better team than either the Spurs or Suns, but I'm not so sure they won't end up winning it all anyway by nature of having a sweet easy walk through the Sweepstern conference. They OWNED Chicago tonight.

by TexSUN on May 7, 2007 9:07 PM MDT reply actions

on bulls

And I really thought the Bulls would make it a series, but after the first 2 blowouts, I just can't see Detroit not winning 4-1 or 4-0. I think Cleveland or the Nets won't do any better.

by jasonsuns1 on May 7, 2007 9:58 PM MDT up reply actions

No kidding

I am very surprised at how the Bulls rolled over. I think Detroit is a better team but the Bulls are good too. Has to be the youth, inexperience thing coming through.

Detroit btw is looking very strong. They play well together, are athletic and versitile and are very deep off the bench w. Murray, Hunter, McDysse, and Maxil.

It is really sad how much better the teams are in the West though then the rest of the them.

by Seth Pollack on May 8, 2007 8:35 AM MDT up reply actions

And as for GS vs Utah

I don't really care, to be honest. I'm not really a fan of either team, and since Utah beat us three times and GS beat us once, I'm not sure which would be easier for the Suns. The only matchup I care about right now is Suns vs. Spurs. :)

by TexSUN on May 7, 2007 9:10 PM MDT reply actions

Go Warriors!

Looks like I am the only Suns fan rooting for the Golden state Warriors. I was so disappointed that they lost in the last one minute. They were leading with just over 3 minutes left, but they did not make the key shots and the Jazz did. I have a dislike for the Jazz. The only team I dislike more is the Dallas Mavericks, and I am even sympathetic to the Mavs right now. So Utah must be my most hated team right now, at least in the western conference.

In the eastern conference Detroit bores me to tears. If they make it to the NBA finals- and from all indications they will- this could end up being the most boring NBA final in years. Whether they play the Jazz or Spurs will not matter, although I will root for the Spurs and not for those collapsing at the end of the season Jazz.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 7, 2007 11:37 PM MDT up reply actions

Jazz and Warriors and Detroit

The only team still in the playoffs that I truly despise is Detroit. I'm not really a fan of either the Jazz or Warriors, but don't really hate either of them. If the Suns don't beat San Antonio, then I'll be cheering for SA to go all the way--they are my second favorite team (way) behind the Suns. I don't have an opinion about Chicago one way or the other, although I'm presently mad at them for getting absolutely killed twice by Detroit. Would love for either the Cavaliers or Nets to come out of the East--how cool would seven replays of that Nash-Kidd classic be? :) Of course, there's no chance that will happen--the Nets/Cavs winner will just get swept by Detroit anyway. Do ya'll realize Detroit could very well end up sweeping its way through the entire conference? I'm actually starting to lean toward them as favorites to win it all, just because they're not going to be nearly as beaten up as the Western Conference surviver will be. Ugh. I hate the east. :(

by TexSUN on May 7, 2007 11:48 PM MDT up reply actions

Sympathy from unexpected places

This was on the Dallas Morning News blog site.

Paranoia during the aftermath of Magic Johnson's AIDS announcement might just have cost the Suns a title.

Steve Nash's nose was gushing blood, but he was willing and able to play with Game 1 against the Spurs on the line. But Nash had to sit on the bench, getting toxic chemicals slapped on his face in a futile effort to stop the bleeding.

The Spurs pulled out the win, taking the lead in a series that will determine the favorite to win it all. Maybe the Suns don't pull out a win with Nash on the floor, but it sure would have been nice to see.

It's past time for the NBA to get rid of the ridiculous rule about blood. The NFL trenches are bloodier than most emergency rooms, and there hasn't been an AIDS outbreak. It's a joke that the paranoia of guys like Karl Malone years ago is still affecting playoff games.

by TexSUN on May 7, 2007 11:05 PM MDT reply actions

And no...

I'm not still gloating. I was checking to see if they had made an official announcement about the MVP yet. They haven't, although AZCentral said a couple of days ago that with the poll they did of 70% of voters, Dirk Nowitzki, won by a comfortable margin, with Steve Nash finishing a solid second (and both players being in the top three of all the ballots they polled).

by TexSUN on May 7, 2007 11:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Followup to my previous post

Here's some more info on that MVP poll AZCentral conducted. A brief excerpt:

Of the 96 confirmed voters (there are 132 total), Nowitzki garnered 57 first-place votes to Nash's 37.

Here are some interesting tidbits about the voting:

Repeatedly in the past week, voters said they regretted their Nowitzki pick after seeing how he was playing in the first round of the playoffs.
Nowitzki dominated the Eastern markets' media members and the national media members at nearly a two-to-one rate. The Western markets' media members, the ones who see both players the most, nearly had a dead heat among those surveyed.
Amare Stoudemire is going to get at least one fifth-place vote and, man, do I wish I could tell you where it came from but these votes were confidentially shared for the most part.

by TexSUN on May 7, 2007 11:50 PM MDT up reply actions

Spurs Fan

I really think Dirk did not deserve the MVP this year. Hasn't anyone looked at the stats that Dirk put up in the first half and second half of the season? He had a bad drop off after the allstar break. But it is so hard for someone like Nash to get the award three years in a roll if he hasn't even won a ring. I mean how much of an MVP is he if he can't get his city, his team, his fans and himself a ring. I say it should go to someone who really is valuable to their team and who would make or break a season depending on their play. Chauncy or Timmy should get the award.

by spursROCK on May 8, 2007 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions

ITA

That rule is totally ridiculous. If the concern was for the well being of the athlete that is bleeding, I may be more tolerant toward it, but fear of AIDS? Yikes!!! Is the NBA still in the previous century?

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 7, 2007 11:38 PM MDT up reply actions

Dallas Morning News Blog

... great post. I've posted quite a few links to that blog and I've found that it really is a very entertaining and fairly unbiased blog, considering it's a Mavs blog.

Just recently, the "main blogger" over there, Tim, mentioned that he's not even a Mavs fan and he doesn't care who wins the games!... maybe that's why I've gotten so much entertainment out of his unsympathetic and fairly sarcastic posts.

by Trvs on May 8, 2007 2:05 AM MDT up reply actions

Unfortunately...

... I have the agony of living here in Utah where Jazz pride is at an all time high (I'm a recent transplant from San Diego). Personally, I've hated the Jazz going back to the early Mark Eaton, Karl Malone, Stockton era and I'm still annoyed every time I see that Jeff Hornacek jersey retired up in the rafters here. He was on the Suns team that really made me a lifelong Suns fan. In general, I just get bored easily with Jerry Sloan basketball, although I was very surprised by the high score in this first game.

But I have to say that the Jazz's Deron Williams is the Man. He's mentioned many times that his basketball idol is Jason Kidd and he purposefully copies his game. If you watch Deron he really has taken much of Kidd's game from the way the guy dribbles to his basic moves. Being only his second year in the NBA, I think he's doing incredible... ahead of Kidd in assists, right behind Nash and having taken the Jazz back to the playoffs... (he dropped 31 points and ran all night with the Warriors). But that's about all I have to say about the Jazz. I don't see Williams sticking around in this small market, overlooked area much longer anyways. He really wanted that last all-star spot and was very pissed that it went to the big spot shooter, Okur. He should get some very big offers from all around the league very soon.

I love Don Nelson basketball and I don't care if it's Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullen or the new thuggish ruggish version. I think Matt Barnes is the Man over there. I wish Marion was more like that guy.... he's all over the court on defense and offense and he seems to be one tough bastard.

I'm pulling for the Warriors and hoping we are all privileged to witness the highest scoring Western Conference Finals in history if the Suns and them meet up.

by Trvs on May 8, 2007 1:24 AM MDT reply actions

Matt Barnes

He is playing with a lot of injuries and giving his all. I think many players should emulate him.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 8, 2007 8:31 AM MDT reply actions

GSW VS UTAH

Wow! What a game. Golden State and Utah have actually provided the most excitement thus far in the second round of the playoffs, and to think that Golden State was a last minute entry. I'm actually hoping GSW will advance because of the way they have been playing, they are my underdogs this playoff season. As for the Suns, they will win tonite but the next two games at San Antonio will prove just how much they want the NBA title. Steve Nash's broken nose had nothing to do with their loss Sunday. If Barbosa hadn't committed a foul, the Suns would have been able to take it into OT. That is when the whole team should realize that they can't depend on one player to assume the role of playmaker, they all have to take that role on themselves because San Antonio is not a team that will let them get an easy win and Sunday's game proved it. The scary thing about SA is, they feel like they already have the series won and it shows in their interviews, that is what gets me a little worried because they are like sharks, calculating, methodical, and emotionless; whereas, the Suns are like the little fish trying to stay away from their mouths so they won't get eaten. From here on out it is all up to the Suns to take charge of their destiny, whether they want the title, or just call it another winning season with a trip to the semi-finals with nothing to show for it. I still say the Suns in 6, but from here on the ball is in their court and now is the time to step up and show their fans that they are for real..... "GO SUNS....!!!!"

by lalbert on May 8, 2007 8:39 AM MDT reply actions

Great game!

What a fun game to watch. Once again its like the West is playing in the majors while the East are filled w/ minor league teams...

I am going for Utah b/c:

I lived in Salt Lake for two years that happened to be the two years the Jazz went to the finals and got killed by Jordan. I guess I still have a soft spot
I think they would be a tougher match up for the Suns then GSW so that's not why
I agree that Sloan ball can be boring at times, but he has showed that he is willing to speed up the game if needed (watch his post game comments on his team playing better)
As I said elsewhere, I don't think GSW has a chance

I was very impressed that the Jazz won this type of game. Surprised even but I didn't see them play too much this year. GSW did a GREAT job denying the entry pass to Boozer on the post. He still played great on the boards. We know as Suns fans from last year that smaller teams HAVE to front the post against guys like Boozer and we saw what happens once team figure that out. Look for Sloan to come up w/ ways to punish their fronts.

Okur is a stiff! I really noticed this guy more in this game. He rebounded very soft and several times instead of grabbing a ball in the air like Amare he would tip it down near him and relax while a Warrior would come in and take it away. At least 3 times. He also doesn't have good hands at all. What's the point of being 7ft and big if all you are going to do is take open 3's? This guy needs to get a down low game and punish who ever is guarding him.

AK47 is a classic Euro. Got some talent but you never know if he will start crying if his spiked and gelled hair gets messed up.

D-Will was awesome and I agree will be a great point guard in no time.

by Seth Pollack on May 8, 2007 8:59 AM MDT reply actions

stop being silly

"Or is it because I would rather the Suns face the Jazz after they win the next four games against the Spurs?"

Dude, you're retarded. Even if they win the series, which is entirely possible, they're not going to sweep. They're 4-12 against the spurs in the Nash era. Please stop saying dumb things.
I like your blog otherwise.

by 21Duncan on May 8, 2007 12:27 PM MDT reply actions

i wonder what team you're for..

Hey, 21Duncan, your a very classy person to call someone retarded. I'm sure this attitude is working out well for you in the world. We're Suns fans, we can always hope. I have respect for the Spurs, I'm very aware that we may lose this series, but I'm a Suns fan and want the Suns to win. Let's deal with some facts for a change instead of name calling. The 4-12 record sure works out well for you including the year Amare was out. Let's try to stick with this year, something about 2007 nba playoffs... you figure it out. The Suns were 1-2 against the Spurs this year and a made freethrow away from being 2-1.
I will not waste my time on you again.

Let's see 21Duncan, SpursRock, building a nice little list.

by jasonsuns1 on May 8, 2007 1:48 PM MDT up reply actions