RealGM

I think if Suns were to overachieve, they would end up taking the 5th play-off spot under Lakers, Spurs, Mavs and Utah. Do you think it is possible? At all?

What is the more realistic outcome in your opinion?

Not very high on this season, I'd like to see the Suns not make any trades though and keep the same guys for next season. But I'm looking forward to seeing who the Suns pick up during the off-season (Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph).

But to answer your question for this season, I'd say they can wear out anyone they take on in the first round, but not get into the second round.

If someone can step up and hold down the PF position well,(Hedo, Warrrick Clark, I'm looking at you) I believe we can be at least 6th seed in the playoffs. The team has performed very well despite a nightmare schedule.

As presently constituted, and if they gel, I think with luck we can still finish ahead of OKC. But Dallas - they look really good right now - still early days but they've got some good bogs now in Chandler and Haywood and marion is playing great. I don't see us catching them.

Lakers
San Antonio
Dallas
Utah
Denver
PHX/OKC
New Orleans


My guess, anyway

If everything goes right for the suns, we can top NOH, OKC and Portland. These are teams with glaring holes and a star player.

That is of course, if we reach the ceiling...as in we could not play ANY better with the current players in the lineup.

If we stay pat and find a good balance between high octane, efficient offense and passable defense (like last season) and get stops to close out the games (like last season) then I think we can possiblly push for 6th seed, maybe 5th seed depending on other teams.

If we make a move (e.g Hedo+filler for JT+Dally) to get us a PF with some inside presence who can rebound while clearing most of the log jam at the 3, then I think we could even push for a 4th or 3rd seed. This is also assuming we run the efficient offense and passable defense we ran last season.

As it is, if we don't find that balance and we keep up the high octane offense with last-in-the-NBA defense, we're looking at 8th spot at best.

Our ceiling could be a title. That is if we can pull a deal off and acquire a quality big. Think Lakers rip off trade a few years ago. We need one of those.

ginobiliflops wrote:Our ceiling could be a title. That is if we can pull a deal off and acquire a quality big. Think Lakers rip off trade a few years ago. We need one of those.

You know that only happens to the Fakers...

Reverse_Angle wrote:

ginobiliflops wrote:Our ceiling could be a title. That is if we can pull a deal off and acquire a quality big. Think Lakers rip off trade a few years ago. We need one of those.

You know that only happens to the Fakers...

And we would still be Kobe short of the title.

Without any major changes, this team has similar potential to last year's--an outside shot to make the WCF or even the Finals. Probably not higher than 5th in the regular season, with a low-but-not-unreasonable chance to advance each round depending on matchups.

If, however...
1) We make a trade for an elite defensive big
2) Fropez comes back to 100%
3) Gentry makes some significant lineup adjustments that mesh

We could become legit contenders.

Championship is our ceiling if we use the right lineup and everyone stays healthy. We also have to get hot in the playoffs like last year. I believe this team can be better than last year.

As long as Nash is at the help I believe anything can happen. Although we could use some help in our front court to make us truly legit contenders. Hedo so far has not been the answer and I think management should explore the options on what we could get back for him.

As long as management doesn't do anything (Please Use More Appropriate Word) like trading Nash/Hill for Jameer Nelson and scrubs, we will be able to make some noise in the playoffs.

the ceiling is probably the roof of US Airways center

Championship. Why play ball if that's not your goal?

Hope the ceiling is low so we have a shot at Harrison Barnes. Land him and with Frye, Nash, Duds, JChill, Warrick and JRich a championship becomes real.

It depends how far Earl Clark will take us.

Need a legit BIG man who can score... Suns have the perfect amount of shooters already.. but it cost them an inside BIG that is needed...

C: Frye - Shooter
PF: Inside Scorer/Finisher
SF: Turk - Shooter
SG: Richardson - Shooter
PG: Nash - Shooter

Then the bench with their defense and energy and hustle
C: Lopez
PF: Warrick
SF: Hill/Childress
SG: Dudley
PG: Dragic

Thats an incredible shooting bonanza team... if Suns managed to get Turk, Childress without losing Stoudemire... championship isnt far off... because the amount of shooters just make it so open inside..

I think Suns had or HAVE a plan to trade for a big... signing BOTH Childress and Turk, while Hill, Dudley and J.Rich is still there is a bit too much......

I'm thinkin Elton Brand and a pick by Deadline.... as a bandaid for the Nash-Suns era

thamadkant wrote:I think Suns had or HAVE a plan to trade for a big... signing BOTH Childress and Turk, while Hill, Dudley and J.Rich is still there is a bit too much......

I'm thinkin Elton Brand and a pick by Deadline.... as a bandaid for the Nash-Suns era

I think the Suns signed Turk/Childress/Dudley to the deals that they did because the FO was banking on Hill retiring after this season.

Kerrsed wrote:

thamadkant wrote:I think Suns had or HAVE a plan to trade for a big... signing BOTH Childress and Turk, while Hill, Dudley and J.Rich is still there is a bit too much......

I'm thinkin Elton Brand and a pick by Deadline.... as a bandaid for the Nash-Suns era

I think the Suns signed Turk/Childress/Dudley to the deals that they did because the FO was banking on Hill retiring after this season.

This. But it appears Hill have no intentions of doing so. This might get REALLY complicated towards the end of the season.

I'd like to believe the Suns have some master plan to get a starting quality PF but that doesn't seem likely. They seem to have been winging it ever since the offseason.