Sun prediction thread. Suns W-L record and WC position.

[Sundamental]

OK, the pre-season starts in less than three days. There are some free agent signings still pending but with the signing of Nene tonight I think the western conference picture is becoming clear enough to start making predictions. I've heard a lot of optimism here about the direction the FO is leading the team so I would assume all the regular posters would offer up their thoughts. I think it would be helpful to have a somewhat standardized format. I think the following format would be helpful.


Suns W-L record:


Suns Western Conference position:


Western conference teams making the playoffs:



Additionally, I think it would be great for conversation to add any thoughts you may have explaining why you believe as you do.

I'll post my predictions later but I'll offer up one thought. The signing of Nene tonight means the Suns will not make the playoffs.

So, let's hear it.

[sunsfever68]

Ok so I'm going to make the assumption that the Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, Thunder, and Grizzlies make the playoffs this year.


That leaves the following teams competing for the final 3 spots:

Denver
Houston
Portland
Utah
Phoenix
LA Clippers
Timberwolves (if they gel, Rubio is good etc)


I don't think New Orleans will do that well after losing David West and with the Chris Paul saga continuing. I don't see them making it

Denver, Portland, and Phoenix make the playoffs. Clippers barely miss. Ditto twolves.

Suns finish 7th or 8th with 35 wins and 31 losses.

[nevetsov]

Suns W-L record: 37-29

Suns Western Conference position: 5


Western conference teams making the playoffs:

1 OKC
2 DAL
3 MEM
4 LAC
5 PHX
6 LAL
7 POR
8 SAS

Out:
HOU
DEN
SAC
GSW
UTA
MIN
NOH

[RunSunRun]

Suns W-L record: 34-32

Suns Western Conference position: 8


Western conference teams making the playoffs:

1. Mavs
2. Spurs
3. Thunder
4. Clippers
5. Grizzlies
6. Lakers
7. Nuggets
8. Suns

Out:
9. Blazers
10. Rockets
11. Jazz
12. Kings
13. Hornets
14. Warriors
15. T-Wolves


REVISION 1 : CP3 Trade - Trailblazers out

[TASTIC]

Suns 38-28, 8th seed

1 Thunder
2 Lakers
3 Mavericks
4 Grizzlies
5 Spurs
6 Trail Blazers
7 Clippers
8 Suns

I think HOU drops a bit, don't think they have 'enough'...whatever that is, same with Warriors. Billups will direct LAC very nicely and Mo should thrive as their Terry-lite off the bench

Of course all this changes if Howard/Paul end up on different teams

I think Nuggets for all their talent are also missing out - just not enough defence and inside scoring unless they get a power forward who's name isn't Al Harrington. Carl Landry would be perfect for them for example...or Troy Murphy

[BurningHeart]

Too early to make this thread cosidering some major **** can happen still.

But, I guess...

1. Oklahoma City
2. Dallas
3. Los Angeles
4. San Antonio
5. Phoenix (39 - 27)
6. Memphis
7. Los Angeles
8. Portland


OKC is young, fresh and been together for a while. Dallas is super deep, the Lakers end up strong no matter what happens, San Antonio is a zombie machine, Phoenix is super overlooked considering our system and leaders. Gonna be tough for people to keep up with us in an abridged season but health has to be on our side. The Grizzlies have to prove to me that they can repeat. The Clips have had a very good offseason and if they get Paul that could help them further. Portland is good but really tough to go on without Brandon Roy, even if he didn't contribute too much the last year or two.

Maybe I'm forgetting a couple teams. Not crazy about Houston, the Kings might push for a spot, Utah is worthless, the Wolves are young but don't think so..

[mikefly3113]

1. Thunder 51-15
2. Mavs 46-20
3. Lakers 45-21
4. Griz 42-21
5. Spurs 40-26
6. Clips 39-27
7. Blazers 36-30
8. Suns 34-32

IMO we have a deep enough squad to make the playoffs. Not playing the marquee talent in the east will help us in wins. We'll battle the nuggets, rockets, and warriors for that last spot.

[Qwigglez]

Suns finish 6th.
Thunder, Mavs, Lakers, Grizzlies, Spurs, Suns, Blazers, Clippers

Though I could see the Suns taking the 8th seed or 7th seed.

[MarJJMar]

lots of kool-aid drinkers I see

Suns record 22W 44L

Teams ahead of the Suns:

OKC, Dallas, LAL, LAC, Spurs, Grizzlies, Jazz, Rockets, Blazers, Denver, Golden State

Suns will be at the bottom with New Orleans and Minnesota.

Not to mention the Suns are a Steve Nash harmstring injury away of going 0-20 in a month.

[DRK]

^

[Pofukauskas]

Suns record 27W 39L

Mavs
Thunder
Memphis
Lakers
Spurs
Portland
Clippers
Nuggets

Assuming rosters stay as they are now...

[nevetsov]

Suns 38-28, 8th seed

Wow Mace, you think 10 games over .500 will only land an 8th seed?

In a full 82 game season that would generally net a 6-8 in a top-and-bottom heavy western conference, however in a shortened season with more middling teams I can see a +10 team landing at least a 6 seed.

[grumpysaddle]

For those that think the Suns will be 10+ games under .500... Why do you think that, considering the team hasn't changed much from last year, minus shedding VC (which can only be a positive thing)? This team has more time together than a good amount of teams this season... Also, a Nash-led team will NOT be 12 games under .500.

In my opinion, losing Carter is addition by subtraction.

[grumpysaddle]

Oh, wait... I forgot, the Suns don't have a guy with "that swagger".

[irish22022]

We are going to lose 90% of games that are decided by less then 7 points because we have no go to guy at all.
100% of games Nash doesn't play (6-8).

We will be the tenth seed at maybe 26-40. I can't imagine how people think we will be a 6th seed without a power forward for christ sake. This is one of the most poorly assembled teams I've seen from PHX in a very long time. Last year we were scrambling after losing Amar'e, so there's an excuse. Now we're just straight up not even trying. People on here are excited about Brown and Telfair and Price? Seriously? Our best signing of the summer was the 6.5 mill on the 39 year old?

Dallas
OKC
LAL
Spurs
Memphis
Clips
Nuggets
Portland

[rsavaj]

I don't know what our record will be but I think we'll eek in as an 8th seed, if we make the playoffs at all. I just don't think Nash will remain uninjured as the schedule gets tough, and we have a BRUTAL schedule

Dallas
OKC
Memphis
San An
LAL
LAC
Portland
Phoenix

[GrantHill]

If we'll make the playoffs, I hope we'll face San Antonio, Dallas or Lakers. Relive the old rivary one last time and our chances to win would be much higher. Better not face OKC or MEM.

[rsavaj]

If we'll make the playoffs, I hope we'll face San Antonio, Dallas or Lakers. Relive the old rivary one last time and our chances to win would be much higher. Better not face OKC or MEM.

The unfortunate thing is that as far as Dallas goes, Nash is the only one left from our "rivalry" days. Still...he'll probably turn it up a notch like he always does when he sees Cuban on the sidelines.

[TASTIC]

Suns 38-28, 8th seed

Wow Mace, you think 10 games over .500 will only land an 8th seed?

In a full 82 game season that would generally net a 6-8 in a top-and-bottom heavy western conference, however in a shortened season with more middling teams I can see a +10 team landing at least a 6 seed.

I think there's going to be some really high numbers for the top tier teams and some absolute stinkers at the bottom...I mean 36-30 could be what we end up with...Either way I think we end up no better than 7th or 8th seed

[MarJJMar]

Nash is a year older
Hill is a year older

We lost Carter and replaced him with Brown. No matter how you want to bash Carter that is not an improvement.

We lost Brooks and replaced him with Telfair. That is not an improvement.

We added Morris a rookie.

We were terrible on back to back games, this season we have to play much more back to backs and even back to back to backs.

Other teams below us last year can count on much more internal improvement. Teams such as Sacramento and LAC for example.

Why on earth would anyone think this team could make such a big turnaround from last year when nothing has changed improved since, on the contrary we got worse. The only thing we have going for us is that we kept our core together but that can be said of almost any team so far except Dallas.