RealGM

1st or 2nd?

Ugh....not a fan of threads like this...If you're going to start a new one, put some more substance in it rather than 8 letters - doesn't really warrant a new thread...

Anyway, 2nd I think...All depends on the 2 big guys Shaq and Bynum

Agreed. The Lakers will be tough again this year, especially with a full year of Gasol, but I'm content with 2nd place and a playoff spot. All we need is a foot in that door that leads to the playoffs, whether its the 1 seed, 8 seed, or somewhere in between.

i gotta say 2nd. the lakers didnt loose anyone of signifigance. bynum will be back, but there are no guarantees with him. they are well coached, and play there bench and they have kobe. of course kobe may miss a stretch depending on the severity of his finger injury and how it heals after. noone else on the lakers is scary. even gasol.

2nd. Lakers have an easy starting schedule, the same roster, the same coach, etc.

We have a brand new coach, a brand new system, a bunch of old guys who really shouldn't be relied on to stay healthy, and a crap starting schedule.

All you guys are wrong, Suns will finish first in the pacific. Last season, Lakers were 57-25, and the Suns finished 55-27. 3 games away. The Suns needed time to adjust the trade and we struggled at first. We seen a 7 game winning streak when our mojo really started to kick in, and I believe with a new season and a whole year with a full team for once, we can really shock people in maybe be a top 3 team in the league. I really don't even believe the Lakers have a better team than us.
I really think Amare will beast this year, and help us come over the top. Let's go suns!

Thats what I like to hear!!!

our first three games are going to be tought, but I can see us struggling coming out of the gates only to overtake the pacific division. I'm not saying that it's going to he an easy task, but something tells me that Shaq is going to be motivated and will do everything in his power to beat Kobe and the Lakers.

It also depends how Matt Barnes fits in at the beggining, how Goran Dragic develops during the season, how much Barbosa and Amare have improve defensively and how the team adapts to Terry Porters phylosiphy. All in all, I like the makeup of this team, I really see a team who is going to improve defensively, with out losing their offensive abilities.

I don't think the Lakers will be as good with Bynum and Gasol on the court at the same time. I think the Lakers are better with Gasol at the 5 and Odom at the 4 because it creates match-up problems for other teams.

Bynum and Gasol and Odom won't work and in my opinion, Gasol > Bynum.

At least the Suns match-up better with Bynum on the floor. I'd much prefer:

PG - Nash / Fisher
SG - Bell / Bryant
SF - Hill / Odom
PF - Stoudemire / Gasol
C - O'Neal / Bynum

Than:

PG - Nash / Fisher
SG - Bell / Bryant
SF - Hill / Radmonabitch or Vujabitch
PF - Stoudemire / Odom
C - O'Neal / Gasol

Speaking of the O'Neal / Bynum match-up....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTadruu6ox8

Jdiddy701 wrote:All you guys are wrong, Suns will finish first in the pacific. Last season, Lakers were 57-25, and the Suns finished 55-27. 3 games away.

You're forgetting that they didn't have Gasol for the entire season.

[quote="Sun Scorched"
Bynum and Gasol and Odom won't work and in my opinion, Gasol > Bynum.

--- You know, I'm just not sold on Gasol. he's a good big but he ain't anywhere near great, and he's not a guy who ups his game when called on, not that I've seen.

Do we know when this video was taken?? I really hope that this video was taken this offseason.. Shaq looks slimmer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsmES7JJjwo&NR=1

ray ray wrote:Do we know when this video was taken?? I really hope that this video was taken this offseason.. Shaq looks slimmer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsmES7JJjwo&NR=1

The video you linked to was added in February of this year, so it can't be from the offseason.

Suns247 wrote:

ray ray wrote:Do we know when this video was taken?? I really hope that this video was taken this offseason.. Shaq looks slimmer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsmES7JJjwo&NR=1

The video you linked to was added in February of this year, so it can't be from the offseason.

Sorry about that, I should of known better. I did not see the date. To bad, I really hope that Shaq is in shape for this upcoming season..

Funny watching the Shaq Vs Bynum video again. I think it would be nice for Shaq to grow that little 'stache again, makes him look meaner.

oooft almost forgot to comment on the main topic.

I think we'll be 2nd in the specific. While talent-wise we are better than the Lakers, they have the youth that will help them get through a tough season in the west. Our vets just don't have what it takes to play 82 games anymore, except maybe Nash, but he'll be worn out by the time playoff starts. Not sold on Bynum either, but what I'm scared of is if the Lakers get the Spanish National Team Gasol instead of Memphis Grizzly Gasol.

Other than Lakers I don't see any real threats from GSW or LAC. GSW seemed to have lost more than they have gained (B.Diddy vs Maggette) and while LAC seem to have a fairly talented team on paper, I don't think it's good enough to make a run at the top of division let alone playoffs.

LAC is definately the wildcard and probably the largest variable in the league. They just gutted their roster.

I agree with you ray ray, I hope Shaq is in shape for the season, too. That is definitely a big issue for this team: seeing how well Shaq plays after an entire offseason to get in shape for his new team.

hard to say it all depends on how our starters hold up for health if we loose any of them for long periods we won't even be second

In the Pacific...2nd.

As for the Western Conference I am betting on 5th or 6th. Utah, NO, Houston, LAL will finish ahead. SA, PHX, Dallas & Portland will round out the top 8. It'll be like last year, with Portland replacing Denver.