Are we a playoff team...

TXSun · Post #1 » by **TXSun** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:56 pm

with this line up?
Nash/Dragic
JRich/Barbosa/Tucker
GHill/Dudley/Pavlovic
Amar'e/Amundson/Taylor
RoLo/Frye/Clark

KEY POINTS: 1st of all we need Amar'e heathy. We need drastic improvement from RoLo and Dragic. We need a comeback-of-the-year type of season from Frye. We need a MIP season from Dudley. We need LB to be the 6th man again. We need a pleasant surprise from our lottery pick.

Is this too much to ask for? I hate to say it but I see us no better than a 7th seed at best, and/or possibly not making the playoffs again. JUST BEING REALISTIC.

MaryvalesFinest · Post #2 » by **MaryvalesFinest** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:00 pm

If Amare comes back healthy I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns were a top 4 seed. Without a healthy Amare though the Suns would likely still make the playoffs but as a 6-8 seed.

azballer53 · Post #3 » by **azballer53** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:07 pm

frye cannot play center they will score relentlessly againsst him amare will play center

Post #4 » by **KJ7** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:10 pm

With that roster we are borderline. But I'm expecting someone a lot better then Taylor to be with us come the start of the season (not sure whether they will be starter material tho).

I actually think we'll start Frye to begin the season and then transition Clark into the starting line-up at some point just to see how he goes.

justinb80 · Post #5 » by **justinb80** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:12 pm

I think we won't have much of a problem making the playoffs, but I sincerely doubt we'll make much noise once there. I'd anticipate we're a 7th or 8th seed.

alldayeveryday · Post #6 » by **alldayeveryday** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:12 pm

http://blogs.suns.com/2009/07/3632/

ruiner · Post #7 » by **ruiner** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:16 pm

At the fast pace and key players all stay healthy, we're a 4-8 seed IMO. But we're looking at a 1st/2nd rd exit.

DirtyDez · Post #8 » by **DirtyDez** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:21 pm

1. SAS
2. LAL (w/ Odom)
3. DAL
4. POR
5. DEN
6. PHX/NO
7. NO/PHX
8. UTAH
- HOU
- LAC
- OKC...... If we could pick up a Camby or Noah then maybe a 4th or 5th seed

SideSwipe · Post #9 » by **SideSwipe** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:34 pm

Without Amare healthy there will be no playoffs for us this year. With Amare healthy and the roster as it stands, I think we are likely going to hit th 6 or 7 like Dez has above. I do think however that POR may not have all of its pieces together like they were supposed to, and Roy may not have the fire in him after not being considered for his max contract this summer. I am also not sure if Denver will be able to sustain what they had last year. Those will be the variables. SAS will continue to give us absolute fits. LAL and DAL will also. Those teams may sweep us. All of the other teams we should be able to play fairly well with.

ruiner · Post #10 » by **ruiner** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:56 am

Meh. People are overrating Dallas' moves. They're still not a contender, nor do I see them that much better than us, if at all.

Post #11 » by **rsavaj** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:49 am

I think Dallas is a top 3 team as well.

chrice · Post #12 » by **chrice** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:03 am

rsavaj wrote:I think Dallas is a top 3 team as well.

Easily. Kidd/Howard/Matrix/Dirk/Dampier is a hell of a starting 5. Their bench is solid too.

TXSun · Post #13 » by **TXSun** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:15 am

said before will say it again.. DAL is a top 3 team.

ruiner · Post #14 » by **ruiner** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:17 am

Maybe 3 yrs ago, yeah. Guess, everyone's getting carried away with the names.

Denver, SA, Portland, LA are better (no order). Then teams like us and even NO all healthy arguably at their level or better. All but Dirk is past their primes. Marion was not that big of acquisition as much you loved him. He was one of my fav players even. And their bench is avg.

ma_falaa_50 · Post #15 » by **ma_falaa_50** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:54 am

I think we are a playoff team next season. Thats if everyone stays healthy. I think the Frontcourt is thin though. I think NO, denver, SA, LA have a guaranteed shot of getting in. I think portland is in but houston lost ron artest and yao. I think because of that phx has a shot to get in. If gentry does the Run and Gun then we have a better shot of getting in.

New orleans have David west and Emeka Okafor on the front court plus CP3 so they are getting in no doubt. I think the suns best chance is houston dropping off and them playing back to the run and gun style.

Post #16 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:58 am

Offense: We have a good SSOL starting lineup if we forget about defense. Frye would make a good SSOL center because he can hit the mid range shot and is mobile enough to move out of Amare's way. Offensively, we're a force to be reckoned with.

Defense: If it wasn't for the fact that our starting 5 is easily a top 5 offensive starting lineup in the league, we'd be a bottom-dweller considering our defense. Of all the guys on our roster, only 2 I would consider could play passable defense, Hill and Dudley. Clark and Lou could be that 3-4 guy if Clark really plays like people say he would on the defensive end and Lou has a lesson or 2 about post defense ( a few extra pounds would help as well.)

Depth: We have pretty good depth and we have about 3 guys who are more than just hustle coming off the bench. If Dragic and Rolo becomes serviceable than we are easily playoff team. If Duds even becomes a Top 5 MIP candidate we will be in the playoffs. If Barbosa learns to play average D, we'd be in the playoffs easy. If Clark comes to his own by mid season, we're a playoff team. If all those factors goes our way, we're a top 5 team in West.

Right now, from what I've seen, at least we're 8th seed if we keep this roster as is and don't add anyone who will get significant PT.

tac45 · Post #17 » by **tac45** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:55 am

i want colangelo back:(

Risensun · Post #18 » by **Risensun** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:00 am

Solid he just got Marco Belinelli for Devean George. When we almost gave up Amare for him and some scrubs.

NashtyNas · Post #19 » by **NashtyNas** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:12 am

DirtyDez wrote:1. SAS
2. LAL (w/ Odom)
3. DAL
4. POR
5. DEN
6. PHX/NO
7. NO/PHX
8. UTAH
- HOU
- LAC
- OKC...... If we could pick up a Camby or Noah then maybe a 4th or 5th seed

Pretty much agreed. If we can get a center of Noah/Camby caliber, we're a good 4th seed. If we can get a defensive SG for Richardson, then we're a little higher maybe. Other than that, 8th seed with a 1st round exit seems about right. I want 8th or 7th, depending on if SA is 1st or 2nd. I want a good SA/PHX match up in the playoffs this year, it will make it worth the season.

Austin · Post #20 » by **Austin** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:10 pm

KJ7 wrote:With that roster we are borderline. But I'm expecting someone a lot better then Taylor to be with us come the start of the season (not sure whether they will be starter material tho).

I actually think we'll start Frye to begin the season and then transition Clark into the starting line-up at some point just to see how he goes.

I think the same thing. Amare will be our starting Center, Frye our starting PF and eventually Clark will be our starting PF by the end of the season.