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http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/

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Hellz yeah!!!!!!!!

Comments? Concerns?

#5 most points scored and #15 in points allowed. Not bad really.

They've played with more heart on the road than I've ever seen. I hate to get all mushy but I'm so proud of our boys.

*Ends heartfelt moment*

Itmotep wrote:#5 most points scored and #15 in points allowed. Not bad really.

That's what we all hoped for last year - potent offense, respectable defense. Back in the Mike D days we were around the middle of the pack. Everything points to us being a bit better than that with the current lineup. Top third would be real nice.

JohnVancouver wrote:

Itmotep wrote:#5 most points scored and #15 in points allowed. Not bad really.

That's what we all hoped for last year - potent offense, respectable defense. Back in the Mike D days we were around the middle of the pack. Everything points to us being a bit better than that with the current lineup. Top third would be real nice.

Nailed it.

I really, really like the fact that the Suns are playing with heart and guts so far. They're winning games they're supposed to and overachieving in games everyone would expect they'd lose. They're not blowing leads, they're closing out games (offensively and defensively) and they're just playing with more passion than I've seen in years. However, I do think Nash's comment about getting too hasty with crowning themselves elite is a real key. The Suns and the Cardinals are similar in that they both have a history of buckling under success. The Suns seem to have a different mentality this year, though, so hopefully that won't be much of an issue.

Exactly, we're playing HARD and they really seem to enjoy playing as a unit

Confidence is contageous and I love how Gentry is relaxed but the team know not to piss him off or they'll be pulled

5th ranked offence WITHOUT Barbosa and JRich for a few games, AND Amare's not even at 75% yet...

NOICE!

That's pts/100. We lead the league in scoring.

ESPN still has us ranked 4th. With the twice defeated Magic ahead of us. I don't think they understand that power rankings is only speaking in past tense. Overall, so far, in this season, we have a better record, +/- rating, and we beat a team we shouldn't have where they've lost to 2 teams that never should have even been close.

All in all, you can say we had a successful off season in that all we did was change our style back to what we're good at, pick up a 3-bombing center, and improve on our deficiencies (Lou's improved shot, improved defense, Goran's ridiculous boost in confidence, Dudleys ability to make a 3 now and again, J-Rich's post up again vs other guards). It is so so so so so much more fun to be a fan of a team that isn't in the playoff race year in and year out like LA and Boston. It makes these moments infinity times more fun because we never thought this could ever happen

If they cut down on turnovers and improve their free throw shooting this team would be unbeatable (with the way their playing now of course)

#1

jesus christ

Well the bad news is we're going to come crashing back to earth at some point but I guess we can enjoy it while it lasts

MaryvalesFinest wrote:If they cut down on turnovers and improve their free throw shooting this team would be unbeatable (with the way their playing now of course)

Oh we'd be avering 6-8 more points a night if they were shooting 80% instead of Poopy%

I don't like that we are number 1!


Couldn't we have lost a couple more games so we could sneak up one everyone darkhorse style!

DBrimstone wrote:ESPN still has us ranked 4th. With the twice defeated Magic ahead of us. I don't think they understand that power rankings is only speaking in past tense. Overall, so far, in this season, we have a better record, +/- rating, and we beat a team we shouldn't have where they've lost to 2 teams that never should have even been close.

All in all, you can say we had a successful off season in that all we did was change our style back to what we're good at, pick up a 3-bombing center, and improve on our deficiencies (Lou's improved shot, improved defense, Goran's ridiculous boost in confidence, Dudleys ability to make a 3 now and again, J-Rich's post up again vs other guards). It is so so so so so much more fun to be a fan of a team that isn't in the playoff race year in and year out like LA and Boston. It makes these moments infinity times more fun because we never thought this could ever happen

Actually a lot of us believed it could and would happen.

I love it. The chemistry on this team is fantastic. The team overall enjoys hanging off the court and playing as a cohesive unit ON the court and it shows. Amazing what good camaraderie can do.

The only thing that sucks about this is the next time we lose a game we will probably drop to #4 or 5

TASTIC wrote:Exactly, we're playing HARD and they really seem to enjoy playing as a unit

Confidence is contageous and I love how Gentry is relaxed but the team know not to piss him off or they'll be pulled

5th ranked offence WITHOUT Barbosa and JRich for a few games, AND Amare's not even at 75% yet...

NOICE!

Thats something i really like about Gentry, despite WHO you are, if you're making mistakes he will damn well let you know!

Amare...he's going to beast soon. I can feel it.

Hopefully he will have a beast of a game tonight !!!

JohnVancouver wrote:

Itmotep wrote:#5 most points scored and #15 in points allowed. Not bad really.

That's what we all hoped for last year - potent offense, respectable defense. Back in the Mike D days we were around the middle of the pack. Everything points to us being a bit better than that with the current lineup. Top third would be real nice.

Only 2 differences:

1.) In the Mike D days, we were #1 BY FAR in offensive efficiency. #2 wasn't even close.

2.) In the Mike D days, we were basically dead last in rebounding. It's hard to come up with one stat to cover all the aspects of rebounding, but we were usually bottom 3 in every measure of rebounding, both old school and advanced.

This team also has the potential to be our best 3pt shooting team. I don't think everyone's hot start will keep up, but it's not inconceivable to think that

Nash
Barbosa
J-Rich
Frye
Hill (mostly from the corner)
Dudley (at 29% this year, but shot 39% with us last year, and his form *looks* better this year)
Dragic

All end up in the 40% range from three. That would be 7 bombers out of 9.5 regular rotation players (Clark counts half for now).

In 2004-05, we had 3 guys over 40%, and 3 more between .314 and .367. If you want to count Walter McCarty, then add him in at .385.

In 2005-06, our flagship year for threes, we had 4 guys over 40% (including Tim Thomas), and also had Eddie House at .389, James Jones at .386, and Marion at .334 (not really in the 40% vicinity).

In 2006-07, we had 3 guys over 40% (not counting Jalen Rose's 21 makes), James Jones at .378, and Marion at .314. I'm not counting Piatkowski's 7 makes in garbage time.

I'm not even breaking down 2007-08. Suffice to say, it doesn't stack up.

Last year, only Nash was above 40%, but J-Rich shot .383, Barbosa shot .375, Dudley shot a surprising .394, and Drago shot an equally surprising .370.

Right now, the 2005-06 season is the clear champ, especially if you look at how far above 40% Nash/LB/Raja/TT were. But this year might have the potential to be #1. Long way to go to find out, though.

DBrimstone wrote:ESPN still has us ranked 4th. With the twice defeated Magic ahead of us. I don't think they understand that power rankings is only speaking in past tense. Overall, so far, in this season, we have a better record, +/- rating, and we beat a team we shouldn't have where they've lost to 2 teams that never should have even been close.

All in all, you can say we had a successful off season in that all we did was change our style back to what we're good at, pick up a 3-bombing center, and improve on our deficiencies (Lou's improved shot, improved defense, Goran's ridiculous boost in confidence, Dudleys ability to make a 3 now and again, J-Rich's post up again vs other guards). It is so so so so so much more fun to be a fan of a team that isn't in the playoff race year in and year out like LA and Boston. It makes these moments infinity times more fun because we never thought this could ever happen

If you're only interested in past tense, that's what the standings are for. Power Rankings are generally a mix of past performance and expected future performance. And Marc Stein/ESPN's specific power rankings are definitely based on both of those criteria. I don't have a problem with the Magic being ahead of us, given that colossal beat-down they laid on us without 2 of their top 4 players. That's another thing that power rankings take into account that pure standings don't. If you lose without your best guy, it doesn't penalize you as much as if you lose at full strength, as long as it's expected that you'll get that guy back at full health.