WC Playoffs: (3) Suns vs. (6) Blazers

[sabi]

Stoudemire goes NUTS in the Playoffs, especially against a soft LMA (Let's face it, he is). Suns advance, Roy doesn't play.

most likely camby will be checking amare

[sabi]

Suns in 5. Valiant effort all year by Portland to get here, but just too many injuries. Spirit and fan support can only do so much for you.

We won 50 games because of our spirit and fan support yayyy

[a_sensei]

Analysis:

For Suns: Roy or no Roy, they are playing to lose this series. They have no Camby, no Oden. Attack the paint! Between Steve Nash slicing and dicing the defense and STAT looking like his 2007 form, the Blazers will be abolutely dominated. And the play of guys like Earl Clark, Channing Fyre, Louis Amundson. This will be in 4.

It's so bad that I'm not even going to analyze for the Blazers. Not even Andre Miller can carry this mess anywhere.

This makes me feel better about the series given the history of Dedicated's predictions.

[sabi]

Why is dedicated saying we have no Camby? This true?

[illiance]

Suns in 5. PHX is on an absolute roll and against an undermanned Blazers teams maybe without Roy, I don't see this being too competitive in terms of victories. I think the Blazers might win a game at home and keep most of the games close but the injuries are gonna end up killing them.

[ptown08]

Although Aldridge is pretty soft, lately he has been getting more physical and involved in the post game from start to finish, and I can see that carrying over to this series. The Blazers are no longer shell shocked about the playoff atmosphere, and Dre and Camby keep everyone composed. I see this going to 7.

If we have no Roy it will be tough, but that would hurt us only on offense, and you can't compare the defense of the Suns team to last years Rockets. Scoring shouldn't be a problem.

And don't forget, Amare himself is no defensive stalwart, he is pretty awful on that end.

[Agenda42]

I think that if Roy were healthy, this would be a barnburner of a series. As it is, I have a hard time believing the Blazers can win more than one game without an effective Roy.

Just to clear up a misconception: Camby will play, and he'll probably lead the series in rebounding. He's 100% healthy.

[breaker91]

Wow, I'm surprised at all of these comments giving the series to the Suns because of Roy's injury. I think it will be a lot harder fought series than many people think, even if Roy doesn't play. Although Roy is the best player, his absence gives Andre Miller a lot more room to operate. Dre has torched Westbrook who many on this board proclaimed to be on the best defensive PGs the past 2 times they have faced off. I don't think there is anyone on the Suns who can stop Miller. The Blazers offensive will also be a bit harder to defend because without Roy they offense won't get into a habit of ISO sets and have to move the ball around a lot more to score, which can be a tough adjustment for a team like Phoenix doesn't play a lot of defense even when they know what the opposing team is going to do.

[Amare9]

Suns in 5

Phoenix is balling and working on the defensive end. Our bench is amazing all of a sudden, were manning up defensively, and Stoudemire is playing like a top 5 player in the NBA.
Amare is going to average 30+ during these playoffs.

It could go to 6, but don't seeing it go to 7.

[ph1sh55]

I think if Roy doesn't play it's going to be better for Portland. Phoenix should hope that Roy plays, and plays at about 80%.

The playoffs is a lot about gameplanning, knowing the other teams' sets better than they do. If Roy is playing, phoenix will be able to figure out how to defend the "give the ball to Roy and stand around" ISO set a lot better than Portland's offense w/o Roy.

Defensively Portland matches up quite well w/ Phoenix. They have the speed to defend the break, Camby and Aldridge are mobile bigs that can guard out all the way to the perimeter on pick and rolls.
The playoffs tend to be more possession based grind out games and this favors Portland. Should be a close competitive series...hopefully Amare doesn't beast too much.

[britblazerdude]

Why do so many people think Phoenix is going to win so easily?

Portland won the season series. Portland and Phoenix both have the 2 best records in the West since the ASB I believe?

[ahonui06]

Suns sweep the Blazers if Roy is a bitch and doesn't play. If Roy plays, I'll take Blazers in 7. Depends if Roy has balls or a vagina.

[xxRoyalexx]

I'd say Suns in 6 if Roy's playing. Suns in 5 if he's not.

Aldridge is too big of a pussy to put a body on Amare and I don't know if Camby can handle him either.

[whatchaknow]

Suns sweep the Blazers if Roy is a bitch and doesn't play. If Roy plays, I'll take Blazers in 7. Depends if Roy has balls or a vagina.

Guy behind his computer screen calling a guy a pussy if he doesnt play with a torn meniscus...

RealGM.... Where amazing happens!

[BballFanAddict]

Suns sweep the Blazers if Roy is a bitch and doesn't play. If Roy plays, I'll take Blazers in 7. Depends if Roy has balls or a vagina.

Guy behind his computer screen calling a guy a pussy if he doesnt play with a torn meniscus...

RealGM.... Where IDIOTS happen!

Fixed that for ya.

[ahonui06]

Ive actually played with a torn meniscus and it does hurt but it's also doable. And if you're in the NBA playoffs, you are definitely a top notch athlete who should be able to endure the pain for a while.

[BballFanAddict]

Ive actually played with a torn meniscus and it does hurt but it's also doable. And if you're in the NBA playoffs, you are definitely a top notch athlete who should be able to endure the pain for a while.

I completed a 10k Cross Country race with one shoe on as I lost a shoe in the first 1k. The race was through the woods, on pavement, and I was under a lot of pain. I completed another race with my foot completely bleeding through my shoe due to a guy (most likely purposely) stepping on my foot with 1 inch spiked racing shoes.

Guess what? I finished the races because I COULD. Here in Portland, its been documented that Roy tried some very simple movements / drill in a swimming pool and could NOT do it.

The point? Not every injury is the same. The guy has been playing injured ALL MF'n year long! You think he REALLY will sit if he CAN play?

Get real!

[ahonui06]

Ive actually played with a torn meniscus and it does hurt but it's also doable. And if you're in the NBA playoffs, you are definitely a top notch athlete who should be able to endure the pain for a while.

I completed a 10k Cross Country with one shoe, through the woods, on pavement, under a lot of pain. I completed another race with my foot completing bleeding through my shoe due to a guy (most likely purposely) stepping on my foot with 1 inch spiked racing shoes.

Guess what? I finished the races because I COULD. Here in Portland, its been documented that Roy tried some very simple movements / drill in a swimming pool and could NOT do it.

The point? Not every injury is the same. The guy has been playing injured ALL MF'n year long! You think he REALLY will sit if he CAN play?

Get real!

Roy can do it. Look at your sig. If he plays they will go from the FrailBlazers back to the TrailBlazers. And imagine the boost he would give the entire city of Portland not to mention the team.

[dula14]

It's a shame Roy won't be healthy this series because with him I think it really had a chance to be a great one. With Roy, I could see this going 7 with either team winning. Without Roy, Phoenix in 5.

[BballFanAddict]

IF Roy can play, he will. The guy has the cajones, the drive, the will and the motivation. Its simply a matter of whether or not his body will cooperate.