Reg Season End...Best Case Scenario?

[Christine-In-AZ]

This Suns team is confusing the heck out of me. Seems they're either fully "on" or way "off". It does seem clear they don't handle success or confidence well. I can't remember the last time they've looked good for any stretch at all, even full games seem a rarity. That in mind here's what I think would be the best (reasonable) scenario for the Suns as the regular season ends...

I hope S.A. can lose 2 of 3, but not all three= 55-27

Houston win 2 of 3= 56-26

The Suns keep Nash's minutes way down and split the last two =54-28 (if they win both they would meet Utah...I don't want that)

Given this outcome, the Suns would play Houston in the 1st round. Good to me because we just lost to them (see:don't handle success well). I know it doesn't make sense, but the fact that the Suns have easily handled the Spurs recently, seems a recipe for disaster.

I'd also like to see G.S. somehow get that 8th seed and maybe pick off the Lakers (Warriors would have to beat the Suns for that to happen)

Sure! If the Rockets could lose all 3 PHX could still get the 3 spot, but I can't see the Clips beating Houston in Houston.

Probably going to be #6Suns/#3Spurs ...oh well

[The Diesel]

Who wants to face Popovich, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili in the playoffs?

Not me.

If we meet them in the first round and we lose, the same critics who blasted the Shaq trade and have not said a word since Phoenix started playing well will show up again and start blasting Shaq and the trade.

Oh man, let's hope that doesn't happen.

[impulsenine]

If we meet them in the first round and we lose, the same critics who blasted the Shaq trade and have not said a word since Phoenix started playing well will show up again and start blasting Shaq and the trade.

Oh man, let's hope that doesn't happen.

Personally, I think I'd be more upset that they lost.

Just sayin'.

[Biff]

Kind of reminds you of the 95 Rockets team that had to go through the Jazz, Suns and then the Spurs to make it to the finals. All 3 of those teams were exceptional. That Rocket team didn't play very well during the regular season. Of course every team is facing that kind of situation this season(facing nothing but really good teams).

And then whoever makes it out of the west gets the joy of probably facing Boston in the finals.

[eastsidecrossover]

Yes, we have beat SA 3 out of 4 times, but please, don't say you rather play them over Utah! SA has owned us. Its the playoffs too. I rather face the jazz than a multi championship team, even if they are slipping.

No matter what guys, the west is going to be tough all the way. No cup cakes this year. Just face it. We have to face tough teams, and any team can win 1-8 this year. That is how it is.

[PHXfan85]

Playoffs start in a week... and this week cant go by fast enough.

[BRINGTHEPAIN]

IF we don't meet the Lakers I'll be utterly devastated. I was hoping to meet them in the 1st round to make sure we'd play them but thats not looking likely now. Yeah its hard to stay on top of the Spurs for too long, but I would like to play them in the 1st round because I personally can see the road to beating them, their players are so well known it doesn't take rocket science to beat them. Whereas several other western teams are very unpredictable and I can't say I know what they are going to produce. So just because I know the Spurs so well I hope we play them in the 1st round, if we can't play the Lakers.

[joe.linnen]

IF we don't meet the Lakers I'll be utterly devastated. I was hoping to meet them in the 1st round to make sure we'd play them but thats not looking likely now. Yeah its hard to stay on top of the Spurs for too long, but I would like to play them in the 1st round because I personally can see the road to beating them, their players are so well known it doesn't take rocket science to beat them. Whereas several other western teams are very unpredictable and I can't say I know what they are going to produce. So just because I know the Spurs so well I hope we play them in the 1st round, if we can't play the Lakers.

I would go for the Jazz if i were the Suns. San Antonio, New Orleans, and LA Lakers are teams you should avoid in the first round. I just don't see the Spurs, Hornets, or Lakers getting put out in the first round. The Lakers have so much riding on this, the Hornets have something to prove, and the Spurs are the Spurs, they have a regular season team and the a playoff team that a monster.

[BurningHeart]

I've been trying to be optimistic about the possibility of playing the Spurs in the first round. The best thing that can come of it is the fact that maybe, just maybe, they won't be in tip-top playoff shape just yet if we played them in the first round....

[TASTIC]

Whatever happened to the 4-0 or 4-1 first round series' of yesteryear?

Oh to be in the East...

[donMartini123]

I don't really care who we meet. Everybody is dangerous in the west and if you want to win it all, you have to be able to beat them all.

[BRINGTHEPAIN]

Its all about matchups, I think the Suns matchup very nicely with the Spurs and Lakers. I am not convinced about the other matchups though, they look a bit dicey.

[Seattlesun]

I don't really care who we meet. Everybody is dangerous in the west and if you want to win it all, you have to be able to beat them all.

this is the stance i'm taking as well. i find myself hoping we stay in 6th and the rox get to third which could happen but thats more for the impact it will have on the other bracket than how it impacts the suns.

just bring on whoever is first and lets start the playoffs already

[pidi]

if you wanna win it all - and we wanna win all - you gotta beat everyone who is in youre way. and we

[Christine-In-AZ]

With Dallas losing last nite I would hold Nash out with "back spasms" against GS and keep him to no more than 30 minutes V the Blazers

6 is the sweet spot..hopefully against the Rockets.

Maybe then the Spurs can remove the (icky opponent for the Suns) Jazz in Rd 1

Please Suns! Get focused/determined...Down Houston/rd1...Figure out and disassemble the inexperienced Hornets/rd2...dig deep and outlast the Lakers/rd3...win it all against the Celtics because this franchise is far too good to not have any titles on its resume. Yeah!

(Hoping I can revisit this post in about 2 months with a big smile)

[The Diesel]

Has Phoenix officially clinched the # 6 spot with Dallas losing to Portland last night, or not yet?

Or does Phoenix still need to win at least one more game or hope Dallas loses one of their remaining games?

[Christine-In-AZ]

The Suns can only lose 29 ...with Dallas a t 30 L's we have at least the 6th

[The Diesel]

^, thanks!

[Seattlesun]

houston is smartly losing on purpose tonight. they dont want the suns, they want 5th and the jazz

[The Diesel]

And that game proves why I want to face Housotn and why teams should be afraid of Denver.

- Houston just doesn't have enough firepower without Yao; T-Mac can only do so much.

- Denver on the other hand, is a very dangerous offensive team.