Could the Suns miss the playoffs this year?

Hendrix · Post #1 » by **Hendrix** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 10:13 am

We've all been kind of use to the Suns being one of the best regular season teams in the NBA the last while. What do you guys think the odds are they miss the playoffs all together this year?

Last year after the Shaq trade they went 17-11. Which is .607% winning %. Last year 8th place in the West had a recored of .610%. Shaq, Grant Hill, and Nash are all going to be 1 year older this year. Teams like the Blazers, and Clippers both could improve substantially and get into the playoffs this year as well.

Imo Lakers, San Antonio, Utah, New Orleans, and Houston I think are pretty solid picks for the playoffs. That leaves Dallas, Blazers, Denver, Clippers, and Pheonix fighting for the last 3. If the Clips, and Portland are healthy I could see the Suns not making it. What do you guys think?

JordansBulls · Post #2 » by **JordansBulls** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 12:10 pm

As long as Nash or Amare don't get hurt they will make it and make some noise as well.

Post #3 » by **rsavaj** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 1:22 pm

Definitely.

As could every other team in the West.

thamadkant · Post #4 » by **thamadkant** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 1:24 pm

If you take out a bucket of ice cream outside the freezer and left it outside..

Would it melt???

The answer is... it depends if its winter and its snowing outside.

my point is.. there are many variables and factors and ifs and buts.

The Suns btw for March and April had a much better record. The 17-11 record doesnt take into account that the first 10 games they were a 0.500 team. Towards the last leg of the season they played much better.

The Main Event · Post #5 » by **The Main Event** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 1:31 pm

Your analysis of Suns record post Shaq pick up doesn't take into account that it takes time for a new player like Shaq to mesh with a team. If Grant Hill, Nash and Amare stay healthy i see them going deep into the playoffs.

Milkdud · Post #6 » by **Milkdud** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 1:57 pm

Shaq health has been a crapshoot the last couple seasons. If he isn't able to give a solid season in the brutal west I think its possible.

akhtar_a03 · Post #7 » by **akhtar_a03** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 3:15 pm

Hendrix wrote:We've all been kind of use to the Suns being one of the best regular season teams in the NBA the last while. What do you guys think the odds are they miss the playoffs all together this year?

Last year after the Shaq trade they went 17-11. Which is .607% winning %. Last year 8th place in the West had a recored of .610%. Shaq, Grant Hill, and Nash are all going to be 1 year older this year. Teams like the Blazers, and Clippers both could improve substantially and get into the playoffs this year as well.

Imo Lakers, San Antonio, Utah, New Orleans, and Houston I think are pretty solid picks for the playoffs. That leaves Dallas, Blazers, Denver, Clippers, and Pheonix fighting for the last 3. If the Clips, and Portland are healthy I could see the Suns not making it. What do you guys think?

I wouldn't say Houston is a lock for the playoffs if the suns aren't. They always seems to have health issues and I know they had an incredible streak but if Tmac and Yao are hurt like always they could also fall out...dont see another streak this year

I think it will go something like this

Lakers
Hornets
Jazz/San Antonio
San Antonio/Jazz
Mavericks/Suns
Suns/Mavericks
Rockets/Nuggets/Blazers
Warriors/Blazers

They still have a young Amare and a functioning Nash. May be they can add some other pieces or a Star player (not all star) by trading barbosa and diaw. However, I think this will be their last year to compete for the championship...Nash is what, 34?

Malinhion · Post #8 » by **Malinhion** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 3:24 pm

It depends if they make a move. I doubt it will take as many wins to make the playoffs in the West this season. However, this will probably be the product of parity so it might be ever harder to make the postseason. I could see them missing the playoffs but I doubt Shaq's ego would permit it.

Chubby Chaser · Post #9 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 3:31 pm

If they don't make a personnel move then there's a good chance they won't make it. The suns are done and washed up.

celticfan42487 · Post #10 » by **celticfan42487** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:02 pm

Did Grant Hill re-sign?

magicfan4life05 · Post #11 » by **magicfan4life05** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:07 pm

celticfan42487 wrote:Did Grant Hill re-sign?

Basically, he exercised his player option to remain with the team next year.

Truthiracy · Post #12 » by **Truthiracy** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:10 pm

Obviously they'll make it in the overrated west.

Anticon · Post #13 » by **Anticon** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:30 pm

I'd say the only locks for the playoffs are the Lakers, Spurs, Jazz, and Hornets.

After that, the Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, and Rockets will likely round out the bottom half, with maybe the Clippers depending on how things go. Of these teams, I'd say the Suns will likely be the best, although Rockets will give them a run for their money. I'd forget about the Mavs and the Nuggets for the time being.

I think Portland is still too young out West and the Warriors aren't making it, with or without Brand. Everybody else - OKC, Memphis, Sacramento, Minnesota - doesn't stand a chance.

HarlemHeat37 · Post #14 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:31 pm

LOL @ overrated West..Boston fans won the title but they're STILL insecure about their team playing in the East..

Ming Kong! · Post #15 » by **Ming Kong!** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:36 pm

LucerneStDoggz wrote:Obviously they'll make it in the overrated west.

Yeah you guys have a great team, but never the less you can't argue that the West has far better teams OVERALL. Pull aside the Celtics and Lakers for a second and you have to agree.

Malinhion · Post #16 » by **Malinhion** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 4:43 pm

Why do people phrase the topic one way and the poll the opposite?

You totally destroy the results, because 70% of people won't reread the poll question.

bballmaniac27 · Post #17 » by **bballmaniac27** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 5:47 pm

Yes, it's a definite possibility. IMO even the top teams in the West aren't exactly locks to make the playoffs. All it takes are injuries to a few key players.

LucerneStDoggz wrote:Obviously they'll make it in the overrated west.

You know, just because an East team won the championship doesn't mean the West is overrated.

FACT: It is much harder to make the playoffs in the West compared to the East. The West is simply more competitive.

360 · Post #18 » by **360** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 5:52 pm

Malinhion wrote:Why do people phrase the topic one way and the poll the opposite?

You totally destroy the results, because 70% of people won't reread the poll question.

You're right. I didn't read the poll question before viewing the results. I didn't vote, but you're right. People who don't read the poll question are probably voting the opposite of what they meant to vote.

KRANG · Post #19 » by **KRANG** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 6:16 pm

I don't think Houston or Phoenix will make the playoffs this year.

Malinhion · Post #20 » by **Malinhion** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 6:17 pm

bballmaniac27 wrote:FACT: It is much harder to make the playoffs in the West compared to the East. The West is simply more competitive.

Yeah, except in the East you have to play against actual defenses once you make it there.

More than half the league's teams make the playoffs every year. I think expectations are a little high for the fringe-playoff teams entering in whichever conference is weaker. Statistically a below-.500 team should make the playoffs every season.

After one round of playoffs the chaff gets sorted out, and competition is pretty much even between conferences after that point. But after that it gets pretty tough. So what if there are one or two chump matchups waiting for the top seeds in the first round? At least in the East the top seeds aren't choking those 1-vs-8 best-of-7s.

Suns make the playoffs?