Thoughts on this road trip

[Phx4Life08]

I was just watching some video of last nights post game commentary as well as player interviews today taken prior to thier departure from phoenix for miami. I really liked Gentry's philosphy on their expectations for this trip. His main goal is to continue working on what we will need to improve on come april.

It almost seems as if he views the start of the season as an extended preseason. I agree with him. I am not so worried about what our outcome is over these next 5 games, rather that we continue to improve on rebounding and defense. If we show consistant efforts in those two areas but still loose all 5 games I won't be angery or concerned.

This philosophy also extendeds to Gentry's use of our bench. The west is loaded with good teams this season and every win counts. However, I hope he continues to develope our bench now, at the risk of lossing some games we might have won, so that they will grow more confident and effective as the season progresses. Gentry said that if we go 5-0 he won't think anything of it, same as if we go 0-5. This is a time to continue to learn, taking risks and trying new things.

Lets face reality though. The upcomming schedule will be really rough. This is a blessing and a curse. People on this board have a tendency to freak out prematurely. How many trade Amare/ blow up this team/ "Suns suck" threads will there be if we end up going 2 and 5 over the next 7 games? Realistically this is a possiblity. However th toughness of this early schedule is also a blessing because these teams will challenge us to improve. Thus far we have beaten the teams we are supposed to but have yet to face a true title contender. Playing Boston and Orlando will show us just how important it is to continue focusing on an improved defense.
Also, going back the interviews posted on Suns.com, It's kinda funny to watch Earl talk about the up comming road trip. It is really obvious that he is a rookie and still notused to life in the NBA.

[Mr. Sun]

Suns are blessed they have this schedule at the beginning of the season.

[MaryvalesFinest]

The way the Suns are built they can win and lose against any team. Since their not a traditional team they can probably shock alot of people by beating some good teams but don't be surprised to see them drop games against bad teams. The Suns are going to win and lose by luck, if their offense clicks their unstopable but if it doesn't, bad luck...

So in other words I wouldn't be shocked if they went 5-0 but than again, I wouldn't be shocked if they went 0-5...

[Mjee]

Go Suns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thapharcyd]

Honestly, best case scenario is 2-3 over the next 5.... Maybe we can pull 3-2.. I will be ok with 2-3

[DirtyDez]

I'll take 2-3... Mark off ORL and BOS, we beat MIA and PHI, WSH is a toss up.

[RaisingArizona]

I see a 4-1 road trip upcoming.

[lilfishi22]

I think we go down to ORL and BOS. I just hope we give them both a run for their money. We should be able to beat MIA, PHI and WSH.

[chriscringle95]

Suns are going 5-0. Suns are scrappy and confident.

I was at that Boston game last year on Martin Luther King's birthday and it was a massacre. The Suns owe the Celtics. Amare had 3 damn points and I still believe that was the game that got Porter fired. Worst game I attend since Golden St. raped the Milwaukee Bucks back in 93'(OLD SCHOOL!) when Sprewell destroyed the Bucks with Chris Webber.

I was behind the Suns basket in the first half right behind those Australian guys off this board who were going to every game or something last year. They were screaming at those dudes all game! LOL
I just kept drinking beer...

[JohnVancouver]

I can see us taking Orlando, not easily or even likely but I can see it happening. I don;'t mean we'd win a series against them but one game, could happen if the stars align. They looked quite ordinary against TO
BOS I think will kill us although we can run their old folks to death. Still, too much savvy and defense for us

PHI we beat, Wash is a toss up
Miami ... depends on Wade

I can see 3-2 but i am wearing the nifty orange glasses Frank sent me last sumer. Just like Amar'es, sort of. He sees max extensions, I see 3-2

[PHXTERROR1987]

time for a real game? maybe thats just a thought lol

[DBrimstone]

The stars just might align vs. Orlando. I second that. They're missing their Rashard Lewis and possibly Vince Carter. I think we'll take Miami and Philly. Philly beat us last time, so it's our turn to take them. And we get to come home and eat New Orleans alive... they just lost to the Knicks... Pa-the-tic

[RaisingArizona]

The only loss I see is Boston for sure, and maybe Miami.

[nashrambler13]

2-3 and 3-2 sound great to me... as long as we are still ahead of the lakers.

[nashrambler13]

The stars just might align vs. Orlando. I second that. They're missing their Rashard Lewis and possibly Vince Carter. I think we'll take Miami and Philly. Philly beat us last time, so it's our turn to take them. And we get to come home and eat New Orleans alive... they just lost to the Knicks... Pa-the-tic

lol, that ended my streak on ESPN...

yeah, i feel like we've alwys played well vs. orlando, b/c amare outplays howard... am i wrong?

[lilfishi22]

If it's a toss up between winning against ORL and BOS, we should take ORL. I think Boston's defense would be too much for us and I still don't think SSOL is in full swing yet.

[PHXfan85]

I'll say here what I said in the Frye thread in that I am anxious for this road trip just to see what some of these more defensive teams do against our red hot Frye. Also seems so be an issue for him to keep that consistency when he goes on the road. That, along with everything else the Suns are working on, will really be tested over this road trip.

As far as predictions go, I just can't say. 2-3 or 3-2 seems like a safe prediction, but I have to agree with Maryvale in that I can see this team going 5-0, but I can also see them going 0-5, and neither would surprise me. If they are clicking they will run Boston out of the building. If Frye is red hot then he will have his way with Howard by drawing him out and clearing the lane for STAT. Wizards and Heat will lean on their superstars and I don't know enough about Philly to even try to predict something. Win or lose, I just hope STAT keeps hustling (hopefully more, can someone tell him to keep his hands up on defense?) and we continue to learn what we can do with this team this year. It's going to be a great learning experience, but it may get ugly at times. These teams are some of the best at making you pay for your mistakes.

[DBrimstone]

The stars just might align vs. Orlando. I second that. They're missing their Rashard Lewis and possibly Vince Carter. I think we'll take Miami and Philly. Philly beat us last time, so it's our turn to take them. And we get to come home and eat New Orleans alive... they just lost to the Knicks... Pa-the-tic

lol, that ended my streak on ESPN...

yeah, i feel like we've alwys played well vs. orlando, b/c amare outplays howard... am i wrong?

We split the series last year, 1-1. We're better than we were then and with their injuries, they're just a little worse. It's a long shot but it's possible. It's gonna come down to who slows who's shooters down as both teams have a tenancy to get hot and be unstoppable, with or without good defense. If Frye shoots like he has been, I'd say we'll win as their paint presence will be 1 on 1 Amare vs Howard, and Amare should do alright with that... Just wait til we get blown out by like 20 points after trying to sound all optimistic

[hitachi7]

Just gotta continue to improve, don't really care about the results. Like others have said I'm mainly interested in what some of these great defensive teams will try against our offense. We already know the defense is going to be bad and needs to get better.

[sunsfan13az]

Haven't posted here in a while but I hope the suns do well on this road trip, it's a hard stretch for sure and I will defintally take .500