The Phoenix Suns: Utah's oldest enemy

[dalekjazz]

The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz have a similar history. Both teams have a long playoff history and have been to the finals a couple of times without winning a championship. The point guard position has been traditionally the strongest position for both teams. The Suns have been a run and gun team while the Jazz are more of a system team that relies on physical play.

The Suns have also been a thorn in the side of the Jazz for a long time. When the Jazz first became a playoff team in Utah the Suns were the first team to eliminate them in the playoffs. In the 1980's the Suns had KJ and Chambers to counter Stockton and Malone. Out of all the point guard Stockton went up against (Payton, Hardaway, etc.) I think KJ was the one who gave Stockton the toughest time. In one playoff series KJ hit a game winning shot in Utah to knock the Jazz out of the playoff. The following year Stockton and the Jazz had to beat KJ and the Suns in the playoffs with Phoenix having the homecourt advantage. I think that playoff win against Phoenix was big for Utah in taking the next step to becoming an elite team after losing in the first round for several years. A few years ago Phoenix beat the Utah in Utah when the Jazz had a chance to win the division title. Now the Jazz and Suns clash again. Let's take the Suns down and go to the playoffs.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

It's on!!!

[russnumber3]

Let's not forget the history surrounding the power forward position for both teams, eh? Malone, the GOAT and Barkley, the wannabe GOAT

[dalekjazz]

Barkley was a hired gun. Malone spent almost his whole career in Utah. In 1990 Utah and Phoenix played each other twice in Japan to open up the regular season, the first NBA games to be played outside the United States, right after Phoenix eliminated the Jazz in the playoffs. The Jazz and Phoenix ended up meeting again in the playoffs with the Jazz winning in 4 games after Phoenix had homecourt advantage (a turning point in the Jazz franchise).