Is this 2021/22 Suns team the best Suns team ever?

sunsbg · Post #61 » by **sunsbg** » Sun Dec 12, 2021 8:00 pm

Barkley Suns lost 4-2 in the finals to a player no team was able to stop, these Suns lost 4-2 to a player other teams had already figured out how to slow down. Let's wait at least another playoff run before comparing this and past teams.

Biff · Post #62 » by **Biff** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 1:30 am

bigfoot wrote:This team is far better than any of the SSOL teams. Watching the Celtics get demolished while missing Booker, Ayton, Kaminsky, and Nader just shows the depth of the players and the strength of the offensive system in the half-court. Defensively this team is just way superior across the board. Amare and Nash were the weak links defensively. Booker is the only questionable defender on the current Suns team and he has really stepped it up. SSOL was predicated on transition buckets. Those fastbreak opportunities disappear against quality defenses and the ability to reliably score in the half-court offense becomes key.

I'm not sure. We will see at the end of the year. Depending on how much stock you put into SRS, this is the 5th best Suns team (so far) and behind 2 of the SSOL teams. I don't think far better is correct but this team might end up being better by the end of the year. It's certainly up there among the best.

Mulhollanddrive · Post #63 » by **Mulhollanddrive** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 12:25 pm

We were 3 seconds away from sending Michael Jordan to a game he's never been to and on our home court.

So far we've played 2 months of what what will largely be irrevelent basketball come playoffs.

Saberestar · Post #64 » by **Saberestar** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 1:00 pm

Mulhollanddrive wrote:We were 3 seconds away from sending Michael Jordan to a game he's never been to and on our home court.

So far we've played 2 months of what what will largely be irrevelent basketball come playoffs.

It is not only about these last couple of months.

This same team was already in the Finals and we were as close as that '93 Suns team was to winning an NBA championship.

We have make some small tweaks on the team and we are this season even better and we have a more stacked roster.

Post #65 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 6:06 pm

Saberestar wrote:
Mulhollanddrive wrote:We were 3 seconds away from sending Michael Jordan to a game he's never been to and on our home court.

So far we've played 2 months of what what will largely be irrevelent basketball come playoffs.

It is not only about these last couple of months.

This same team was already in the Finals and we were as close as that '93 Suns team was to winning an NBA championship.

We have make some small tweaks on the team and we are this season even better and we have a more stacked roster.

We've probably had 7 or 8 past teams that would have made the finals with last year's WC road to get there. This year's WC is weak outside of the top 3 too.

Or if GS isn't a contender as you see, top 2, unless you don't think Utah is a contender either.

NapoleonII · Post #66 » by **NapoleonII** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 8:59 pm

Yes.

In 2k ratiings, we're like

94 offense,
96 defense.

The Nash teams were like

98 offense
80 defense

DoItALL9 · Post #67 » by **DoItALL9** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 5:26 am

This year's team needs to devote about ten games this season to force feeding Ayton. I want to see him take 24 - 30 shots. He needs that for multiple reasons.

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handsome salary · Post #68 » by **handsome salary** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 5:27 pm

The one thing this team lacks is a player the opposing team has to really make defensive plans for. Paul's too old and neither Booker or Ayton are that level of basketball force.

sunsbg · Post #69 » by **sunsbg** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 5:58 pm

handsome salary wrote:The one thing this team lacks is a player the opposing team has to really make defensive plans for. Paul's too old and neither Booker or Ayton are that level of basketball force.

That's why I claim this team's success is a team effort, but you can see people on GB say it's all CP3. Other teams have won without having a top 5 player.

Post #70 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 6:16 pm

It starts with CP3 and his leadership and example and instilling in the whole team (especially Booker) that everyone has to play D to win in this league because you will have off shooting nights.

And it has become a team effort, but it still goes back to Paul getting guys going before he sometimes takes over. Hopefully he can either groom Booker to become our PG of the future, somewhat of a better passing Harden/Doncic who doesn't try and take over too much...someone who can play more like Paul with a bit more scoring and taking over at times, but not too much domination because you want to get others going too.

But he has helped all the others grow and show that they need the work ethic, they have bought in and it bodes well for the future.

Ideally Book doesn't have to be the PG but can handle some and play with a decent one (like a Tyus Jones who can shoot 3s and set guys up without many turnovers if we can't get a better one somehow but not sure we have the money and don't think our draft pick next year will allow us to get one that good) or if Payne can become starter quality (doubtful right now).

But back to the original subject question. I still don't think this team does better than the 88-95 or 04-10 teams. Right now and last year the west is just banged up inflating our record a bit. We'd definitely still be in the mix and near the top with everyone healthy but we'd more likely be on a mid to high 50 win pace (which is still great rather than mid to high 60 pace).

Saberestar · Post #71 » by **Saberestar** » Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:55 pm

Read on Twitter

sundevil1999 · Post #72 » by **sundevil1999** » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:19 pm

Might be recency bias, but I absolutely think this is the "best" Suns team.

It may not be my favorite. It may not be as fun as the Nash Era, but from an all around team stand point, I cannot see a more complete team since I started watching for real in the year before KJ and Chambers became a duo.

Our offense is extremely effective in the half court whereas 7 seconds or less sun's didn't really get into half court sets well, and they were not near the defensive team this team is.

While Barkley teams were everyone's favorite. It was too much of a country club atmosphere for long term success, and eventually Barkley wanted out

This Suns team has a combination of have court offense, the ability to get out and run the break, plays great defense in all aspects I think, and has a coach that is good for the team. Monty definitely has some rough edges that I don't agree with, but he gets players to buy in.

I was listening to bismack on the radio today, and he said the thing that caught his eye the most when selecting the Suns was the leadership. Whether it be monty or book or Paul. I don't think the sons have ever had a team that everyone tries to be a leader in some capacity. I mean just look at the starting five. While we all want cam to start, Jae provides a bit more leadership than cam at this point. Then you got Booker and Paul. DA is trying and the same can be said about bridges.

Again might not be my favorite team to watch, but I've never seen a more well-rounded sun's team. And I think where we improve the most this year is toughness. Just my humble opinion. Take care everyone.

Post #73 » by **lilfishi22** » Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:19 am

Can't say I was super tuned in during the Barkley era so I can only compare to Suns teams since the Nash era but this team is the most complete in my opinion. We have all-NBA level defense, we have an elite and methodic offense with plenty of punch, we have great chemistry, we have closers and I think importantly, we have poise. We don't seem to get rattled especially when it's late in game and the other team gets a bucket. We just stay focused, stay poised and we run just our offense.

I love the Nash era and it was arguably more fun because of the way we played compared to the rest of the league but those SSOL teams had real flaws. We put virtually all our eggs in the offense bucket and leaving very little for defense other than what individual defenders could muster.

Post #74 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:56 pm

lilfishi22 wrote:Can't say I was super tuned in during the Barkley era so I can only compare to Suns teams since the Nash era but this team is the most complete in my opinion. We have all-NBA level defense, we have an elite and methodic offense with plenty of punch, we have great chemistry, we have closers and I think importantly, we have poise. We don't seem to get rattled especially when it's late in game and the other team gets a bucket. We just stay focused, stay poised and we run just our offense.

I love the Nash era and it was arguably more fun because of the way we played compared to the rest of the league but those SSOL teams had real flaws. We put virtually all our eggs in the offense bucket and leaving very little for defense other than what individual defenders could muster.

Yeah, more complete than that team, however that team did blow out teams routinely, especially their first year together. One season it seems they started like 30-4 or something ridiculous.

And we got to the WCF when healthy before the Shaq trade. Just couldn't get past the Spurs and JJ was injured. It would be interesting to see this team against those 04-05 Spurs.

Post #75 » by **lilfishi22** » Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:04 am

bwgood77 wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:Can't say I was super tuned in during the Barkley era so I can only compare to Suns teams since the Nash era but this team is the most complete in my opinion. We have all-NBA level defense, we have an elite and methodic offense with plenty of punch, we have great chemistry, we have closers and I think importantly, we have poise. We don't seem to get rattled especially when it's late in game and the other team gets a bucket. We just stay focused, stay poised and we run just our offense.

I love the Nash era and it was arguably more fun because of the way we played compared to the rest of the league but those SSOL teams had real flaws. We put virtually all our eggs in the offense bucket and leaving very little for defense other than what individual defenders could muster.

Yeah, more complete than that team, however that team did blow out teams routinely, especially their first year together. One season it seems they started like 30-4 or something ridiculous.

And we got to the WCF when healthy before the Shaq trade. Just couldn't get past the Spurs and JJ was injured. It would be interesting to see this team against those 04-05 Spurs.

31-4 with separate 7, 9 and 11 win steaks during that period.

But then right after getting to 31-4, we dropped 6 straight lol. Nash was injured after playing 11min in the second game of the losing streak.

garrick · Post #76 » by **garrick** » Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:16 am

sunsbg wrote:Barkley Suns lost 4-2 in the finals to a player no team was able to stop, these Suns lost 4-2 to a player other teams had already figured out how to slow down. Let's wait at least another playoff run before comparing this and past teams.

Well that is true until the finals when he managed to hit a really good percentage from the free throw despite struggling at the line for most of his career.

Giannis just stepped up in a huge way in the finals.

RunDogGun · Post #77 » by **RunDogGun** » Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:55 am

I still think that the 2010 Suns team was the best I have seen. We had a solid 1-10 that year. If we would have kept one of Nash or Grant on the court at all times running the offense and made better in game adjustments, I feel without a doubt we would have won the chip.

Frank Lee · Post #78 » by **Frank Lee** » Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:16 pm

A few MacLeod led teams back in the 80s would be tough match ups for today’s squad. Many discard them as they never could get past the show timing fLakers.
The squad from 83-4 went to the WCFs vs LA… again, a tough match up. I was MadHousing for many of the late 70s early-mid 80s

Kyle Macy
Walter Davis
Larry Nance
Mo Lucas
James Edwards
Westphal, Adams, Alvin Scott, and others for a deep bench

And MacLeod…. Who trumps Monty.

I think that squad would be fairly even with today’s, providing they took advantage of the three ball. They’d kill us on the boards.

We have a very good team, but it is near impossible to say it’s better than all the others without some definitive criteria… and the bottom line is how deep you go come PO time

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.brightsideofthesun.com/platform/amp/2020/4/23/21227386/tbt-the-83-84-suns-and-their-improbable-western-conference-finals-run-you-probably-dont-know-about

Hitachi77 · Post #79 » by **Hitachi77** » Sun Jan 23, 2022 4:58 pm

I think the 06-07 team was a little better than this one. People forget that team was pretty good defensively with KT. Not top 5, but maybe 8th or so, while having the top offense easily. That team is was a favorite over, and likely beats the Spurs without those BS suspensions. And that was basically the NBA finals in 06-07 after Dallas got ousted.

I can't say if this team would be a favorite over the 06-07 Spurs like the 06-07 Suns were.

spanishninja · Post #80 » by **spanishninja** » Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:15 pm

Hitachi77 wrote:I think the 06-07 team was a little better than this one. People forget that team was pretty good defensively with KT. Not top 5, but maybe 8th or so, while having the top offense easily. That team is was a favorite over, and likely beats the Spurs without those BS suspensions. And that was basically the NBA finals in 06-07 after Dallas got ousted.

I can't say if this team would be a favorite over the 06-07 Spurs like the 06-07 Suns were.

the 06-07 team was 15th in the league on defensive rating, and offensive rating is basically the same at 112 with this year's team. both this year's and last year's teams were more balanced than the 06-07 team. not to mention nash's teams were not elite in the clutch like cp3's

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