The obvious answer is no, because the Rockets will, but...in the extremely unlikely case we don't, do these run and gunners have a chance? They are slowed down the Spurs big time and they will probably have to meet them in the second round. This time they have a healthy and beastly Amare Stoudamire, a Steve Nash playing better than ever, and Leandro Barbosa playing amazing off the bench when Nash is resting. I personally think the Spurs will slow them down again in their series and probably will make the Suns play the game they're not accustomed to. If they can get over the hump of the Spurs, does anyone like their chances at the title?
they can beat dallas, but the Spurs will be tough, it's funny cause Dallas can beat San Antonio it's all about matchups
I'd MUCH rather see Phoenix win it all than Dallas. Unfortunately they're gonna have to defeat the Spurs in the playoffs to make it happen.
As long as they avoid the Spurs year-in and year-out, then yes, they can. As the previous poster said, the playoffs are ALL about matchups. I am not saying the Spurs are guaranteed to beat them either, but I think it's fair to speculate that they would come out on top -- in a 7 game series -- more often than not. Suns are great, but the Spurs are a thorn in their side.
Please respect the eastern conference teams! Even the suns make it to the finals, i can see they will have tough time beating the heat with healthy wade and pistons!
Well I agree with Nice Rollin they probably will go through a healthy Miami or the Pistons but then again you never know. They might be able to slow them down too. Both teams could cause problems and didn't Detroit blow the Suns out this season? And BTW I never hated on the East, I never said once the Suns were over the Spurs, they're easily winning it all. I said, if the Suns can get over the Spurs, how do you like their chances at the title?
We struggle with the Suns and Jazz. (But I think we should be the Jazz barring Deron Williams just killing us) The Suns struggle with the Spurs. (But I think they can win--for instance Marion got cheap calls, Amare, Barbosa and Diaw played like dogs, yet they were still in it. The Suns actually play them tight usually). The Mavs struggle with the Suns. (IMO only us and Suns match-up right with them from the west). The Spurs really stuggle with the Mavs. (In fact I really don't think they can beat them, Spurs just don't have athletic forwards to matchup with Dirk and Howard). Yes match-ups are critical. I also would not count out Mia or Det. They could beat anyone. They would be underdogs, but they would have a legit shot. They have won 2 of the last 3 and Detroit took a better than the current SA team to the max in their loss.
WE DUN FREAKIN' CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They're not getting by SA unless an injury occurs. The Spurs are just too disciplined for Phoenix and won't allow them to do what they do best. Also remember that Phoenix always struggles more in the playoffs as teams catch on to their style, the lakers almost beat them last year with Smush Parker going against Nash!
The Suns won the last 3. The Suns adjusted to the Lakers. And this was a Suns team w/o an inside presence (no Amare, no Thomas). The Suns have also been to 2 strait WC finals--not exactly struggling. The Suns have ways to exploit SA if they get their sea legs. If they get Parker and Manu to play uptempo that really gives them a chance. The more SA can play slow through Duncan and get easy inside points and wide open 3s (Barry, Bowen, Finley, Manu) the better the Spurs do--but if Parker and Manu get early success that discipline may fall. Further, if the Suns can find anyone--Amare, Marion, Thomas, Diaw to guard Duncan where they don't have to do the predictable early double (which leads to the wide open 3s)--they have a great chance. Or if Amare gets Duncan in foul trouble. What the Suns can't do is shoot themselves into an 0-2 hole. I still like the Suns over the Spurs in round 2 if they can hold on to homecourt. But the Suns will have to play really high level the rest of the way to hold onto that 2 seed.
it's funny cause Dallas can beat San Antonio You make it seem like they would sweep S.A., remember that Dallas barely got by them last year.
True Dallas barely beat SA last year. But they 1) did beat them; 2) Dallas is even better; 3) SA is a little worse; 4) Dallas will have homecourt. I don't see anything to suggest SA can turn around the outcome, outside of Duncan the front court of the Mavs is just way too athletic and superior--this is even more apparent this year with Nazr, Rasha and Horry either gone or no longer effective. Barry and Finley also have terrible covers as well (Terry, Harris, Howard, Stack all have major athleticism advantages). Overall Dallas is just a terrible match-up for the Spurs--they can make Duncan work real hard and really exploit the less athletic and inferior Spurs role players. I short I think Dallas will beat them and have an easier time than last year if they meet. I think Manu would have to play fabulous for the Spurs to have a crack at winning. Same deal with us. For us to beat them Tmac is just going to have be the difference--you are not going to get enough mileage out of an inside-kick out offense because the Mavs rotations are the quickest in the league. But Wade/Tmac/Nash/Manu breaking them down from the outside in, that could do it. Manu is the longest shot of this group to pull this off consistently though.
No, they can't. They are the Show Time Lakers with no defense and no matter how talented they are they just don't get it. Their coach is the main culprit. He buys into his own fool's gold because of regular season success but no matter how "soft" the NBA becomes by trying to force perimeter basketball, playoff ball is physical and it causes the Suns to shrink. I think the Pistons or Heat can handle the Suns in the Finals but it doesn't matter. Phoenix can't get by Dallas and definitely not past S.A.
I am still hoping and praying that Denver ends up playing the Suns in the first round, as well as the Mavs matching up with the Warriors. Outside of the Rockets, I always root for better matchups. Hopefully the Lakers will lock down that 6th seed and Denver remains put. This regular season can't end soon enough...
This is more myth than reality. They were their two leading scorers versus the Mavs, Duncan played 42MPG, and put up 32PPG (56% FG, 73%FT--very high for Duncan) 12RPB 4APG and 2.6BPG, Manu played 35MPG scoring 21PPG (48FG, 87%FT and 41% 3) 4RPG and had 2.3SPG (more than twice the next Spur). So Duncan played great, Manu played excellent. Parker played well as well. The problem was Dallas outclassed them everywhere else and killed them on rebounding and in TOs (a product of Dallas much better team athleticism). IMO the gaps in athleticism and quality in the role players (spots 4-9) is even wider between the two teams than last year (reflected in the Mavs much better record) and now the Mavs have homecourt. I don't like the Spurs chances.
I've seen something over the season that really helps them, but they won't do....keep Amare at PF. He is not a center. The Suns real x-factor is Kurt Thomas. He's got great post presence, in games against Houston, Minnesota and S.A. He can keep some of the better big men from getting into the post easily. And gives them hard time of establishing position. Also, I think he is better shot block and all round post defender than Amare, but all the Suns want to do score score and score some more.
