The way it is looking so far, losing Sean Marion might be a slightly bigger disaster than acquiring Shaq. The Suns gave up 57% shooting to the Jazz and a 41 point 4th quarter.And the Suns just keep on losing
NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run
- Thread starter tomalak301
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I'm not entirely convinced that everyone in the Suns organization (I'm a Spurs fan myself since I live in SA) was on board with the Shaq/Marion trade. If D'antoni can figure out that using him at the free throw line on a pick and roll just doesn't work and it's better to feed him down low near the basket, then the Suns might go somewhere. The Suns playing defense better than they do would help as well.
As for my Spurs, I think Pop sitting them halfway throught the 4th quarter in the Nuggets game helped to wake up the stars. He knows how to motivate his team and he doesn't care that much about seeding. The Spurs are more about making the playoffs and then doing what they do and seeing what happens. Pop has a plan and I'm hoping the Spurs pull it out against a wounded Suns team on Sunday.
As for my Spurs, I think Pop sitting them halfway throught the 4th quarter in the Nuggets game helped to wake up the stars. He knows how to motivate his team and he doesn't care that much about seeding. The Spurs are more about making the playoffs and then doing what they do and seeing what happens. Pop has a plan and I'm hoping the Spurs pull it out against a wounded Suns team on Sunday.
Man, are the Rockets ever going to lose another game? Interestingly enough, the game that decides whether the Rockets get the consecutive games record is against the very team that holds it, the Los Angeles Lakers. I guess it was a bit premature to call McGrady done. Maybe he'll see the second round of the playoffs yet.
Sunday is going to be interesting. The Lakers get a potentially easy game against the Kings with Ron Artest having another freak out and claiming over the phone to be injured only hours before the last game and no indication if he's coming back. Then you have the Suns and the Spurs battling it out. The Suns loose and it extends the Lakers cushion in the division, the Spurs lose it extends the Lakers cushion in the conference and it gives them back to back losses. Well, if you look at it in a cup half full kind of way.
If Detroit somehow loses to the Bulls (not likely) then that ties the Lakers and the Pistons for 2nd best record in the league, with the Spurs only a game behind. The Western Conference is just stacked this year.
Sunday is going to be interesting. The Lakers get a potentially easy game against the Kings with Ron Artest having another freak out and claiming over the phone to be injured only hours before the last game and no indication if he's coming back. Then you have the Suns and the Spurs battling it out. The Suns loose and it extends the Lakers cushion in the division, the Spurs lose it extends the Lakers cushion in the conference and it gives them back to back losses. Well, if you look at it in a cup half full kind of way.
If Detroit somehow loses to the Bulls (not likely) then that ties the Lakers and the Pistons for 2nd best record in the league, with the Spurs only a game behind. The Western Conference is just stacked this year.
This is the first time I can ever remember the NBA regular season mattering this much. It used to matter with a couple of teams/seeds. This year it's a whole conference. The standings change every day, it's really entertaining and as a fan I love it.
I have to give props to the rockets for thier winning streak. Doesn't matter if their schedule of late has been cupcakes/great teams or whatever, 18 wins in a row is 18 wins in a row. The question is can this regular season success translate to the playoffs and get TMac out of the first round. I think that's why more people aren't talking about it that much. It's a "let's see how they do in the playoffs" mentality. It just adds to excitement of the best regualr season I've ever seen.
I have to give props to the rockets for thier winning streak. Doesn't matter if their schedule of late has been cupcakes/great teams or whatever, 18 wins in a row is 18 wins in a row. The question is can this regular season success translate to the playoffs and get TMac out of the first round. I think that's why more people aren't talking about it that much. It's a "let's see how they do in the playoffs" mentality. It just adds to excitement of the best regualr season I've ever seen.
Good win from the Warriors last night. I thought that was the game they were going to lose on this 4 game, 5 day trip but they made up for the Charlotte loss. I can't believe it was the defense that won that game. And people say the Warriors don't have good defense. I think it might just be coming together at the right time.
Agreed about the Rockets. I thought losing Yau would hurt them but they keep on winning. It's unreal.
Agreed about the Rockets. I thought losing Yau would hurt them but they keep on winning. It's unreal.
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Hey, no counting out those Pistons yet. They've had a pretty good year this year too, and I like their chances against any team they get matched up against.
Wow, so Shaq and the Suns show signs of life, they may have just shown everyone just why they picked up Shaq. Great comeback victory for the Suns.
I'll give the Suns all the credit in the world. I knew the Spurs were in trouble as soon as Shaq was diving into the stands for a loose ball. Not sure, if he can play like that consistently, but I tip my hat to the Suns. They just wanted it more.
As for the Spurs, seems like they don't quite understand how tight the west is this year. I think they're just bored waiting for the playoffs to start. They'd better win Monday against Denver or they'll get a nice lesson in how tight the playoff race is.
Again, great win Suns hope we meet again in the playoffs for some great basketball.
As for the Spurs, seems like they don't quite understand how tight the west is this year. I think they're just bored waiting for the playoffs to start. They'd better win Monday against Denver or they'll get a nice lesson in how tight the playoff race is.
Again, great win Suns hope we meet again in the playoffs for some great basketball.
I haven't been able to figure the Rocks out this year yet. Are they on a 'our-superstar-is-missing' high, or is it, as some have said, that Yao is way overrated? I'm not sure, but one thing I am sure of, they ain't winning no 33 straight, I don't care who is in front of them.
Yao is great for his size and he has some excellent basketball skills. As with many new players the NBA gets, they need to prove themselves first before getting overhyped. While not a Lebron fan, I have to give him credit for living up the hype and then some. I'm not a big Yao fan simply due that he hasn't shown me anything that you don't expect from someone his size.
I think the Rockets play better without him cause they don't get so focused on getting the ball to Yao and they have better ball movement and Tmac can work better. This winning streak is nice for them and I give them all the props in the world. I don't think it'll turn into playoff success for them, but if it does, I'll be the first to give them props.
I think the Rockets play better without him cause they don't get so focused on getting the ball to Yao and they have better ball movement and Tmac can work better. This winning streak is nice for them and I give them all the props in the world. I don't think it'll turn into playoff success for them, but if it does, I'll be the first to give them props.
The regular season doesn't matter any more or less this season than any other. But this regular season has been the most exciting in years. I haven't seen as many good teams so evenly matched and in the same conference in many years. Even the two best teams in the east (Boston and Detroit) would still be two of the best if they played in west.
Its been great so far. The playoffs should be awsome this year.
I guess I'm just used to this point of the season the playoff teams already being seperated from the lottery teams and it's all about seeding/HCA. A little losing streak in West and even the 6-9 seeds in the East (anyone been follwoing the 76ers?) could put you out. I love how exciting it is and how close the competition is.
Wow, so the Lakers just got upset by the Kings. It's like the Lakers forgot what defense was. What a bizarrely officiated game. All kinds of contact allowed, but then they'll call weird small fouls. After calling lightning quick 3-seconds violations in the first half, they forget that the 3-second violation even exists in the second half. Oh well, they maintain their 1/2 game lead.
Urg, friggin lakers have to make monday worse than it already is!
Urg, friggin lakers have to make monday worse than it already is!
Good defense in the 2nd half and Kobe trying to pass to his teammates a little too often. Kings played pretty good ball denial on Kobe for the game. It also didn't help that the reserves decided they wanted to keep the ball more often than not. Every time Kobe drove he either did some crazy ill advised pass to teammate who would flub it, or it got stripped an Kobe would complain about not getting a call despite the fact that the refs weren't calling those fouls all game for either side.
What the hell is up with the Rockets?
Jeez!
I guess getting rid of that slacker Yao Ming really helped...
I was hoping the Lakers would end this streak on Sunday, but with Gasol out, our chances just diminished significantly. I hope he doesn't miss too much.
Spraining his ankle stepping on his own man. DAMN!
Jeez!
I guess getting rid of that slacker Yao Ming really helped...
I was hoping the Lakers would end this streak on Sunday, but with Gasol out, our chances just diminished significantly. I hope he doesn't miss too much.
Spraining his ankle stepping on his own man. DAMN!
Yeah, losing "T'Pau" definitely diminishes any chance the Lakers had of stopping the Rockettes. However, Houston plays the C's the following night, so likely the streak ends there. If the Rocks somehow manage to beat the C's too, then we may be looking at the eventual west representative in the Finals even with their lack of playoff cred.What the hell is up with the Rockets?
I was hoping the Lakers would end this streak on Sunday, but with Gasol out, our chances just diminished significantly. I hope he doesn't miss too much.
Spraining his ankle stepping on his own man. DAMN!
Regardless, I still don't see the Rockets going 33 straight.
You guys can't bitch about losing Gasol when the Rockets have merely continued their streak without Yao. I think it's 12 with, 10 without. So, sorry - your excuse doesn't wash. 
Lost amid streak talk is the fact that the Nuggets beat Seattle 168-116 yesterday - in regulation no less.
Lost amid streak talk is the fact that the Nuggets beat Seattle 168-116 yesterday - in regulation no less.
A Deja Vu to the late 80s NBA!
Man Seattle must be really deflated right now cause you know your team is really bad when you score 116 but still lose by 52.
