Suns News: Week 21 3/16-3/22

[LazarusLong]

I think we sneak in.

I admire your optimism, and hope it is rewarded.

[Indy]

I think we sneak in.

I admire your optimism, and hope it is rewarded.

I still don't get the benefit of making it in this year. It is not like we are fighting to get in because we had key players miss the first half of the year, or made a big blockbuster trade to make our team great. We are what we have been most of the year, and that just isn't good.

[LazarusLong]

There ya go, being realistic again ....

[Shabazz]

Looking at the rest of the west, I'm more worried about our long-term prognosis than I have been in a while. Utah seems poised to pass us and Minnesota and Sacramento are lurking.

[Indy]

There ya go, being realistic again ....

I have to work on that.

[OE32]

Looking at the rest of the west, I'm more worried about our long-term prognosis than I have been in a while. Utah seems poised to pass us and Minnesota and Sacramento are lurking.

I'm with you. Utah especially, since Gobert's looking like a superstar. No reason to panic, though, imo. We have plenty of value to build with.

[Superbone]

I think we sneak in.

I'll have some of what he's having.

[Superbone]

Looking at the rest of the west, I'm more worried about our long-term prognosis than I have been in a while. Utah seems poised to pass us and Minnesota and Sacramento are lurking.

My optimism has dwindled steadily since this season started.

[Shabazz]

We seem to be in the same boat as Denver in terms of talent. A Lawson/Faried/Nurkic core is pretty comparable to a Bledsoe/Morris/Len core. Maybe Knight takes us a step above them, but both rosters are lacking a star AND a star prospect (with respect to Len & Nurk who will both be very good). The only out-of-the-playoffs Western team in worse shape in both regards is the Lakers and they'll probably get a top 5 pick.

Let's see how this offseason goes, but we may be in for a few more years of this.

[carey]

Let's see how this offseason goes, but we may be in for a few more years of this.

This is my fear as well. Unless McDonough pulls a rabbit out of his hat which probably won't happen.

[Superbone]

Let's see how this offseason goes, but we may be in for a few more years of this.

This is my fear as well. Unless McDonough pulls a rabbit out of his hat which probably won't happen.

Maybe we get McMiracle and McDonut in alternating years.

[pickle]

I think we sneak in.

I admire your optimism, and hope it is rewarded.

I still don't get the benefit of making it in this year. It is not like we are fighting to get in because we had key players miss the first half of the year, or made a big blockbuster trade to make our team great. We are what we have been most of the year, and that just isn't good.

not saying that we will, but if we were to make the playoffs, i would absolutely be for it. i can't see our team winning the lottery, that would be too much good fortune for the phoenix suns. so ... if we managed to squeak into the playoffs, that would mean that team chemistry improved so much that we put together a tremendous stretch of basketball. we can still doubt the talent and the front office, but we can at least be excited for the team again and have reason for optimism.

having said all that, i also don't see us making the playoffs.

[Indy]

I worry that would give the front office misplaced optimism about the current team, much like last years success.

[pickle]

true... i guess the best case scenario is that we play the kiddies and they take us to the playoffs. that way there will be optimism all around and the kiddies will have secure minutes for next season.

[specialsauce]

Best case scenario is both Morrii, Tucker and Green get the boot this offseason

[Indy]

true... i guess the best case scenario is that we play the kiddies and they take us to the playoffs. that way there will be optimism all around and the kiddies will have secure minutes for next season.

That would be something I would like too.

[OE32]

What do you guys think is the best way forward? Aiming for the top of the lottery every year? There are countless teams for whom that strategy hasn't worked.

The Wolves got lucky with Love, turning him into Wiggins. The Jazz got lucky with Gobert (heck, even THEY passed on him once earlier in the draft - or twice, depending on how you count!). A lot of this is just luck.

We're going to have the #11 or #12 pick in this draft. We'll have two picks in each of the next two drafts after this one. We haven't sacrificed our future to get the players we have. We're set up for a sustained run. And hey, things change in this league. And I, for one, am not convinced that TJ can't be just as good as Wiggins. Len has the potential to be a top 5 center. No need to panic.

[ShelC]

I think, if we're moving ahead with this roster, we need a different coach. That's not an indictment of Hornacek, who's a fine coach, but I don't think he's the right fit for this group.

I'd much rather move the Morris Bros, Tucker and maybe Green. Bledsoe if the right deal comes along and commit to Knight, and look to develop Archie as a starter in the backcourt.

[SDC]

I'd much rather move the Morris Bros, Tucker and maybe Green. Bledsoe if the right deal comes along and commit to Knight, and look to develop Archie as a starter in the backcourt.

giving up on bledsoe?

[Indy]

What do you guys think is the best way forward? Aiming for the top of the lottery every year? There are countless teams for whom that strategy hasn't worked.

The Wolves got lucky with Love, turning him into Wiggins. The Jazz got lucky with Gobert (heck, even THEY passed on him once earlier in the draft - or twice, depending on how you count!). A lot of this is just luck.

We're going to have the #11 or #12 pick in this draft. We'll have two picks in each of the next two drafts after this one. We haven't sacrificed our future to get the players we have. We're set up for a sustained run. And hey, things change in this league. And I, for one, am not convinced that TJ can't be just as good as Wiggins. Len has the potential to be a top 5 center. No need to panic.

Count the number of championships won by teams without a top 5 player in the league that they drafted (or acquired on draft night--same thing). I haven't yet, but I would bet you won't find more than a couple examples over the past 50 years.