Phx-Suns.Net

Yes, it's early and you're welcome to change your opinion if a trade happens before the season starts but what are you're expectations for this new season? Will we be worse, the same, or better? If better, how much better? We had the advantage of surprise last year. We won't have that this year. How will that affect things? We lost Channing Frye. Will that have a big or minimal impact?

I think that the team will be better, but will probably have about the same record. Channing is a loss, and IT is going to add, but a lot of the teams in the West got better.

Sup, I have to take umbrage with your poll questions. "Better than last year" and "Significantly better than last year" seems like the same group. We missed 6th place by 3 games. I think the last option should have been top 4 seed.

Indy wrote:Sup, I have to take umbrage with your poll questions. "Better than last year" and "Significantly better than last year" seems like the same group. We missed 6th place by 3 games. I think the last option should have been top 4 seed.

Yeah, I see your point. I was just thinking how tough the West is and how it's going to only get better. Top four just seems extremely unlikely. Just getting into the 7th or 8th seed would be a major accomplishment. But yeah, there's not much room in there. I'll see if I can bump it up.

Edit: I made a compromise. What does everybody think?

Superbone wrote: I was just thinking how tough the West is and how it's going to only get better.

Actually, I think the West is going to be worse than it was last year. I don't think all 8 playoff teams will have 50+ wins.

I say top 6 but that is just the fan in me. The west is too competitive to really be sure about much. The only thing I can say reliably is that the barring injuries the Spurs and Thunder will be the top two teams in the west. I think everything else is a crap shoot.

Three through nine last year was a 9 game difference. I think the Pelicans will probably make it a 10 team race in the west. I think the 3-10 spots will be really competitive and who knows who will pull it out.

I think as long as we stay healthy we will make the playoffs.

Superbone wrote:

Indy wrote:Sup, I have to take umbrage with your poll questions. "Better than last year" and "Significantly better than last year" seems like the same group. We missed 6th place by 3 games. I think the last option should have been top 4 seed.

Yeah, I see you point. I was just thinking how tough the West is and how it's going to only get better. Top four just seems extremely unlikely. Just getting into the 7th or 8th seed would be a major accomplishment. But yeah, there's not much room in there. I'll see if I can bump it up.

Edit: I made a compromise. What does everybody think?

Thanks. The eternal optimist in me went with the highest anyway.

I think the Suns will have more talent on their roster then last year. They still have major holes upfront, that will hold them back from being a contender until they are addressed, but I think the goal, and obtainable one at that, should be playoffs. They are talented enough to be One of the top 8 teams in the west.

Sunsfan4life wrote:PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

Championship or bust

INFORMER wrote:

Sunsfan4life wrote:PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

We are paying Len 4 on a rookie contract.

I don't see your point.

INFORMER wrote:

Sunsfan4life wrote:PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

We're paying Tolliver $3 million, not $5 million.....

There's some optimists on this board. I voted "same." If we make it to 50 wins I'll be pleasantly surprised.

SwingMan wrote:

INFORMER wrote:

Sunsfan4life wrote:PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

We're paying Tolliver $3 million, not $5 million.....

Tolliver is second-string on SF4L's depth chart.

carey wrote:There's some optimists on this board. I voted "same." If we make it to 50 wins I'll be pleasantly surprised.

That's what makes the poll somewhat problematic. The Suns could win 49 games again, but that might be good for the 7th seed this season instead of the 9th seed like last season. So if that happens, are Suns "same" or "better"?

It may have been best just to say:

"Miss the playoffs"
"Playoff Team (no home court)"
"Top 4 team"

Is this the most doughnutty team ever?

Plumlee and Kieff are good, but no All-Stars, and we're depending on them completely. Len has proven nothing in the NBA. Randolph has proven only that he doesn't belong. Tolliver and Mook are nominally PFs, but don't do much in the paint.

Yet at the 1-3 positions we are stacked. Two All-Star caliber starting guards, a starter-caliber reserve, and so much depth on the wings that it will be impossible to give everyone the minutes they deserve when the team is healthy.

It's like Run TMC. They were fun to watch, but never got very far without some help in the middle.

To me, the big hole on the team is a starting caliber or higher PF. I think we are going to see a big step up from the center position this year. And, although I think PJ is a tough player and a great guy to have our there, I think that TJ has some All-Star potential in him.

I think there is slightly more talent on this team than last year, but the Suns won't surprise anybody like they did last season. Teams know the Suns will be competitive.

Cap ... the most doughnutty Suns team might be the one that started Jeff Cook and Alvan Adams up front in the early 80s.

INFORMER wrote:

Superbone wrote: I was just thinking how tough the West is and how it's going to only get better.

Actually, I think the West is going to be worse than it was last year. I don't think all 8 playoff teams will have 50+ wins.

Why do you think that? Worse because they're not as good or worse records because they're beating up on each other? What Western playoff teams from last year are going to be worse?