Top 5 teams in the NBA

[Zelda_fan]

This is my top 5 at this moment

1) Lakers - returning champs strengthened with Ron Artest. Enough said.
2) Orlando - Their dominance in the post will be nearly impossible for any team to counter.
3) Suns - This is the best basketball I have ever seen this team play. And that includes the 3 seasons they ranked #1 in the league. Nash has never played better, and Amare looks like he finally tuned a corner.
4) Boston - So much talent. If only they could play consistent.
5) Denver - So much raw athleticism and youth. Needs a little more veteran experience.

[Tygerwoody]

Originally Posted by Zelda_fan

This is my top 5 at this moment

1) Lakers - returning champs strengthened with Ron Artest. Enough said.
2) Orlando - Their dominance in the post will be nearly impossible for any team to counter.
3) Suns - This is the best basketball I have ever seen this team play. And that includes the 3 seasons they ranked #1 in the league. Nash has never played better, and Amare looks like he finally tuned a corner.
4) Boston - So much talent. If only they could play consistent.
5) Denver - So much raw athleticism and youth. Needs a little more veteran experience.

You will never give it up. The Suns aren't even a top 10 team. They had a lucky start. That's it.

The real list is:

1. Lakers
2. Boston
3. Denver
4. Orlando
5. Atlanta

[methimpikehoses]

We should put our difference aside and LOL at the Nets. They play the Lakers tomorrow to tie the NBA futility mark.

[Zelda_fan]

Originally Posted by Tygerwoody

You will never give it up. The Suns aren't even a top 10 team. They had a lucky start. That's it.

The real list is:

1. Lakers
2. Boston
3. Denver
4. Orlando
5. Atlanta

Suns are in the top 5 in every analyst's power ranking and Nash is #1 in the "race to the MVP" right now. No one thought Atlanta would be good either. Read it and weep.

[Tygerwoody]

Originally Posted by Zelda_fan

Suns are in the top 5 in every analyst's power ranking and Nash is #1 in the "race to the MVP" right now. No one thought Atlanta would be good either. Read it and weep.

Actually Nash is #3. Get with the times. Kobe and Lebron are in the lead now.

The Hawks have always been up and coming. The Suns have just been lucky. I'll be extremely surprised if they reach 50 wins.

[Zelda_fan]

Originally Posted by Tygerwoody

Actually Nash is #3. Get with the times. Kobe and Lebron are in the lead now.

The Hawks have always been up and coming. The Suns have just been lucky. I'll be extremely surprised if they reach 50 wins.

When I wrote the post Nash was #1. Tonight he had another 16 assist 20 point game in a blowout win.

It's hard to take you seriously when all the Suns do is keep winning games. After the first 8 games you said it was a fluke. Well, now we're 17 games into the season and they're still number one. How many times do they have to win to convince you?

In December they have the hardest schedule of anyone in the NBA. They play the Lakers twice. The Cavs twice. They also play the Spurs, Magic, Celtics, and Mavericks. I don't think they'll win every game, but the way they've been playing I don't think they'll go on a massive losing streak either. Maybe if they come out out of December with the 1-3 seed it'll be enough to convince you...

[Sazar]

Originally Posted by Zelda_fan

When I wrote the post Nash was #1. Tonight he had another 16 assist 20 point game in a blowout win.

It's hard to take you seriously when all the Suns do is keep winning games. After the first 8 games you said it was a fluke. Well, now we're 17 games into the season and they're still number one. How many times do they have to win to convince you?

In December they have the hardest schedule of anyone in the NBA. They play the Lakers twice. The Cavs twice. They also play the Spurs, Magic, Celtics, and Mavericks. I don't think they'll win every game, but the way they've been playing I don't think they'll go on a massive losing streak either. Maybe if they come out out of December with the 1-3 seed it'll be enough to convince you...

No, the reason your predictions are hard to take seriously is the following.

Wed 28 @ LA Clippers W 109-107
Fri 30 vs Golden State W 123-101

November Opponent Result
Sun 01 vs Minnesota W 120-112
Tue 03 @ Miami W 104-96
Wed 04 @ Orlando L 100-122
Fri 06 @ Boston W 110-103
Sun 08 @ Washington W 102-90
Mon 09 @ Philadelphia W 119-115
Wed 11 vs New Orleans W 124-104
Thu 12 @ LA Lakers L 102-121
Sun 15 vs Toronto W 101-100
Tue 17 @ Houston W 111-105
Thu 19 @ New Orleans L 103-110
Sun 22 vs Detroit W 117-91
Wed 25 vs Memphis W 126-111
Fri 27 @ Minnesota W 120-95
Sun 29 @ Toronto W 113-94

I have gone ahead and bolded the teams that actually matter because they are expected to make the playoffs and are actually playing well right now and have good records.

The ONLY team that Phoenix has beaten all season that is any good is Boston. Miami is playing above expectations but is still just 2 games about .500.

Outside of the win over Boston, the other 2 teams that went deep into the playoffs last year demolished the Suns. The Lakers were playing without their 2nd leading scorer at the time and have been integrating Artest all season.

What you can see from the results is that Phoenix plays well and beats the teams they are supposed to. And they have had a VERY soft schedule so far.

Both the Lakers and Boston have had tougher schedules and Orlando's schedule has also been a little tougher.

Further, it's a fact that teams gear up and mark of dates to play against the elite teams. The Suns have coasted along and if they keep up their streak, I expect more teams will start marking them off and take them more seriously.

However, this still does not change the fact that the Suns are simply not a team that is expected to go deep into the playoffs. Check the Suns schedule in December, January and February and you will see a lot of potential pitfalls. IF they can win some of the marquee match-ups, maybe people will take the Suns more seriously.

And, look at the West. Look at the top 8 seeds currently. Outside of Houston and Utah, the Suns are not built to win against ANY of the other teams. Essentially that means that the Suns NEED to be a top 2 seed in order to go to the next round in the playoffs. Any other team in the top 6 would have a far easier time, given the nature of the whoopings the Suns have taken this season against last years finalists.

Heck, even New Orleans showed how it is done, WITHOUT their best player, Chris Paul, a point guard that Nash himself said if he was offered up, his coach would trade him for.

And lastly, regarding the stats that the players are producing, the Suns offense gives you more offensive possessions per game. You EXPECT the players stats to go up. Nash is playing very well but his stats are still padded as a result of the way the team plays.

To give you an example, look at the Knicks. Are the players, outside of David Lee, really that good individually? Or are their stats padded somewhat because of the number of possessions?

[Zelda_fan]

Originally Posted by Sazar

No, the reason your predictions are hard to take seriously is the following.

You can do that little analysis with any team in the NBA right now. The reality is, 17 games into the season, nobody has played a lot of games against top caliber teams. And as it stands, the Suns still have the best record. Most of the "hot" teams (Heat for example) have cooled off. The Suns are still #1.

[Retrolock]

Lakers have had the most home games so far. Let's see if they can maintain their pace.

[Tygerwoody]

The Lakers got Gasol back (their most valuable player). They are going to rip through the competition.

[Noriega]

1.Suns
2.suns
3sunS
4.sUns
5.SuNs

[Zelda_fan]

I actually might be able to get court side tickets to tonights game vs the Suns (they are playing at Madison Square Garden).