SUNS Stands For... See U Next Season?

With 19 games left in the NBA regular season, the Phoenix Suns currently sit one spot out of the Western Conference playoffs, trailing the #8 seed Dallas Mavericks by four games. With a win tonight against those same Mavs, the Suns would still be three games out with 18 to go. Even if the Suns were to go 14-4 in those 18 games, the Mavs would only need to finish 11-7 to make the playoffs ahead of the Suns. It's a precarious situation for the Suns to be in, and one which begs the question: Are the Phoenix Suns, as we know them, finished?

The Suns have shown no ability to put together any type of run this season, something that has been a staple of the last three years. And with just 18 games to go, it would have to be a hell of a run. Despite how well they have played at times under Alvin Gentry (beating the Lakers), they have also played terrible (going 0-4 on their recently completed road trip). Grant Hill described tonight's game as the 'Super Bowl'. Steve Nash said the playoffs start now for the Suns.

Is it already too late?

As Doug from Doug and Wolf in the morning opined yesterday, do the SUNS stand for See U Next Season? Is all hope lost for this team?

Even if the Suns were to somehow pass the Mavs and make the playoffs as the #8 seed, they would have a first round matchup with the Lakers. And the latest result notwithstanding, do the Suns actually have a chance to beat the Lakers in the playoffs? With Amare, i'd say maybe. Without? I don't give them much of a chance.

So for the sake of an argument, let's say the Suns don't make the playoffs. Let's say they go into the draft with the 14th pick, too many aging players, and too much money on the books. See U Next Season? We might see the Suns team next season, but we won't be seeing the same Suns players. It's time to face the facts and come to the realization that your Run and Gun Phoenix Suns are over.

I would not be surprised to see the Suns trade Shaq and Nash in the offseason (Sorry Ben, just my opinion...). It's no secret Robert Sarver will be cutting payroll next season in an effort to get under the salary cap. Say what you will about Sarver, but you can't say he didn't go for it all the last four years. And maybe the Suns didn't win it all, but if not for a bad break here or there they may have. That's not Sarver's fault. Do i think he's a great owner? No, but i also don't think he's horrible. He's shown a willingness to go after free agents and trades (Nash, Shaq, JRich); whether they worked out or not is debatable.

But i think Sarver is seeing the writing on the wall that most Suns fans are reluctant to acknowledge: This team's window is over. They had a good run, but they're just not the same anymore. And it's time to start the rebuilding process.

It's not going to be easy, or quick. That's what happens when you go for it and don't make it. The Suns won't have major cap room for a couple of years. They don't have many quality young players. They haven't developed anyone. They don't have good draft picks available to them. In short, they're in trouble. Even if they deal Nash and Shaq in the offseason, or Nash and Amare possibly, they're not going to get equal value back. They just won't. What the Suns will get is maybe some young talent, maybe a decent NBA starter, and a couple of draft picks. And that's where they will start.

But it's going to be a long, uphill battle. The Suns aren't going to be good next year. Or the year after that. Or maybe the year after that. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it's true. Rebuilding in the NBA is not easy. Especially with the situation the Suns are in.

Suns fans, enjoy it while you can. This may be the last chance you get to watch a decent Suns team in a couple of years, and this might be the last chance you get to see Nash, Amare, or Shaq in a Suns uniform. We'll be seeing the Suns next season, but it won't be the same...

Game 1

It has taken me a few hours to put my down my first thoughts, mostly because it was such an amazing game. Going into the series, everyone was convinced this was the series to watch. It was the first round, but everyone thought it would be the most entertaining series of the entire postseason. Some people had gone so far as to call this match-up the best first-round series in the history of the NBA.

Game 1 did not disappoint.

In a game that went into two overtimes, that featured three game tying three point shots with under 15 seconds left in what could have been the game, i am left with only one thought:

This will be fun.

My immediate reaction after watching the game is that the Suns, after losing, now had almost zero chance to win the series. They played what looked to be a perfect game, never trailing until the last minutes of regulation, and leading going into the final possessions of both regulation and the first overtime.

The Suns seemingly had every chance and opportunity to win this game, but couldn't put it away. And with all the luck once again falling to the Spurs with two late improbable three's, the Suns could easily pack it in and fall by the wayside.

But i don't think this Suns team will do that.

After a couple of hours have passed, and looking at the box score, there is one glaring thing that tells me the Suns may still have a chance in this series: They played like crap.

The box score tells the story. Amare shot 13-26, or 50%. He has shot 59% for the season. Grant Hill, who personally i think his groin injury is still bothering him, had only 5 points. Shaq, while great in both overtimes, barely played in regulation and wasn't good when he did. Steve Nash shot only 9-20. And by the way, the Suns play much better when Nash doesn't have to shoot so much and take over games. Gordon Giricek, who has been an offensive spark the last 20 games, had only 2 points. Barbosa, who i thought actually played pretty well, still had only 12 points when he averaged 15.6 on the season. I think i was most impressed offensively by Raja Bell, and he's in there for his defense, not his offense.

While it was a hard-fought, highly entertaining and well-contested basketball game, i still can't shake the feeling that the Suns did not play their best game. They were taken out of their game early and often because of both Shaq's and Amare's foul troubles. They shot 50% from the field, which isn't bad, but only 31.3% from beyond the arc, making only 5 three's. I understand the Spurs play the Suns in such a way as to take away their three-point shot, but they still could have done better.

Regardless, this series is shaping up to be another classic battle. Say what you will about the Suns, but they always seem to be involved in some of the most entertaining and memorable postseason series in NBA history...

NBA Picks

My god, i've been waiting for the NBA Playoffs since November when the season started. Actually, that's not correct. I've been waiting for this year's playoffs since the Suns were eliminated in that travesty of a second round series against the Spurs (Sterns) last year. I could not be more excited that they're finally here...

In lieu of an actual preview, today i'm just going to be posting my picks for the first round games. I will have analysis after each of the Suns' games. Off we go!

Eastern Conference:
Boston over Atlanta in 4 (No chance for Atlanta)
Detroit over Philly in 5 (Pistons will be focused)
Orlando over Toronto in 6 (Orlando tends to not be focused at times)
Cleveland over Washington in 6 (The Wiz will push the Cavs, but LeBron still plays for Cleveland)

Western Conference:
Los Angeles over Denver in 5 (I almost made this 4 games...)
New Orleans over Dallas in 6 (Don't care about youth or inexperience. The Hornets are the better team)
Utah over Houston in 5 (Houston has no chance)
Phoenix over San Antonio in 7 (I just don't see how this series goes less than the distance)

NFL Picks

Ok, so another crappy week last week, going 2-2. That puts me at 4-4 in the playoffs. How spectacularly mediocre. That means that in order to finish the 7-4 i predicted, i need to go 3-0 for the conference championships and Super Bowl. Yikes. Anyway, on to the picks.

New England -14 over San Diego
First off, both of the lines this week are way too high. Or, at least, higher than i thought they would be. Which sucks. Second, this San Diego team is hard to figure out. Are they really that good? With Philip Rivers and Norv! leading this team? And losing Rivers and LT during the game last week? Really?

I still don't trust them. I just can't! 14 points is a lot though, even on the road. And the Patriots haven't been covering at all lately. Still, i don't think the Chargers can hang, especially with Rivers, LT, and Gates all questionable.

Green Bay -7.5 over New York Giants
I don't like that this line has gone up a half point, i would feel a lot better if it was at 7. The forecast for Sunday in Green Bay is a high in the single digits, with wind chills below 0. Yes, the Giants play in cold weather, but the Packers, especially Brett Favre, are built for weather like this. I think they get ahead early, and after three weeks of solid performances by Eli, i think he takes a step back and struggles mightily. I like a Green Bay-New England Super Bowl.

Actually, no, i HATE a Green Bay-New England Super Bowl, but i think that's what we're gonna get stuck with...

NFL Picks

Playoffs, Round 2!

So we're on to the second round of the playoffs. Last week i went 2-2, which means i need to finish 5-2 the rest of the way to meet my prediction of 7-4, or finish 4-3 the rest of the way to finish 6-5 and not lose money. On to the picks!

Green Bay -7.5 over Seattle
Last week aside, when the C-Hox did exactly as i said they would, i have been betting against them all year long because they are terrible. As in, really terrible. You realize they got 5 of their 10 wins against the 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals right? And four more against the Ravens, Bears, Bengals, and Eagles? They have one good win, against the Bucs, and that was at home in the first game of the season! They have no good wins!

Oh, and let's see, what else... Hasselbeck has an injured throwing wrist (did you see him shaking it the rest of the game after he re-injured it in the 2nd quarter?), Alexander is D-U-N done as an elite running back, and maybe as a running back period. DJ Hackett and Deion Branch are both banged up. This team is supposed to walk into the Frozen Tundra and beat the Packers?

Don't buy it. The Packers are rolling, Favre is playing well, and they actually have a running game since the middle of the season in Ryan Grant. I'm not even sure this game will be close...

New England -13 over Jacksonville
This is this week's 'everyone is leaning one way, so go the other'. Oddly enough, this game last week also involved the Jags. Unlike last week, i don't think they will win this game. Did you see Jacksonville practically collapse in the 2nd half last week? They almost lost that game! And they're supposed to hang with the Patriots?

I see it going like this: Belichick has had two weeks to prepare, and he is a master of this. The Patriots will come out firing on offense and defense, get a big early lead, and go on cruise control in the 2nd half. They will cover easily. That's what i see

Indianapolis -9 over San Diego
Now this is the game i've been waiting for. Bet the house! Did you see how terrible the Chargers looked in the first half against the Titans last week? That was at home! They were terrible! They still only finished with 17 points!

The Chargers, behind Phillip Rivers and the Norv! face, are not going to come into the RCA dome and beat the Colts. They're just not. My prediction is a fight between Rivers and LT somewhere about the middle of the 3rd quarter, after the Chargers go 3 and out on their second possession of the 2nd half and are behind by 17 points...

New York Football Giants +7.5 over Dallas
So i picked favorites in the first three games, and i was thisclose to doing it again for this game. But, one favorite always loses, and we haven't had a matchup of #1 seeds in the Super Bowl since 1995 (ish). The Cowboys absolutely coasted into the playoffs, not playing good football and being banged up. T.O. is still hurting, and though he will play i'm not sure how effective he will be.

Plus, as i've stated before, it's hard to beat a team three times in one season, and Dallas has already beat the Giants twice. The Giants are actually playing good ball, and even Eli looked pretty good on the road last week. And even though Eli is still unproven in big games, so really is Tony Romo (last year's Seattle game anyone?). And i'll take Tom Coughlin over Wade Phillips any day. I can't believe i'm doing this, but i'm taking the Giants.

World Series Update

Forget everything i said in my last post.

Red Sox in 5.

I hate the Red Sox...

World Series Preview

Preview is a 'loose' term. I am not really going to break down either team, nor am i really going to go into any detail regarding either team. In fact, i should have named this post World Series Prediction, but i'm too lazy to go back and change the title now. Deal with it.

Honestly, i'm not even sure which team to pick. Logic tells me to pick the Sox (who [whom?] i hate), because they seem to have the most going for them. The have the better hitters, they have the better pitching, with the possible exception of middle relief. They also have home field, and as they proved in 2004 and again in this years ALCS, Fenway can be a magical place for the Red Sox. They know the angles, they know the quirks, and the other team most assuredly does not (Cleveland third base coach holding up Lofton in 7th inning of Game 7 after weird bounce? Anyone? Bueller?).

The illogical part of me tells me to pick the Rockies, mostly due to their unbelievable run over the past three weeks. 21 of 22? Are you kidding me? Really? That's unheard of, just a ridiculous cavalcade of things that had to go right for them to even make the playoffs, then run roughshod over their first two opponents in the playoffs. The layoff scares me a little, but people were saying the same thing during their layoff before the Dbacks series, and that didn't seem to bother them much. As for the actual team match up, about the only thing the Rockies have going for them is their defense, which was far and away the best defense in baseball this year. Other than that, the Rockies would appear to be grossly over matched in this series.

All this is not to mention another stat, the fact that the NL hasn't won back to back World Series since 1982 (need i remind you the Cardinals won it last year from the NL?). All this adds up to what seems to be a staggering amount of information pointing to Boston. Then again, if there is one hard and fast rule of gambling, it's look at the team that the public is overwhelmingly in favor of, and go the other way. This rule, much like the Rockies entire season, seems to go against all logic...

My Pick: Rockies in 6

NLCS

I won't for a second blame this entire series on one person. The entire Dbacks roster pulled a 'Cubs', not hitting with runners in scoring position, not pitching well, and not fielding well. They struggled and had bad luck in every possible way, from killing balls to short for outs to watching texas leaguers fall in against them. It was a buzzsaw, with the Rockies getting every call, every break, and all the luck.

With that said: For Christ's sake Conor Jackson. Make one GD play and that inning is over. I know we don't pay you for your defense, but come on. That was fucking pathetic. It's a fucking ground ball for fuck's sake, how the fuck do you boot that? Just catch the fucking ball and toss it to Micah covering first. That's ALL YOU HAVE TO FUCKING DO AND THE INNING IS OVER. Fuck you. Asshole.

Disgrace

That's about as damning a photo as I've seen. He doesn't exactly look like he's just sliding hard into second base. It looks like he's trying to take him out. Either way, that was an absolute embarrassment what the fans did in reaction. We take heat all week for not selling the game out, finally sell it out, and then get a bunch of jackasses throwing bottles onto the field. You know what Phoenix? Remember when i said you need to get out and support your team? Scratch that. If you're gonna act like a bunch of drunken retards stay home. Just stay home. I was there, and yeah, i was booing, but i wasn't about to throw anything on the field. What a joke...

Back later today with more thoughts on the actual game...

One more

Oh, and by the way, Peter Gammons, who is without a doubt the most respected beat writer in Major League Baseball, picked the Dbacks to win in 7.

For the record, i don't think it will take that long, but i still like the pick.

In fact, might as well make this my LCS predictions column. Dbacks in 6, and Red Sox in 5. There it is.

That's It

You got me started. I can't FUCKING STAND listening to John Kruk. He is a fucking moron. Tonight on Baseball Tonight, as he (predictably) picked the Rockies to beat the Dbacks, this is the verbal diarrhea that came out of his month while talking about why the Dbacks would struggle: 'Chris Young strikes out too much.' Hey Kruky, CY may strikeout at times, but HE HIT THE TWO BIGGEST HOME RUNS OF THE NLCS AGAINST THE CUBS. Go fuck yourself.

One of the very few baseball reporters left on ESPN that i still respect, Tim Kurkjian, picked the Dbacks. For what's it worth...

Fuck It

That's right, I said fuck it. The Dbacks are winning Game 1. It's not a prediction, it's a guaran-fucking-tee. The assholes on Baseball Tonight (don't even get me started on John Kruk. He can go fuck himself) are sucking the Rockie's cock. You know what? THEY'RE LOSING GAME 1. Hate to break it to you. Maybe you forgot that Brandon Webb won the Cy Young last year...

Seriously, what the fuck are these assholes problems? Have they not watched the Dbacks at all? They are paid to watch games and pay attention, so PAY FUCKING ATTENTION. The Dbacks are winning Game 1. And the series. You heard it here first. Just keep doubting us assholes, see where it gets you.

FUCK.

Dbacks need your help

Phoenix: The Dbacks need your help. Tomorrow is game 1 of the NLCS, with Game 2 on Friday. There are still approximately 5,000 tickets left for EACH GAME. The rest of the country is already down on the Phoenix fans, i don't want to give them another weapon in their arsenal. Please, please, please show your support and get out to the game! Tickets are as low as $25! It is a chance to see a League Championship Series baseball game. That opportunity does not come along often. So get out there, support your team, and buy a couple tickets to the game. You'll enjoy it, I promise.

But tickets here.

NLDS

I promised i would be back today with a more complete write-up on the Diamondbacks NLDS sweep of the Chicago Cubs last night, and here I am. It's really a struggle though, to figure out how and what to write about this team, as it is a struggle to explain how this team keeps winning games. The Diamondbacks defy all traditional measures of statistically judging how a team is performing, but all they do is win. After the series sweep of the Cubs, the Dbacks showed the entire country exactly why you throw out the numbers when it comes to the Dbacks.

Chris Young got the game started on the very first pitch, serving a Rich Hill fastball to the rabid Wrigley Field Bleacher crowd in left field, immediately taking the Cubs fans out of the game and setting the tone for the game. In a must win situation for the Cubs, for Young to homer on the first pitch was incredibly deflating. The timing of it was perfect if you're a Dbacks fan, and terrible if you're a Cubs fan. And really, in that one pitch and one moment, was a microcosm of the entire series. The Cubs showed an amazing ineptitude to come up big when they needed to, while the Dbacks absolutely thrived in those situations.

Livan Hernandez was in trouble all night long, not getting a 1-2-3 inning until the 6th, his last. However, he was always able to work himself out of it. Three times in the first five innings Hernandez induced inning ending double plays, including one in a bases loaded situation. Each time, the Cubs fans at Wrigley Field were ready to explode at any hint of success at the plate; each time the Dbacks make the key pitch or defensive play. Their sense of timing was epic, their fearlessness of the situation grandiose. For all the talk about how young these Dbacks were, maybe their really were too young to know any better. Ignorance is bliss.

Or maybe, just maybe, Josh Byrnes and the rest of the Arizona front office knew exactly what they were doing when they put this team together, with these guys, in this situation. There was Stephen Drew, who struggled all year long at the plate, getting 7 hits, with one triple, one double, and two home runs. There was Chris Young, the first rookie in MLB history to have 30 home runs and 25+ stolen bases, continuing his season into the playoffs with two home runs, both at critical times. There were Mark Reynolds and Drew, absolutely locking down the left side of the infield on defense throughout the series. And then there was Justin Upton, the just-turned-20 phenom who started the year in Single A ball. In just two games, he had three hits, an RBI, a stolen base, scored 2 runs, and drew three walks. For a rookie in his first postseason experience, Upton showed maturity beyond his years.

And i still have not gotten to the pitching staff. I'm not sure what else i can say at this point. They were lights out, starting with Webb in Game 1 showing why he won the Cy Young last year. The Cubs scored just 6 runs in the entire series, including both Game 1 and the decisive Game 3 in which they put up just one run in each. The Dbacks bullpen had an ERA of .108. Chicago posted a team Batting Average of .194 for the series, including .87 with runners in scoring position. They struck out 35 times, more than 11 a game. They stranded 9 runners in each of the three games. They had just one home run, from a team who was known as a power team. The Cubs top four hitters went 9-36, with 14 K's and just one RBI between them.

I could go on and on, but again, with the Dbacks the numbers don't mean anything. They just win. They just win. And as Eric Byrnes put it after the series clinching win, "We won this series. The Cubs didn't lose it."

I couldn't agree more.

NL West

So, I could be wrong because, you know, i'm a bit biased and all, but umm, aren't the two teams in the NLCS from the NL West? And umm, didn't one of those teams finish with the best record in the NL? I mean, i could be wrong, but i really think the two best teams in the NL (according to record, playoffs, and everything else) came from the NL West. Or, the NL Worst as it was called last year.

Seems like the left coast is making some strides in the world of baseball...

NLCS!

That was awesome! Back tomorrow with a more detailed post, but the Dbacks are through to the next round! A complete sweep of the Cubs, who saw that coming?

For a team that had no one outside of Phoenix believing in them, the Dbacks threw up a fantastic series. Great job, way to go, and bring on the Rockies! Go Dbacks!

2-0 Dbacks

What a fantastic game to go to. The Dbacks go down early, then respond a half inning later with a three-run shot by Chris Young into the left field stands. And the Dbacks never looked back. And even though all four runs scored by the Cubs were credited to Doug Davis, the last two should have been retired on a double play except Augie Ojeda botched the catch on 2nd base. Even so, Double D threw a great game, and really limited the Cubs. And once again the bullpen was stellar, allowing no runs in the last three innings. Chicago stranded 9 runners, the same amount they stranded the night before. That won't win you many baseball games.

Speaking of Augie Ojeda... where did this guy come from? Since replacing Orlando Hudson when he went down with a thumb injury, Ojeda has done nothing but lead the team in Batting Average, going something ridiculous like .360 to finish the regular season, and .571 through two games of the playoffs. The guy is raking right now, and his play on the field (with the notable exception listed above) has been stellar. That botched double play was his FIRST ERROR OF THE SEASON. Can you say impressive?

And the young kids keep on impressing. Justin Upton, at just 20 years old and playing in his first playoff game, had a single and two walks in four at-bats. Chris Young went yard (again), Mark Reynolds had a good day defensively if not terribly impressive at the plate, and Stephen Drew was once again hot. For a guy who hit .230 in the regular season, he has been on fire the last two weeks. I guess if you're going to pick a time to get hot, it might as well be the last two weeks of the regular season and the playoffs.

So, the Dbacks head to Chicago with a 2-0 series lead in this Best Of 5. They need only to get one win in two tries at Wrigley to end the series, or if not bring it back home for a Game 5 with Brandon Webb on the mound. Either way, i think they're good. But i think they will find a way to finish it in Chicago over the weekend...

Game 2

Game 2 between the Dbacks and Cubs kicks off tonight at 7:00pm Pacific time at Chase Field in Phoenix. I will be at this game, cheering loudly and unabashedly for the Dbacks. For those of you back home in the Midwest, bite me. The Dbacks are my team, and have been since i moved here more than a year ago. I rooted for them last year when they finished 10 games under .500, and i'm rooting for them this year as they finished with the best record in the NL. I had partial season tickets, and went to more baseball games this year than in my whole life combined. So no, i feel no obligation to be rooting for the Cubs.

Now that i have that off my chest, i'm a little nervous about the matchup tonight. Doug Davis has been stellar most of the 2nd half, but has had a few pretty bad games thrown in there. Hopefully he gets off to a good start in the 1st and carries it through. I do believe, either way, that the Dbacks will need to score more than the three runs they scored last night in order to win tonight. Just a hunch.

Anyway, i'm off. Have fun watching the game tonight, and Go Dbacks!

1-0 Dbacks

That's the series score, not the game score.

Two things you need to know, that's it: Great starting pitching, from both sides. Brandon Webb and Carlos Zambrano were lights out. Period. Unfortunately for the Cubs, their bullpen let them down (again), and the Dbacks bullpen was fantastic (again).

Anybody, anytime: The Dbacks got their two biggest hits, the two solo home runs, from a guy who was called up last year, has been shuffled all over the lineup, and has struggled ALL YEAR LONG (Stephen Drew), and a guy who started the year in AA ball and who strikes out a third of the time he's up to bat (Mark Reynolds).

Great performance by Brandon Lyon and Jose' Valverde. 1 win down, 10 to go. Go Dbacks!

Road To 11 Wins

The road to the World Series begins tomorrow, as all series' but Yankees-Indians kicks off tomorrow. It will take 11 wins for one team to win, and i'm making my predictions right here:

ALDS
Yankees over Indians in 5
The Indians quietly flew under the radar most of the year, but finished tied with the Red Sox for best record in MLB. That being said, the Yankees, and Alex Rodriguez in particular, have a lot to prove, and i think this is the year they finally break through.

Red Sox over Angels in 5
Like the Indians, the Angels flew under the radar most of the year, lost in the drama of Red Sox-Yankees once again. The Red Sox though, are too good, and will take the series in the full amount of games.

NLDS:
Rockies over Phillies in 5
Maybe the two hottest teams in baseball going into the playoffs, it's hard to pick a winner here. The Rockies, however, have a feel of a team of destiny, especially after that epic one game, 13-inning playoff to make the playoffs over the Padres on Monday. That team believes right now, and could be very scary.

Diamondbacks over Cubs in 5
I didn't pick a single series to go less than the maximum, but i think they're all going to be tight. The Dbacks won the season series over the Cubs 4-2, and i think they will beat the Cubs again in the playoffs. They have the best bullpen in baseball, and have a knack for late game timely hitting against the opposing teams' bullpen. The Cubs bullpen has been shaky at times (except for Marmol, who does scare me), and with Game 5 in Arizona, i give the Dbacks the edge.