So! Do You Still Want to Play Phoenix?

[16to93]

I would MUCH rather plan Pheonix than the Spurs. We just have to come more prepared and hope that they don't shoot something unbelievable like they did last night in the second half. Were one game behind of the Lakers. They still have a game against Pheonix, Portland, and NOK. I can realistically see them only losing one game. Where we still have to play against Denver, NOK, and Seattle. I still think we can do it. Go kings...

 

[Bibby's Tattoo's]

Unfortunately, I believe that game last night is going to leave us playing San Antonio.

 

[tyrant]

1st offf, we aren't winning ANYTHING if steve nash can get 13 assists a game. HE HAS TO BE SHUT DOWN. PERIOD. bell and marion both had 23 point nights. artest has to do a better job on marion. i could live with bell having 20 points, but artest has to shut down marion to less than 15 points and 6 rebounds.

 

[Rockmeister]

I have my second thoughts.

I don't. I'd rather play Phoenix than Dallas or San Antonio.

 

[tyrant]

everybody lets not forget. the suns tied the season series with their win last night. we were up on them 2-1. now its 2-2. we can beat this team in the playoffs.

 

[SacKings384]

Why does everyone always think about the first round? It's the SECOND round that is most important! If you get 8'th seed you face San Antonio then Dallas... If you get the 7th seed you face Phoenix and then Denver or the Clippers! The 7th seed was extrememly important imo... They're not going to get it now, the Lakers are on a huge roll and have no road games left while we have one up in Denver. The Kings will have to run the table to even have a chance...

 

[Kings113]

So, because of one regular season game that was a collapse, playing the Suns gets questioned . I know it wouldn't be like last night in the playoffs, and to answer the question, yup, I would still like to play them in the POs because of our overall advantages.

 

[bibbinator]

The Suns would rather play the Lakers, and the Lakers would rather play the Suns than the Spurs. A Laker win against the Suns makes that most likely.

The Suns won't tank the game on purpose, they'll just "rest" their starters for that game.

 

[Rain man]

Put me on record as saying whether you want the Suns or the Spurs should be a NO-BRAINER. It has to be the Suns. Yeah, we beat the Spurs, but the second night of the back to back effected Duncan much more than anyone else we have. Plus, Tony Parker will never play that poorly throughout an entire series. Finally, the Spurs play great defense.

I am not saying we will beat Phoenix, but the odds are certainly better against the defense-less Suns and their center Tim Thomas than against the Spurs.

Will we get the Suns, there is still a chance. If we beat Denver and have them lose once down the stretch we are back in the same boat, with us in 7th. I think we will beat Denver. It all depends on how seriously Phoenix approaches the game with the Lakers. Of course they would never publicly say they want to lose to avoid Sacramento, but playing Nash "limited minutes to rest him for the playoffs" is not out of the question.

However, the flip side is that D'Antoni cannot be happy with how his team has played recently and wants them to get as much floor time together as possible to better integrate Thomas and figure out how to play some D before the playoffs.

There is zero chance LA loses to Portland, and slim chances that they lose to NOK. It is too bad the NOK game won't be played this week when the Hornets still have something to play for...

 

[Kev.in]

I'd rather get the Suns. In the first half they look dispirited and on the verge of being done for the night. Phoenix was getting rocked, but the Kings didn't have the mental focus or discipline to deliver the knocout blow.

I think the Spurs are just as vulnerable, with Ginobili and Duncan both slowed by chronic injury. SacKings384 brings up the key point, the 2nd round. If the Kings are going to knock off one of the top 2 seeds, why not take it to the WCF? The Nuggets/Clippers is an easier road to the WCF than dealing with Dallas and the unmatchupable Dirk Nowitzki.

 

[Kings113]

I think Ron could well match-up with Dirk.

 

[BawLa]

I think you have to say yes just because of the potential 2nd round matchups. Playing the Suns and then Nuggs/Memphis/LAC would be a much easier route than playing SA and then Dallas.

And don't throw the idea of 7th out just yet because we play @Den, then home against NO and Seattle. Those are all easy wins for us. LA has to play Phx just like we did and they will get slaughtered. Somehow we have the tiebreaker against them so as long as they lose that game and we win our last 3, then we will see Phoenix in the 1st round.

 

[Kings113]

We have the better division and conference records over the Lakers, by solid amount too.

 

[Kev.in]

I think Ron could well match-up with Dirk.

He could do a good job, but I think Dirk will still get his 26ppg and Brad Miller will be matched up with a smaller guy the whole series. Not the most comforting thought.

 

[Kings113]

Well, I meant for a pretty good deal of the series. You can have SAR/KT/Ron on him, and Brad/SAR/Potapenko on Diop/Dampier/Dirk (not so much Pot on Dirk).

 

[Jbeasey]

wait...how do we have the tiebreaker? i didnt know that. makes it a little more interesting then i thought. i was so broken hearted with the loss last night. i am currently visiting my parents in socal so watched the warriors play the worst basketball ive ever seen.

i think the suns are way too inconsistant. we will either win by a few or get blown out. i believe it will alwyas be a game with the spurs. playoffs are a whole diff world though. we need to get the 7 spot for any chance of the big picture.

 

[Kamehameha]

Either team, and I hate to say this, should destroy us over a 7 game series.

We can't run with the Suns and we can't raise enough offense to play with the Spurs over 7 games.

Before the injuries on the Suns, if I had a choice, I'd rather play the Spurs. I think we can at least get a few lucky rolls and perhaps the coach is holding out on us all and wants to establish a little post game.

Now with no Tim Thomas or Amare - I'll take the Suns. But, again, the only way we can beat that team is through a new team dynamic on offense. Bibby can't run down and shoot a transition 3. We need to wear them down.

At the end of the day though, in my opinion, the question is really:

How do you want to get beat in the first round?
Do you want to lose to overwhelming offense or overwhelming defense?

 

[Bricklayer]

We have the better division and conference records over the Lakers, by solid amount too.

Division of course = courtesy of our good friends, the Clips.

At this point here is where we are:

One game behind the Lakers. Both teams have 3 games to play. We own the tiebreaker (we went 2-2 vs. the Lakers, but win the next tiebreaker, whihc is conference record, no matter what happens in the last three games) so the Lakers have to finish a game ahead to beat us for #7. Lakers final three games are all at home vs. Portland, Phoenix, and New Orleans. Portland is near automatoc (having lost 14 straight on the road I think). But Phoenix always beats the Lakers (if they really want too -- interesting). And New Orleans on the final game of the season will only matter to the Hornets if they beat us on Sunday and have a chance to steal #8.

Lakers could sweep, especially if Phoenix does not really come to play. But they could also easily drop 1 in there, and the most important thing for us is no more letdowns. If we lose one more, we're almost certainly locked into #8 (then Lakers would have to lose 2 of their last 3 at home). If we win out, then Lakers have to win out as well to hold onto the spot. Ball is in their court, but we've still got a solid shot at #7 as long as we keep the pressure on.


P.S. #6 is still theoretically possible, but if the Clips win tonight against Portland (a safe bet), then that's off the table.