Is this our best shot at a ring ever?

[JCSunsfan]

The 75/6 Suns were a Cinderella team that made it to the finals through grit and good luck.

The early 90's Suns teams were great but always had injury issues come playoff time.

This year, we have the best offense in the league, the best record in the league, the best road record in the league, and no Michael Jordan in the league.

We are also quite healthy for this time of year.

This might be the best opportunity the Suns have ever had at getting a title?

Thoughts?

 

[Chaplin]

No. I think our best chance ever was 92-93. We were a better team than the Chicago Bulls, no question. We just had some bad games by KJ and some killer performances by Michael Jordan.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I actually think our BEST shot was in 1995 - you have to look at it from what was going on befor ethe playoffs - when injuries weren't a factor yet and up until Game 5 of that Houston series - we were the team to beat. We won 59 games, we were stinging from BLOWING that series one year earlier to Houston, were on a 10 game winning streak at the end of the regular season - kicked the ever-living CRAP out of the Blazers in three straight games where Charles simply DOMINATED and then kicked Hosuton's ass up and down the court for 2 of our three wins in that series.

All that was ahead of us was the soft as hell Spurs team with Rodman mucking everything up and that young as hell Orlando team - but - Charles destroyed his knee in Game 6 and the rest was history. People remember Charles missing FTs in Game 5 giving Houston life, but what they DON'T remember is that we were kicking Houston's ass in Gasme 6 back in Houston - where Charles was just playing out ofhis mind - 27 pointsin the first half, taking the entire team to school and dunking on people before he suffered the knee injury that practically made him an invalid for the last two quarters of Game 6 and the entirety of Game 7.

I mean - even with Charles on one leg, we still came within 30 seconds of beating the eventual champion. If Charles doesn't get hurt - the team beats SA and Orlando and finally wins the title - even without Manning.

 

[elindholm]

It's kind of hard to disagree with 1993, since the Suns had a four-point lead with a minute left to force Game 7. But I kind of agree with cheesebeef. I really felt the Suns were going to win in 1995. The core had matured together, they had learned how to overcome adversity, they had scores to settle, and they knew their window was closing.

I didn't actually see Game 6 of the series against the Bulls -- please don't offer to send me a video -- so, aside from the end, I don't know how gut-wrenching it really was. But that Game 7 against Houston in 1995 was probably the most crushing defeat I've ever participated in as a Suns fan.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I didn't actually see Game 6 of the series against the Bulls -- please don't offer to send me a video -- so, aside from the end, I don't know how gut-wrenching it really was.

consider yourself blessed. I drove three fourths of the way to Flagstaff from Phoenix after that game in nothing but silence because I couldn't be around anyone or anything.

I HAD TICKETS TO THE GREATEST NBA GAME SINCE BIRD-MAGIC DAMNIT!!!!!

In all seriousness - as much as it pains me to say this (and I would never admit this to a Bulls fan - and actually sued to believe this argument) - we would not have won Game 7 - No one was ever gonna beat Jordan in his prime - or even in his secondary prime (the second three-peat). He was GOD on the basketball court. You just can't beat God. That's primarily the reason I can't say 93.

Jordan was the living bretahing equivalent of Kasier Soze.

 

[elindholm]

In all seriousness - as much as it pains me to say this (and I would never admit this to a Bulls fan - and actually sued to believe this argument) - we would not have won Game 7 - No one was ever gonna beat Jordan in his prime - or even in his secondary prime (the second three-peat).

I know you've said this before, but it just doesn't have the ring of truth to it. Jordan needed Paxson to win Game 6 -- if Paxson misses, that's it, game over, Suns win. And while Jordan himself may have been "God," his supporting cast wasn't. Jordan was a great player who won six championships playing on great teams with very good teammates. But those teammates had to step up, time and time again. In all of their titles, they never faced a Game 7, so who knows how they would have handled it?

 

[Cheesebeef]

In all seriousness - as much as it pains me to say this (and I would never admit this to a Bulls fan - and actually sued to believe this argument) - we would not have won Game 7 - No one was ever gonna beat Jordan in his prime - or even in his secondary prime (the second three-peat).

I know you've said this before, but it just doesn't have the ring of truth to it. Jordan needed Paxson to win Game 6 -- if Paxson misses, that's it, game over, Suns win. And while Jordan himself may have been "God," his supporting cast wasn't. Jordan was a great player who won six championships playing on great teams with very good teammates. But those teammates had to step up, time and time again. In all of their titles, they never faced a Game 7, so who knows how they would have handled it?

They never lost a series during that run - I'd say that gives a little credence to "no one was ever gonna beat Jordan in his prime" - it's actually not even a opinion - IT'S A FACT - it's the ultimate truth. To say Jordan "needed" Paxson to win Game 6 makes it seem like JORDAN WASN'T THE ONLY BULL UP TO THAT POINT TO SCORE IN THE ENTIRE FOURTH QUARTER. Paxson may have hit that shot - but the ONLY reason they even had a chance was because of Jordan in the fourth. The guy wouldn't let the team lose - he wouldn't LET games get to Game 7 - that is what his greatness was.

And they did face Game 7s throughout the other rounds of the playoffs - beating the Knicks (1992) and the Pacers (1998).

The very fact that they ALWAYS closed out series leads me to believe that they would have never lost a Game 7 - you can say it doesn't hold a single shred of truth to it, but I'll just point to a 6-6 run of titles as all the proof needed. No one could beat the man - no one - in his prime.

 

[Chaplin]

I actually agree that the 95 team was probably the best team we ever assembled, but I didn't include that because we never went to the FInals.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I actually agree that the 95 team was probably the best team we ever assembled, but I didn't include that because we never went to the FInals.

ah ha.

I actually think the 93 teamw as the best team ever assembled - but I just don't think anyone could beat Jordan - thus it wasn't our best chance ever. Injuries during the playoffs in 95 killed us.

It's great to be talking about us as TITLE CONTENDERS AGAIN! I pray these guys can make all the bad memories disappear!

 

[Dan H]

I didn't actually see Game 6 of the series against the Bulls -- please don't offer to send me a video -- so, aside from the end, I don't know how gut-wrenching it really was.

Three words: John F*ckin' Paxson. I still get mad to this day when I hear the name . . .

 

[WaywardFan]

Three words: John F*ckin' Paxson. I still get mad to this day when I hear the name . . .

And if we get to the finals this year it will be shown every half hour.

 

[elindholm]

The very fact that they ALWAYS closed out series leads me to believe that they would have never lost a Game 7 - you can say it doesn't hold a single shred of truth to it, but I'll just point to a 6-6 run of titles as all the proof needed. No one could beat the man - no one - in his prime.

"No one could" and "No one did" are not the same thing, but if you want to insist that they are, then yes, your point is well founded.

 

[ajcardfan]

I don't think there's even a close second to the best shot this franchise ever had at a ring...

1979.

That team was the best of the Westphal-Adams-Davis era. We had the Sonics down 3-2 and were playing them at home in the conference finals. We wind up blowing that game, and losing a very close game 7. Seattle goes on to the Finals to easily sweep a severely crippled Bullets team.

No doubt, had we made the finals that year, we would've won. And, I agree our second best shot was in 95 when we lost to Houston and the Rockets swept the Magic. Those two years we were eliminated by the Rockets were brutal.

 

[Lefty]

I actually agree that the 95 team was probably the best team we ever assembled, but I didn't include that because we never went to the FInals.

If Manning does not get hurt the Suns make it to the Finals and win it all. That team with Manning was better than the '93 Suns team. Being up 3 games to one against Houston in consecutive playoff years and losing both series still pisses me off.

By the way, Paxson should of never been that wide open. Still can't believe the Suns lost all three games at home to the Bulls.

 

[Forrestham]

I still think our best team was also 94-95. We had both Manning and Tisdale on the bench. Before Manning got hurt I believe we were something like 50-10. We blew a 3-1 lead and then Elie hit the devistating 3 pointer. I was engaged to a woman who resented me watching sports. She was mad that I went to the arena on that Saturday to buy a ticket. The next day she broke off the engagement. 10 years later, I realize what a favor she did for me

 

[JCSunsfan]

There is a sense in which I agree with you about the 94/5 team--for that matter both the years that Houston beat us. We had commanding leads in both those series, we were the better team, and both times Houston went on to win it all.

Here's why I like this year better--INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT. Charles Barkley was our achilles heel. We needed him to get us there, but he didn't have the integrity or commitment to finish the job. He was a goof off (golf games with a bad back, all night partying before games) when we needed him most.

We also had injury issues. We had great seasons, but when it came to the playoffs, we were without Ced, Manning, or had a gimpy KJ or Barkley.

THIS year, we are healthy. We have a team that is committed to very hard work and a team approach. Let's just say that I am as optimistic as I have every been in 35 years of sunsfandom.

 

[Mojo]

94-95 Team was great, but Barkely had a bum knee that was killing him in game 7 vs the Rockets. He wouldn't have been able to play in the next series vs the Spurs. So I think their best shot was in 1979 they should have won it that year. Lets hope we can put a rest to this "best shot" talk in a few months

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I still think our best team was also 94-95. We had both Manning and Tisdale on the bench. Before Manning got hurt I believe we were something like 50-10. We blew a 3-1 lead and then Elie hit the devistating 3 pointer. I was engaged to a woman who resented me watching sports. She was mad that I went to the arena on that Saturday to buy a ticket. The next day she broke off the engagement. 10 years later, I realize what a favor she did for me

holy crap! yeah she did! good riddance