Pick and Roll: taking us into December

As we all know, next Thursday is Thanksgiving.  From the looks of things, my schedule is pretty full of playing football, eating, watching football, napping, eating, drinking, napping, watching football, eating, drinking, eating, and well, eating.  As such, Pick and Roll will not be appearing next week.

Steve Fan and I decided to take a gander at the Suns’ remaining schedule for this here month of November and make uneducated guesses as to how they’ll enter December.  Red hot?  Ice cold?  Lukewarm?

Mark McLane:

Note: I wrote this before the Hornets game last night.

My unabashed cynicism was often pointed out during our podcasts last year with Michael Schwartz of Valley of the Suns.  While I’d like to think it had a lot to do with the ups and downs of the season, I’ve never been nearly as hopeful as our very own Ben York (it’s an impossibility.)  Sure, I pointed out the Suns had a very real chance to make some noise this year and win 50+ games, but my optimism was still very guarded.

The Suns hot start has been incredible and has brought plenty of excitement to the McLane house.  However, I’ve found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop, a four or so game losing streak where our squad looks overmatched and lost.

The shoe isn’t dropping anytime soon.

With another grind it out comeback win over the Rockets on Tuesday night, the Suns have begun to chip away at my resolve to expect the worst.  It’s been said again and again, and it’s worth saying one more time.  From top to bottom, this team plays for each other and they’ve been a joy to watch.

Including tonight’s matchup with the Hornets in New Orleans, the Suns have five games remaining in the month of November.  They return home to face Detroit and Memphis, and head back on the road to Minnesota and Toronto.

• @ New Orleans - W
• Detroit - W
• Memphis - W
• @ Minnesota - W
• @ Toronto - L

That’s right, I’m looking for wins in four of their next five.  The Hornets, Grizzlies, and Wolves are very winnable games, and with none of the five coming back to back, the Suns old bones will get plenty of rest.

Time for a Kool-Aid refill…

Steve Fan:

The Suns surprising start (10-3) despite the unexpected loss to the CP3-less Hornets has been the hot topic around the League, but as the weather gets colder and turkeys are roasted, it’s time for a reality check.  If it’s a dream, like watching classic games on NBA TV, please don’t wake us.  Will it last?

As we’re getting ready for the long Thanksgiving weekend, the Suns will play Detroit, Minnesota, Memphis and Toronto.  A much tougher schedule awaits in the month of December (they play at least 10 potential playoff teams). Toronto will prove to be a difficult matchup but I fully expect the Suns to continue their hot streak and win each and every game to begin next month sitting on top of the Pac5 with a 14-3 record.

Phoenix is shooting very well.  Steve Nash is leading the League in assists, Channing Frye is shooting .440 from 3-point range, Grant Hill keeps getting younger and for the first time in years the bench players are actually contributing to the Suns success.  Additionally, there’s still room for improvement as Amar’e is slowly gets back to 100%.  He could potentially add something special to the Suns down the stretch.

I like what I’m dreaming right now, just please don’t wake me up before December.

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