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Suns should find relief in February

By Terry Brown

Wednesday, January 29 Updated 10:43 AM EST

Out of the frying pan, into America West Arena.

The Golden State Warriors have won 20 games so far this season to 23 loses but don't count on No. 21 come Feb. 1 when they meet up with the Phoenix Suns in the Valley of the Sun, where the home team is 18-3, two of those loses coming by a total of three points and the other taking overtime.

The Chicago Bulls have won 17 games so far this season to 27 loses and I wouldn't be wagering anything important when they travel to Phoenix on Feb. 3 seeing as how they've won only two road games all season.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won 16 games so far this season to 28 loses and get to travel to Phoenix right after the all-star break currently sporting a three-game losing stain.

The New York Knicks have won 18 games so far this season to 24 loses and get to go back four time zones to take on the Suns in Phoenix on Feb. 14. Heck, they haven't been west of the Rocky Mountains all season.

By the time the Suns take on any team of reckoning on Feb. 16, the Boston Celtics will be in the middle of a six-game road trip and have played the Clippers the night before in Los Angeles.

The Rockets are next, on the 19th, having just played the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles the night before.

The Suns had the toughest January schedule in the entire league with 11 road games and nine matchups with playoff contenders not counting three games against the Pacific Division rival Lakers.

Yet, as we speak, they are 26-20 after playing five road games in seven days, a single game away from the third-seeded Blazers in the win column.

Do you really think the Raptors in Toronto or Bulls in Chicago even register?

Which leaves the Suns with the Timberwolves and Bucks on the road as their only tests during this 10-game month that should have this city as hot in February as it is in July.

EASIEST FEBRUARY SCHEDULES

1. Phoenix Suns

Road Games: 4

Quality Opponents: 4

Comment: See above.

2. Toronto Raptors

Road Games: 4

Quality Opponents: 5

Comment: They don't even play anyone who had a winning record a week ago until Feb. 19, and somehow avoid all the heavies with 30 or more wins the entire month. By the time Vince Carter gets to Tracy McGrady and the Magic on the 16th and Michael Jordan and Wizards on the 17th, his knee should be feeling fine and his stats should be fattened up. Lights, camera, action! There aren't two guards on their entire schedule this month that could check Carter's coat on the way in or out.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

Road Games: 4

Quality Opponents: 5

Comment: Believe it or not, the Sixers play a league-low eight games in the entire month of February. Unless, of course, you count the two against Cleveland. Even then, that's only 10 without a single back-to-back or road game that they couldn't be back in their own beds on the same night beyond Feb. 2. And that's the night the Sixers take on the Timberwolves, the only team Iverson has busted 40 on all season.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

Road Games: 5

Quality Opponents: 4

Comment: Time for a little payback. Rasheed Wallace returns Jan. 31 against the Chicago Bulls. Just in time for the Blazers to hit the road against the likes of Cleveland and Miami. In fact, if you're currently in last place in your division, then you're likely to catch some of this spit, too, because the Blazers also play the Clippers and Nuggets this month. Their toughest game of the shortened set is against the Spurs on six days rest since not a single Blazer was named to the all-star squad despite having the sixth-best record in the entire NBA. Expect that to change, too, in the next 28 days or so.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

Road Games: 6

Quality Opponents: 5

Comment: Who cares who hangs what from what rafters. On Feb. 25, the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center to quite possibly determine who isn't the last-place team in the Pacific Division. And the Clippers will come in well rested in the middle of what amounts to a six-game homestand and having played three fewer games this month than their cross town rivals and two fewer on the road.

TOUGHEST FEBRUARY SCHEDULES

25. Dallas Mavericks

Road Games: 7

Quality Opponents: 8

Comment: Well, it really was nice while it lasted. But you remember what happened last time the Mavs matched up with the Kings? Well, this time, Dallas gets Sacramento a day after playing Utah in Utah but before back-to-back road games against Minnesota and Milwaukee immediately following the all-star break. After starting 31-5 on the season, the Mavs have gone 3-4 and seen their lead over Sacramento for the best record in the NBA shrink to three games. And guess who they get to play in their last game of the month for the second time this month?

26. Houston Rockets

Road Games: 8

Quality Opponents: 7

Comment: The eighth-place team in the West ends January with games against the Mavericks and Timberwolves before opening February against the Kings and Timberwolves on the road. But don't unpack your bags just yet. The Rockets don't play their second consecutive home game until Feb. 22 and that's after they play the Mavs the day before. Then, you guessed it, they're back on the road for a three-game swing through New England.

27. New York Knicks

Road Games: 8

Quality Opponents: 7

Comment: Antonio McDyess may want to sit back down to hear this news and remain long after we're through. He ain't coming back with the Knicks sitting at 18-24, five wins away from that eighth spot, before they ever even hit the pavement for a six-game road trip that will last 10 days through four states, three of which dip into the Pacific Ocean. And that doesn't count the month-opening trip to play the surging Bucks, winners of their last three and eight of their last 10, or their trip across the bridge to take on the Atlantic Division leading New Jersey Nets. Forget about catching Orlando. They should worry about Miami creeping up on them from behind. Speaking of which . .

28. Miami Heat

Road Games: 7

Quality Opponents: 9

Comment: On one particular Friday, the Heat play the playoff-ready Rockets in Houston. On that very next Saturday, they play the league-leading Mavericks in Dallas. On that following Monday, the Heat take on the playoff-bound Pistons in Detroit and in less than 24 hours take on the Atlantic division-leading Nets in New Jersey. On the very next Tuesday, the Heat will try to handle the Spurs in San Antonio before jumping state lines to take on the Hornets in New Orleans the very next day. And you thought Riley looked pissed on the sidelines Monday night.

29. Memphis Grizzlies

Road Games: 7

Quality Opponents: 9

Comment: Insert quarter, pull knob, use flippers located on each side. Between Feb. 5 and Feb. 26, the Grizzlies play nine straight games against opponents that would all qualify for the playoffs right now. At home, on the road, Western Conference, Eastern Conference, if your team has a winning record, it probably plays the Grizzlies some time soon. Tilt.