Of all the four playoff series in the West, this series will easily be the worst. Surely it would be exciting to watch but a Blazers team without Roy will not succeed in the playoffs, maybe in the regular season but not in the playoffs. The Suns will host the Blazers at the U.S Airways Centre in Phoenix next week.

The Suns have been the best team since the all-star break and Amar’e Stoudemire has ticked on and returned into his old form since the trade deadline passed. He has once again proven why he is the best power forward in the league right now and some even regard him as the Suns’ MVP, although it is clear to some that Steve Nash is.

The bench of the Suns have also played a huge role in their recent regular season run. They have managed to out score opposing bench teams which has helped the Suns win games. I don’t believe they will slow down come playoff time and especially against the Blazers. Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are the two main guys who provide energy off the bench for the Suns by knocking down thress and Jared Dudley with the amazing hustle on the defensive end which results in easy offensive plays for the team. But then there’s also Goran Dragic and Louis Amundson who both are great defensive players who help along side Jared Dudley.

Given that the Suns’ will not have Robin Lopez that will be a major problem but not something that would mean all Suns’ fans lose faith in the Suns for. It’ll be a hassle if Marcus Camby does end up being a offensive threat to us but I’m sure with Louis Amundson on the court then there will be no major problems in containing Marcus Camby.

We’ve seen what Andre Miller can do on the offensive end and what the outcome of the game will be when he scores high numbers and given that Nash will be guarding him is only bad news for the Suns but that does not mean we will lose. Nash will never play defense or at least a substantial amount of it ever in his career so our only option will be to guard the paint carefully in case Andrew Miller drives the lane.

Marcus Camby and Andre Miller may not be the only problems for the Suns in the playoffs. Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless may become problems if theu do go on a shooting streak and make shot and after shot to help get the Blazers back into the game.

Overall if the Suns do play defense and contain them from going on huge runs and shooting streaks then the Suns will be safe and will most likely advance to the second round where Robin Lopez will hopefully join them.

As most of us would know the 2010 All-star weekend hosted in Dallas is only one week away. Where the best players of each conference meet to battle it out.

But that’s not all that’ s happening. So farparticipants have already been released for a number of events such as the dunk contest, three-point shootout and skills challenge.

For years now the NBA Sprite Dunk Contest just hasn’t been the same, with the appearance of Dwight “Superman” Howard, it has become a battle of the props. Judges have seemed to judge a dunk on the creativity of the whole thing and not just on the dunk. That’s not anything worth complaining about but it really is getting ridiculous that us fans are not getting the privledge to see any more dunks like back in the days when dunks were actually exciting.

The three-point challenge participants aren’t so bad, but what is with Anthony Morrow not getting in? He is probably the most deserving player to enter this year’s three point shootout. His not the only one though, J.J Reddick should have gotten a spot as well. Also, Paul Pierce should not have gotten in, he just isn’t a guy fit for this type of competition. But with the exception of Paul Pierce, the rest of the shooters aren’t so bad.I had high expectations for the participants seeing as this is my favourite event of the all-star weekend after the actual all-star game.

Now, the skills challenge event is one exciting event to watch. The battle of the point guards get to showcase their ball-handling, passing and shooting skills in this event. The participants are, reigning champion, Derrick Rose, Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Brandon Jennings. I honestly don’t think a solid winner can be decided from these bunch of guys, all I can say is that this is going to be one interesting event this year.

Let’s hope that this year things start to become better and us fans are not disappointed, let it be one of the better all-star games that we will see.