Phoenix Suns 2010-2011 game-by-game predictions

The 2010-2011 Phoenix Suns will be without Amar'e Stoudemire(notes), who has led them in scoring the past four seasons. Stoudemire, who also led the team in rebounds and blocks last season, agreed to a five year, $100 million sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks.

In an effort to fill the void left by Stoudemire's departure, the Suns acquired Josh Childress(notes), Hedo Turkoglu(notes) and Hakim Warrick(notes). Childress, Turkoglu, and Warrick are all versatile players who will fit in well with Phoenix's up-tempo offense.

Childress is a multitalented 6'8" athletic guard/forward with a solid outside shot and the ability to slash to the basket. Defensively, he will use his length and athleticism to become a reliable perimeter defender for the Suns.

Turkoglu is a 6'10" small forward with adept ball-handling and passing skills. His ability to handle the ball will provide Steve Nash(notes) (one of the best shooters in the NBA) more catch-and-shoot opportunities. Turkoglu's presence, versatility, and overall skill set will afford Coach Alvin Gentry opportunities to reduce the minutes of both Grant Hill(notes) and Steve Nash.

Warrick is a 6'9" athletic forward who the Suns will utilize in their pick-and-roll game.

Together Childress, Turkoglu, and Warrick will fill in for the departed Amar'e Stoudemire and help keep the Phoenix Suns relevant in the Western Conference.

Here are game-by-game predictions for the 2010-2011 Phoenix Suns:

Game 1, Tuesday, October 26 at Portland- Suns drop their season opener to the Portland Trail Blazers (Record 0-1).

Game 2, Thursday, October 28 at Utah- Suns get a road win over the Utah Jazz (Record 1-1).

Game 3, Friday, October 29 versus Lakers- Suns lose their home opener to the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers (Record 1-2).

Game 4, Wednesday, November 3 versus Spurs- Suns continue their up and down start with a win over the San Antonio Spurs (Record 2-2).

Game 5, Friday, November 5 versus Grizzlies- Suns close a 2-1 home stand with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies (Record 3-2).

Game 6, Sunday, November 7 at Atlanta- Suns win a close road game over the Atlanta Hawks (Record 4-2).

Game7, Monday, November 8 at Memphis- Suns defeat the Grizzlies and win both halves of a back-to-back (Record 5-2).

Game 8, Friday, November 12 versus Kings- Suns get a home win over the Sacramento Kings (Record 6-2).

Game 9, Sunday, November 14 at Los Angeles Lakers- Suns fall to the Lakers at the Staples Center (Record 6-3).

Game 10, Monday, November 15 versus Nuggets- Suns beat the Denver Nuggets at US Airways Center for the 12th straight time (Record 7-3).

Game 11, Wednesday, November 17 at Miami- Suns fall to the Miami Heat All-Star Trio at American Airlines Arena (Record 7-4).

Game 12, Thursday, November 18 at Orlando- Suns lose to the Orlando Magic and suffer their third straight road loss (Record 7-5).

Game 13, Saturday, November 20 at Charlotte- Suns continue to struggle on the road and fall to the Charlotte Bobcats (Record 7-6).

Game 14, Monday, November 22 at Houston- Suns avoid a 0-4 road trip with a victory over the Houston Rockets (Record 8-6).

Game 15, Wednesday, November 24 versus Bulls- Suns get a home win over the visiting Chicago Bulls (Record 9-6).

Game 16, Friday, November 26 versus Clippers- Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers for the ninth straight time (Record 10-6).

Game 17, Sunday, November 28 at Denver- Suns get a road victory over the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center (Record 11-6).

Game 18, Thursday, December 2 at Golden State- Suns outscore the Golden State Warriors in a run-and-gun affair (Record 12-6).

Game 19, Friday, December 3 versus Pacers- Suns drop the second half of a back-to-back to the Indiana Pacers (Record 13-6).

Game 20, Sunday, December 5 versus Wizards- Suns get back on track with a victory over the Washington Wizards (Record 14-6).

Game 21, Tuesday, December 7 at Portland- Suns fall to the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden (Record 14-7).

Game 22, Wednesday, December 8 versus Grizzlies- Suns open a three-game home stand with a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies (Record 14-8).

Game 23, Friday, December 10 versus Trail Blazers- Suns get a home win over the Portland Trail Blazers to avenge a loss they suffered just three days prior (Record 15-8).

Game 24, Wednesday, December 15 versus Timberwolves- Suns beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (
record 16-8).

Game 25, Friday, December 17 at Dallas- Suns begin a three-game road trip with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks (Record 16-9).

Game 26, Sunday, December 19 at Oklahoma City- Suns drop a close road game to the young athletic Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center (Record 16-10).

Game 27, Monday, December 20 at San Antonio- Suns finish a disappointing 0-3 road trip with a loss to the savvy San Antonio Spurs (Record 16-11).

Game 28, Thursday, December 23 versus Heat- Suns fall to the Miami Heat and drop their fourth game in a row (Record 16-12).

Game 29, Sunday, December 26 at Los Angeles Clippers- Suns get a much-needed win over the Clippers at the Staples Center (Record 17-12).

Game 30, Wednesday, December 29 versus 76ers- Suns get a home win over the Philadelphia 76ers (Record 18-12).

Game 31, Friday, December 31 versus Pistons- Suns close the year with a win over the Detroit Pistons (Record 19-12).

Game 32, Sunday, January 2 at Sacramento- Suns defeat the Kings for the seventh consecutive time (Record 20-12).

Game 33, Wednesday, January 5 versus Lakers- Suns drop a home game to the Los Angeles Lakers (Record 20-13).

Game 34, Friday, January 7 versus Knicks- Suns outscore Amar'e Stoudemire and the New York Knicks in a three-point shootout (Record 21-13).

Game 35, Sunday, January 9 versus Cavaliers- Suns beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to close out a 3-0 home stand (Record 22-13).

Game 36, Tuesday, January 11 at Denver- Suns fall to the Nuggets on the road (Record 22-14).

Game 37, Wednesday, January 12 versus Nets- Suns get a double-digit home victory over the New Jersey Nets (Record 23-14).

Game 38, Friday, January 14 versus Trail Blazers- Suns lose to the Portland Trail Blazers and drop their third straight against a Northwest Division opponent (Record 23-15).

Game 39, Monday, January 17 at New York- Suns begin a five-game road trip with a loss to the Knicks (Record 23-16).

Game 40, Wednesday, January 19 at Cleveland- Suns get back on track with a victory over the Cavaliers (Record 24-16).

Game 41, Friday, January 21 at Washington- Suns visit the Nation's Capital and fall to the Washington Wizards (Record 24-17).

Game 42, Saturday, January 22 at Detroit- Suns defeat the Pistons and get the second half of a back-to-back (Record 25-17).

Game 43, Monday, January 24 at Philadelphia- Suns drop the final game of a 2-3 road trip to the Philadelphia 76ers (Record 25-18).

Game 44, Wednesday, January 26 versus Bobcats- Suns open a five-game home stand with a win over the Charlotte Bobcats (Record 26-18).

Game 45, Friday, January 28 versus Celtics- Suns get an impressive win over the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics (Record 27-18).

Game 46, Sunday, January 30 versus Hornets- Suns drop a home game to the New Orleans Hornets (Record 27-19).

Game 47, Wednesday, February 2 versus Bucks- Suns lose a close game to the Milwaukee Bucks (Record 28-19).

Game 48, Friday, February 4 versus Thunder- Suns close a disappointing 2-3 home stand with a loss to Kevin Durant(notes) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 28-20).

Game 49, Monday, February 7 at Golden State- Suns continue to struggle as they drop a road game to the Golden State Warriors (Record 28-21).

Game 50, Thursday, February 10 versus Warriors- Suns get a much-needed win over Golden State at home (Record 29-21).

Game 51, Friday, February 11 at Utah- Suns fall to the Jazz and drop their third straight road game (Record 29-22).

Game 52, Tuesday, February 13 versus Kings- Suns get a home win over the visiting Sacramento Kings for their 30th win of the season (Record 30-22).

Game 53, Tuesday, February 15 versus Jazz- Suns defeat the Utah Jazz and win the season series 2-1 (Record 31-22).

Game 54, Thursday, February 17 versus Mavericks- Suns drop a home game to the Dallas Mavericks to complete the first half of the season (Record 31-23).

Game 55, Wednesday, February 23 versus Hawks- Suns win a close game over the visiting Atlanta Hawks (Record 32-23).

Game 56, Friday, February 25 at Toronto- Suns defeat the Toronto Raptors for the 13th straight time (Record 33-23).

Game 57, Sunday, February 27 at Indiana- Suns drop a road game to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse (Record 33-24).

Game 58, Monday, February 28 at New Jersey- Suns lose the second half of a back-to-back to the Nets (Record 33-25).

Game 59, Wednesday, March 2 at Boston- Suns fall to the Celtics and continue to struggle on the road (Record 33-26).

Game 60, Friday, March 4 at Milwaukee- Suns get back on track with a road win over the Milwaukee Bucks (Record 34-26).

Game 61, Sunday, March 6 at Oklahoma City- Suns salvage a 3-3 road trip with a solid win over the Thunder (Record 35-26).

Game 62, Sunday, March 8 versus Rockets- Suns open a three-game home stand with a close loss to the Houston Rockets (Record 35-27).

Game 63, Thursday, March 10 versus Nuggets- Suns win a hotly contested game against the Denver Nuggets (Record 36-27).

Game 64, Sunday, March 13 versus Magic- Suns defeat the Orlando Magic at US Airways Center for the ninth straight time (Record 37-27).

Game 65, Monday, March 14 at Houston- Suns fall to the Rockets and lose the season series 1-2 (Record 37-28).

Game 66, Wednesday, March 16 at New Orleans- Suns avenge a January loss by defeating the Hornets (Record 38-28).

Game 67, Friday, March 18 versus Warriors- Suns win a high-scoring contest against the Golden State Warriors (Record 39-28).

Game 68, Sunday, March 20 at Los Angeles Clippers- Suns fall to Blake Griffin(notes) and the Clippers (Record 39-29).

Game 69, Tuesday, March 22 at Los Angeles Lakers- Suns lose to the Lakers and drop their second straight game in Los Angeles (Record 39-30).

Game 70, Wednesday, March 23 versus Raptors- Suns defeat the Raptors for their 40th win of the season (Record 40-30).

Game 71, Friday, March 25 versus Hornets- Suns get a home win over the New Orleans Hornets (Record 41-30).

Game 72, Sunday, March 27 versus Mavericks- Suns close a perfect 3-0 home stand with a victory over the Dallas Mavericks (Record 42-30).

Game 73, Tuesday, March 29 at Sacramento- Suns get a road win over the Kings (Record 43-30).

Game 74, Wednesday, March 30 versus Thunder- Suns fall to the Oklahoma City Thunder and lose the season series 1-3 (Record 43-31).

Game 75, Friday, April 1 versus Clippers- Suns get right back on track with a home win over the Los Angeles Clippers (Record 44-31).

Game 76, Sunday, April 3 at San Antonio- Suns begin a five-game road trip with a victory over the Spurs (Record 45-31).

Game 77, Tuesday, April 5 at Chicago- Suns get a close game on the road against the Chicago Bulls (Record 46-31).

Game 78, Wednesday, April 6 at Minnesota- Suns defeat the Timberwolves and win both halves of a back-to-back (Record 47-31).

Game 79, Friday, April 8 at New Orleans- Suns get an important win over the Hornets and win the season series 3-1 (Record 48-31).

Game 80, Sunday, April 10 at Dallas- Suns drop the final game of the trip to the Dallas Mavericks (Record 48-32).

Game 81, Monday, April 11 versus Timberwolves- Suns defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves and get the second half of a back-to-back (Record 49-32).

Game 82, Wednesday, April 13 versus Spurs- Suns finish the season with a win over the San Antonio Spurs (Record 50-32).

Predictions: The Phoenix Suns will remain relevant in the Western Conference with their second consecutive 50-win season.

More 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions:

Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions
Miami Heat 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions
Dallas Mavericks 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions

Information from ESPN.com's Phoenix Suns Schedule was used for this article.