Suns @ Trailblazers Preview Thyme

7:00pm @ TrailBlazers TV: NBALP RSNP, My45

The NBA's freshest seasoning, the Phoenix Suns, are headed to Portland tonight to cook the Trailblazers. The Suns have been executing on both the ends of the floor as of late and are playing much better with each other. The formalities are now out of the way and we are close to an actual coherent identity. I'm actually finally getting used to the new players and roles that each player has earned himself. I'm down with Barbosa's ferocity and Nash's newly animated leadership. I can handle Amare's ups and downs because I see vast improvement. I like Marcus Banks even though he has had a rough start, I feel like he will settle into a comfortable role and continue to improve and prove himself for years to come.

The first leg of the season has been like a playoff atmosphere and we just weren't ready for it. Now we have had some weight lited off our collective shoulders and are punishing any team that dares come east of the Mississippi. We're also ready to handle the west's challenges. Now we have a simmering Portland team to deal with. They started hot but now are settling into who we all thought they were. Still, Zach Randolph is a monster and is playing much more consistant and dominant that last year and he should be taken very seriously.

We should attack Zach early and often, forcing him to expel energy on the defensive end because he is their offensive anchor. We should also throw different defenders his way and double and triple team him. He has a tendency to cough up the ball trying to pass out of a trap. We should make his teammates step up and hit jumpers. It's just too hard to take this team seriously. They are in the midst of talks to relocate the team. They have a glut of young players. They have some promising rookies but Brandon Roy, a possible R.O.Y. candidate, is out with an injury. Most importantly though, we crushed this team by 45 points last season. It going to take at least five years to forget about that one. Tonight, I'd say Suns by 16.