Suns Depth

This is how I see the Suns depth running for next season as the roster stands now. We have at least two players for each position and some interchangeable parts which can play multiple positions in the event of foul trouble, an injury, or for general rest. This will add longevity to our team during this battle for the Championship which has been lacking in the past couple years. We will have a bench of fresh legs to compliment the superstars who make this team flow. D'Antoni will be the rock who fills up the confidence in the locker room and conducts the team as an efficient machine. Hopefully we will see precise substitutions through the offseason. We will see all players struggle at times and others picking up the slack. We will see our team grow and adapt to the ever changing 82 game wave. Here is our roster.

C - Boris Diaw, Kurt Thomas, Pat Burke

PF - Amare Stoudemire, Sean Marks

SF - Shawn Marion, James Jones

SG - Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa

PG - Steve Nash, Marcus Banks

The great thing about this roster is the balance at each position. If someone isn't having a great game or stretch, someone else can come in and play. If Amare is having an off game, Boris can step it up offensively and Kurt Thomas can come in to bang for a bit. Or Shawn Marion can play PF while we play James Jones and add a shooter to the mix. There are just so many opportunities and so many players finding their stride to be relied on.

I can see Boris starting at the Center position, at least thats what I want to see. Boris is coming into his own and shedding any hesitance his game may have carried previously. I think his role as captain of the French team may teach him more skills than just basketball. He will learn about leading a team and about tenacity and winning which will serve him extremely well at point forward. On this Suns team he can be the polar to Magic. Kurt Thomas will be Boris' counterpart. Kurt will come in as a brick wall. Earning points off Kurt is akin to gambling in vegas. The house usually wins. This seems like the natural position for Kurt anyway. He should be playing limited minutes off the bench as he doesn't nearly move at the pace of the Suns and often finds foul trouble. This way we will get all we can out of the man.

I want it, you want it and everybody else wants it. Amare at full speed is a locomotive plowing through a herd of Bison on the great plains. A hobbled Amare is a franchise player with a gamut of basketball skills and athleticism. If Amare plays like his own self, he will want some major minutes. He hasn't played in over a year. He will be a monster while Boris plays showtime on the other side of the frontline. If Amare needs time to ramp up to his old self, Boris is more than capable of picking up slack. If Amare and Boris both average 20 pts and 9 reb, any team would be giddy. Otherwise I see Amare being a 25pt 10 reb guy and Boris doing it all with 17pts 8 reb 6 ast or better.

Shawn Marion is a stud in his prime who's finally getting rest for next season. Shawn will be ready to do his thing no matter what. He can slide over to PF when the team plays small or even shadow a tough guard on the other team if Raja gets suspended. Shawn is the glue to the team. Every general manager in the league wants a team player who does his thing no matter what develops in the play. James Jones can come in to play the position at times and add a deep jumper. He hustles, gets rebounds, blocks shots, takes charges, draws fouls and generally helps out no matter what.

Raja Bell will be the starting SG but will split minutes with Leandro Barbosa, who will also, at times, play the point. Barbosa's minutes generally depend on how he plays. While Raja is hardly ever a liability due to his defense, Barbosa is primarily known for his impressive offensive arsenal. If his shots go cold, he does't play the best defense and he needs to get out. Leandro has been stepping up his game in a major way this past season and now into the summer as he stars on the Brazilian National team. If he gets confident enough to play as himself consistantly, he may challenge Raja Bell or Marcus Banks for minutes. Raja can also play SF as he can track SF's fairly well and his three point shooting on the wing is a nice compliment to the offense.

Steve Nash is the general. He will want to play as many minutes as his body will allow. It is the coaching staff who needs to consciously monitor his minutes and pull him from games. Steve gives something to this team that that very few people have been able to accomplish. He is a complete anomaly and I am so glad he's on our team. 12 players may have career years this upcoming season. When Steve gets tired he can be spelled by Marcus Banks who will try to learn whatever he can from Nash throughout the season. Hopefully we can be confident enough in Banks' ability to play scrappy defense that he will not be a liability on the court. Barbosa was showing some decent playmaking abilities this season so he may steal some of Banks' minutes.

All in all I think we are in a better than good position to contend. With all the pieces on this team we should be considered a favorite even if someone goes down with injury, but lets just never say that again. Hopefully the coaching staff is confident enough in all the players to find room for them in the rotation throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.

It's Quiet, A Little Too Quiet

Nothing much happening in the valley of the Suns today other than it looking like we might have a little rivalry brewing with our left coast neighbor. The NBA schedules haven't been released but it looks like we will be having an opening game vs the Lakers. I can't wait. This will lead to way too many anti-Kobe posts, pictures, and videos during the upcoming season. And by 'way too many' I mean just enough.

Since I posted yesterday about the World Championships I saw a nice little piece over at theassociationblog.com about international hoops gear. Nothing can touch Brazil's duds.

Although nothing short of a Tivo hack will allow me to watch the games, I think I am going to follow the Suns' sleeper teams for the World Championships as best I can. France's Les Bleus led by our man Boris Diaw alongside Tony Parker and Brazil's National Team led by the star quality of Leandro Barbosa are the Suns picks aside from Amare Stoudemire and the American team. I still wonder if Amare will even play.

The French National team seems to have won their first game over Italy giving the French team an emotional lift as they were recently defeated by the Italians in the World Cup.

The American team is favored throughout the tournament but Brazil and/or France won't be playing the Americans until at least the second round. France is also comprised of a world class team and should make some noise this year.

Brazil Wins Thrice; Sir Charles Wants a Throne

Leandro is keeping his game sharp by leading Brazil past the New Zealand Tall Blacks during a FIBA World Championship warm-up series. Leandro had 19 pts and six rebounds to lead his team to the third victory over the other team. Barbosa is making a conscious effort to correct his mistakes and those of the team before the World Championships begin.

In a Yahoo Sports Exclusive Steve Kerr Says that the Suns have a 'Free Agency Best Buy' by adding Sean Marks and I believe him,

Marcus Banks was the Suns' big acquisition this summer, and he'll provide excellent defense and speed and be a good backup to Steve Nash. But Marks, who signed a minimum deal, just might crack the rotation. He didn't play much in San Antonio, but Phoenix is the perfect place for him. Marks is an excellent shooter who should fit right in with the Suns' pick-and-pop game. He's close to 7-foot, athletic and has the shooting range to spread the floor and open up driving lanes for Nash.

And on the topic of Charles Barkely running for Governor I say go for it. Why not, when he says,

There are too many black kids and their parents who do not value a good education,... There are places where a black kid who is a good student and tries to speak correctly, you hear stuff like, 'He's trying to be white.' Well, I say, if that's true, we need more kids trying to be white.

it's just poetry. I guess he thinks he could make a change to the culture in Alabama and improve the situation. Let him try because people will listen to him. Or not. I'm not a Political Scientist or anything but i'm sure he could do a better job than the Governator.

Boris Digi

The ever humble Boris Diaw is having quite a busy summer so far. First 3D was named team captain of the French National Team ahead of Tony Parker and other players whom Boris thought should have been given the position.

I don't consider myself as a leader, I am not the type of guy who screams during matches, that's why at the start, I did not feel it was justified for me to be given such a role... I was not sure if I would have what it takes to impose myself. I think a lot of other players could have taken up that role, some players who have already won titles and have already been captain with their clubs.

I'll bet the coach of the French team felt Boris was by far the best player on the team and wants him to lead by example, especially considering Tony Parker's mediocre performance in last years World Championships.


Next up on Boris' summer plate is him being featured on the cover of NBA Live 2007 in France. As a gamer myself, this is too cool. I love the NBA live series and will definitely be buying this one. Towards the end of this past season when I was playing online EA released the updated rosters and made Boris a freestyle playmaker to compliment Nash who also held that game ability. My games became a circus show of unstoppable behind the back, no look, reality defying passes that Jah himself would be impressed with.


Diaw is now being motion captured for the game with tiny little sensors all over his body to capture even the most minute facial expressions as well as his own unique basketball skill set. Many of the moves will be exclusive to Diaw in the game. My favorite part is that they remembered to include the famous Diaw high screen, alley oop to Marion. The guys at EA are also Suns freaks and had some excellent things to say about Boris:

He's just an all-around versatile player... At his age, Boris is just so composed, especially in the post, especially in big moments, as you could tell in the playoffs. He can shoot, he can drive, he can handle the ball, which is amazing for a guy his size. He's just an all-around excellent player.

It seems that the EA team is working hard to make this years version of Live more realistic from the facial expressions to more fluid movements. I can't wait to get my copy as soon as it comes out and I hope to be crushing all of you online soon enough. If anyone wants to hook up to play NBA Live 06 online hit me up or drop me a line in the comments.


I also stumbled across a profile of Boris' game from www.nbadraft.net which includes some great adjectives and adverbs. Look for some of those terrificly descripted phrases showing up in Boris' player on the game NBA Live 2007.


This just in. While consulting the ol' trustworthy Wikipedia I have found a new pronunciation for Diaw which would account for DeSagana Diop being referred to as "Jop." Wiki states:

(Diaw's) surname is West African-Fulani in origin and is identical to the Gambian surname 'Jawo.' While it is spelled 'Di' this is pronounced as a 'J', so the traditional pronunciation is "J'ow." The dual spellings are a result of separate British and French latinizations of Fula surnames during colonial times. Some other common examples include: 'Diallo' from Senegal (a former French colony) becomes 'Jallow' in The Gambia, a former British colony; and 'Diop' becomes 'Jobe.'

Chew on that for a while.

Nash And His Wifey

Inquiring minds wanted to know and I am here to deliver. Nash is married to his long term girlfriend Alejandra Amarilla. Alejandra is from Uruguay and they have a couple of twin girls together. I have a feeling she has been a big influence in Steve's philanthropy work with underserved children and his foundation. Nash is a hot commodity these days but he seems to have found his perfect match in a trophy wife and friend. I haven't been able to find but one picture of the duo together so here is the one I have found. If anyone else has found any others send them my way.

Oh yeah, give a child a meal and some schooling. DONATE.

The Suns Strategic Offseason

I have already talked at length about the core of this team and the talent that it encompasses. We may have had the most solid lineup in the league entering this offseason so any moves that management made would have had to minimize any collateral damage adding multiple players might cause. Giving up a player or two in a trade would have compromised the chemistry and team dynamic that makes the Suns so special. Taking on an untested rookie just to have the guise that you are making the team better or having a "successful" offseason because of his upside is not what a contending team does. Now is not the time to assimilate a new player into the NBA. That takes time, patience, and hard work which the Suns do not want to be distracted with at this time. Instead, Suns management played intelligently with what they had. The team didn't need much, a capable backup point and getting a backup center/forward would be a luxury. With not much wriggle room under the cap, the decisions made would have to be done efficiently.

First they went into negotiations with Tim Thomas, a potential team cancer and inconsistant career bust. Since Tim publicly stated he would play in Phoenix for cheap, the team started negotiations with a low offer considering they were also looking for a backup point and thought the cap would be set much lower. Tim reneged on his offer and immediately signed with the Clips. Good Riddance.

Next the team courted John Salmons, a combo guard who came off a mediocre career year. It seemed that things were going well and he was all but locked up. He then defected to Toronto before screwing them and heading to Sac town. Another bad apple i'm glad isn't on the team. Besides, I think management was reaching for a Joe Johnson type with this one.

The team then got a call from Marcus Banks' agent stating that he was interested in backing up Steve. This is gold. Banks could have signed a much bigger contract and started for another team but, after playing for two bad teams, he was really eager to play for a great organization and learn the point from the best. This signing is like getting a high first round pick who has already been acclimated to the NBA. He was also puting up decent numbers in Minnesota with 12ppg, 4.7apg, and 2.9 rpg. This is the perfect player for the Suns at this point and they got him at a great bargain. He isn't a polished offensive point guard but he plays big, is very quick, and is great on defense. With Banks in for Steve, he won't give near what Steve does offensively but he also won't be a defensive liability on the court either. He sounds like the perfect compliment to Steve. And, when he plays alongside Barbosa's offensive gifts, we will have an amazing second unit backcourt.

We also got a guy named Sean Marks who is a 6'10", 250lb F/C. I don't know much about him but he did play for the Spurs so I would guess that he definitely has some potential. Besides, many championship caliber teams have a Nazr Mohammed, DeSagana Diop, Rasho Nesterovic, and Alonzo Mourning type to come in and play some D and bang around for some minutes every game.

This gives us a four man guard rotation, and the flexibility to play a solid four man rotation at PF/C or more depending on how Marks plays. And we have a capable backup SF in James Jones. This team sounds deep to me. Not to mention we will have three first round draft picks in next years deep draft including one lottery pick. So, if we really need to draft a player and work on assimilating him into the league we always have next year. Just imagine the possibilities to trade up in next years draft.

Steve Nash is a Nice Man With Nice Friends

More than 16,000 friends and fans recently showed up for the Steve Nash Charity Classic in Vancouver and it was a hit. You can be generous too and donate here.

Fair Weather Fans and Amateurish Radio Personalities

The Bickley and M.J. show on Extra Sports 910 is the most amateur Phoenix sports talk radio show on the air. Sometimes I listen to the show during my commute to work when it is the only sort of media simple enough for my tired brain to process.

Apparently Bickley is the "lead sports columnist for the Arizona Republic." How he got that title is beyond me. My guess is that he owns a pair of ragged kneepads and has masterful control of his gag reflex. Mike Jurecki isn't all bad. He's quite logical and straight to the point but sometimes his opinions are way off and absolutistic. Bickley is a whole different story. Bickley is the instigator who will not shut up. I know they try to sex up the news and even make asinine statements because its entertaining. That's what I do. But these guys think they are the balls. Occasionally Bickley will gather what brain cells are semi competent and write a colorful story about the Suns, which seems painful to him. The duo does not care much for our team. Does he write routinely for the print paper? Somebody let me know, I don't subscribe.

During the 04-05 season they covered the Suns religiously. They liked the team. They covered it completely and whole-heartedly. Then came 05-06 and they fell off. I still tuned in, in the mornings at the same time and didn't hear anything about the team. Maybe they talked about the team once a month until the playoffs yet they covered the piss poor Cardinals religiously. This summer they are enjoying slamming the Suns management for "horrible" offseason moves. I guess they have accepted the Cards' mediocrity and gave them a pass but the Suns get microscope treatment. They are fair weather fans and amateurish radio personalities.

Now, Bickley writes a ridiculously trivial and boring story about the Phoenix Suns dance team with incredibly insightful statements such as:

the Suns dance team is far more than an in-game diversion. On some nights, they're even better than the basketball team.

Better at what Bickley? The dance team is straight butterface eye candy and the dances just highlight their assets and increase the sex appeal. That's not news. Must be a slow month.

What We Get in Banks

Marcus Banks could be the perfect fit in Phoenix. He has accepted the role of backup point behind Steve Nash and is thrilled. He wants to learn from Steve. Banks has lots of upside as a pass first team leader. He can also slash as quick as Barbosa and shoot, as seen in that ridiculous game earlier this past season. The Suns inept office heard that Banks was available in their price range, D'Antoni said

"Do it,"

And it got done.

Marcus is only 24, has a pass first mentality, is a good defender, great slasher, can shoot and plays strong. This could be a fabulous long term pickup. He seems to have a great attitude and a willingness to learn from Steve and isn't concerned about minutes. He wants to work for his minutes.

The Cleveland Curse Is About to be Broken

My dude Irwin decided to send me some thoughts about how his season went as a Cavs disciple. My man's got season tix to the upcoming season and i'll be commuting between Phoenix and C- Town for highlight basketball nights and excessive abuse of my liver. What curse? Check it:

I thought it might be nice to reminisce about some of my favorite games of the season some of which are on the Cavs website in the list of top ten games.

Where to start there were so many good games...

Lets start on the eve of 2006 the Cavs hosted the pistons. I remember scrounging around Cleveland in sub zero temps. trying to get tickets to this exclusive game. After paying an extreme mark up I got in and it was worth every penny. No one thought the cavs had any chance, but they were mistaken.

The Cavaliers stopped them dead in their tracks en route to a 97-84 win. Cleveland led by 14 points at the half and never looked back as the Wine and Gold defense smothered Deeee-troit. This game was freaking awesome! And I even managed to get on the jumbotron twice with the clever sign that read "who needs a prince when you have a king." This was the last game Larry Hughes would play in before undergoing surgery and he also put up incredible numbers playing with an injured finger.

Next, this isn't on the Cavs top ten but for me this game was important. It showed that we could compete and finish close games which gave the team a boost that helped the Cavs finish the year strong. This was also a breakout game for Flip Murray who saved the day. The Lakers seemed to control the whole game and during the 4th quarter it looked like the Cavs were playing with lead in their shoes.

Kobe couldn't be stopped. Murray scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead free throw with 3.4 seconds left, to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a come-from-behind 96-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Too bad he went to the dark side though. I liked flip and without him stepping in for Hughes I don't think we would have made it into, or as far as we did in the post season.

Finally possibly the best game I have ever seen. It was my birthday, May 3rd. Playoffs were in full swing best of all I had tickets to the night's game. After sampling some beers at Great Lakes Brewery, (thee best on the planet) Erin and I made the journey on the RTA to tower city where we met up with thousands of stoked Cavs fans flowing in the walkway toards the Q. It was electric. I settled down to a great game but little did I know it would become one of the greatest endings I ever "witnessed."

It started as an elegant game of basketball with both teams putting on a show. Both Lebron and Arenas were putting up incredible numbers. Both scored 40+ points. With 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers led by seven and it looked to be putting the wraps on Game 5. But Antonio Daniels converted a three-point play and Caron Butler scored four quick points off Cavalier turnovers to tie the game at 107-107. Now I was nervous.

Arenas had been red hot all night and the Cavs were in foul trouble, it seemed like the Cleveland curse was upon us. But as the clock struck twelve LeBron took an in-bounds pass with 3.3 seconds remaining, tight-roped Antawn Jamison on the baseline, and laid the acrobatic game-winner up and in with .9 seconds remaining, giving the Cavaliers a 121-120 win in one of the most thrilling games in Cavalier history. The place went squirrel-shit nuts. I remember yelling so loud I lost my voice and of course, high fives to absolute strangers.

Mike D, STAT, and The Matrix are Training

The trio are in Vegas training for USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team. Shawn Marion is going to be a star on that team. D'Antoni was doing some scouting and coaching and drill running. Amare was working on every aspect of his game. Shawn was driving. All in all it was probably just some light practice for the players to decide whether they feel committed to play. The coaches, Mike D., and Coach Mike Krzyzewski most likely introduced some sort of game plan for how they want the team to play. They also stressed the importance of being committed for the long haul. I think Shawn is really going to excel on this team and with the style of play in the International League. I like Shawn and Gilbert Arenas to be stars on this team but Amare is not expected to play this summer.

Steve Nash Has Gone and Done It

Steve got cornrows. Well not exactly, he just chopped it all off. Steve has no attachment, he's going to let it all out on the court. Steve is ready to lead this team to victory. He's not messing around with hair.

I don't really have a rhyme or reason. I felt like taking it off.

The deal finished finally to get Steve a backup point guard, which was a main priority of the summer. Nash will have Marcus Banks to relieve him of some minutes. I just hope Banks can feel comfortable and give the team what it needs as a young pure point. The kid looks good. He has a load of talent and some experience in the league and now gets to play with the best.

Steve busted out his new dome at a charity event in Vancouver. The money raised will go to the Steve Nash Foundation which helps out needy children in impoverished situations. You can make a donation here.

The Suns Want Banks

The Suns are now looking at signing Marcus Banks, a 6'2" pass first point guard, to fill in for some minutes next season as a back up to Steve Nash. How many minutes would depend on how he plays. I like this possibility because Banks is young and has a lot of upside and because he torched the Suns during a game in the 05/06 season on 9/14 shooting. I remember that game. I remember saying "wow that guy Banks is really good." I also remember saying "wow, that last shot was a goaltend and Garnett knows it but doesn't care because he won and thats all that matters and he's even lying about it to the media." Anyways, I hope they do get him and it seems like they can because he could be a good player for the Suns for a long time.

The Six Headed Hydra

The "new Association" is changing to rationalize for scoring and a faster paced action packed contest. Many teams can now be seen scrambling to search for new identities or to create their own doctrines of play. The "new NBA" places more priority on scoring for obvious spectatorial reasons and because of this certain teams are working on changing their image or style of play. The Phoenix Suns are the epitome of the new NBA as a chemistry based, pass first, high-octane six-headed hydra that always works for the collective good of the team.

This thinking has polarized the L as many teams ponder whether they should stick to what has worked the past 15 years or jump ship and go with the new, which commands zero street-cred. Teams such as Phoenix and Detroit are role models of style that sit as moderate opposites near the top of the NBA food chain. While Phoenix is largely known for its entertaining run-and-gun style, where defense is an afterthought. The Detroit Pistons have been known as a half-court, grind it out defensive team Both are fairly similar.


Both teams place much importance on the chemistry and value of the team. Phoenix does not play offense exclusively, they are actually average if not above average in the major defensive statistical categories and play pretty good team defense. Likewise, Detroit has its base in punishing teams with smothering defense yet is quite adept at offensive schemes and fluidly pushing the pace of games. A true run-and-gun team would be more like the Supersonics who have a wealth of offensive talent, they have Jesus, and are fun to watch but can't seem to win games. Likewise, a true defensive oriented team would be more like the Bulls who will scrap until every last breath is taken from them in the game yet only have a couple of legitimate scorers who happen to live in the backcourt.

The new NBA has teams like the Toronto Raptors attempting to use the new rules to their advantage and build their team as "Phoenix Norte." While the Raptors have a good start with ex-general manager of the Suns and a franchise player it seems they are not remaining moderate but are building a heavily European-influenced team. It is widely known that international players have struggled in the NBA due to the level of talent and physicality. Although there are some success stories, they are a diamond in the rough. The recent moves by Bryan Colangelo have me thinking that the team he is building will ultimately struggle as the Supersonics do. Patience is a virtue that general managers need in this league to be successful. Building the Phoenix Suns cannot occur overnight. The correct talent is not always available at the time you want it. Of course in a few years he may prove me wrong. His plan could be a grand scheme to stock pile talent which can be unloaded at the site of the right player. He may be right. Basketball teams have lots of people working for them scouting and assistant coaching and statisticians and such. The players they are looking for have new importance.

The duality of players like Boris Diaw are irreplaceable. True, the Suns stumbled on to his services but make no mistake, they will sign him. He has changed the way scouts look at players. Here is a man who can play all five positions, pass like Steve Nash, defend in the post, rebound, dunk, shoot hook shots, banking layups, finger rolls, and floaters. In new scout books there is a page that reads "can play multiple positions." A player who knows so much more about the game than most players on the court who can melt opposing defenses with his trickery. Soon, you will hear sports writers referring to "the next Boris Diaw" as they have constantly searched for the next Dirk Nowitzki. Boris is one mind on the Phoenix Suns six-headed hydra preemptive defense. It is an improvisational style that cannot be matched. There is only one Charlie Parker, only one Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis.

Major Escalation!

Breaking News Update: In retaliation for usurping free agent John Salmons from the Phoenix Suns, several Suns Employees have taken immediate action against Bryan Colangelo. Shawn Marion is leading a team of mercenary Mounties into Toronto this weekend to "deal" with the problem that is Bryan Colangelo, the general manager of the NBA franchise Toronto Raptors. Evidently, Assistant Coach Mark Iavaroni arranged the war party after finding out Colangelo was stalking Suns free agent prospects with gumshoe ways. Colangelo, on a high horse after fumbling into an organization with a wealth of cap space, decided not to actually do his own work but to preemptively sign Suns prospects. Aparrently, Colangelo has been on a binge shopping spree since learning that the millions of dollars he made in Phoenix is worth a "helluva" lot more in Canada due to exchange rates. We caught up with Shawn Marion before he embarked on his Journey, he had this to say:

Well Mark called me and said that he needed me to do something and since I am such a team player, I really had no choice. The funny thing, Mark found the (Mounties) in Rocky Point, Mexico, while they were on vacation and they said they would do it for free Molson Beer and season tickets to the Phoenix Coyotes youknowwhatimsayin. Yeah it's a brisk 5 hour (horse) ride to Phoenix youknowwhatimsayin. We all about chemistry in this organization so you know I gotta to do this.

Marion wouldn't elaborate on what "I gotta do this" is but an unnamed source tells us it has something to do with tying the Raptors nets together and letting the air out of the their basketballs. Head Coach and General Manager Mike D'Antoni was brisk with us but did inform us that:

I told Mark to get it done. He knows what to do. (Later, Steve Nash added) Seriously guys, this isn't funny.

The Core is Reason For Optimism

In basketball circles, nothing less than completely re-making the roster is considered progress. For example, the Philadelphia 76ers' offseason will be a complete failure unless they unload their entire roster, minus Allen Iverson, for Kevin Garnett and opt to run a two against five offense next season. Many following the Suns are wallowing in pessimism since Suns management unloaded the draftees and failed to re-sign Tim Thomas. I'm also talking about you Bickley and M.J. They didn't really want Tim Thomas anyways. The thing is, management is setting up for a run at the title. They are really close. They do not want any project players, especially late-round picks. About Tim Thomas, he had a great stint with the Suns last season but is this the guy we really want on this team long term? He has arguably the worst track record in the NBA and a team built on chemistry trying to win a championship cannot have any Artest-esque hiccups midseason. This also gives the team more money to work with in dealing Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa contract extensions. Also, this team is built on the predicate of long term, sustained, success which cannot happen if they take on any bad contracts. See the New York Knicks. Tim Thomas is slightly overpaid and John Salmons is really really overpaid. Tim Thomas has the ability to turn 'slightly overpaid' into 'the worst contract ever' if he reverts to his old ways. See the Chicago Bulls.

We have an extremely talented core of players who have what it takes to win an NBA championship. This offseason has a horrible free agent pool especially when anyone coming to your team will be the ninth man. What capable NBA player wants to surf the pine all season? With an extraordinary playmaker holding it down in the frontcourt and backcourt and two, possibly three incredible finishers in the frontcourt this team will be straight up showtime. Add in a few sharpshooters and a couple defensive bullies and you got what it takes to win it all. I'll break down the possibilities.


Amare Stoudemire: I expect to see between 80% and 110% Amare out there. He has expanded his game with an improved jumper and much better court vision and passing. But, will we see the 04/05 explosiveness?

Positive prediction: 35ppg 14rpg 2apg 2bpg 1spg. yeah he is capable of being that good.

Negative Prediction: 21ppg 8rpg 1bpg. Sounds like "newborn" Amare numbers all right. His intangible is his dominance. Would you be happy if a rookie put up this line?

~

Shawn Marion: Shawn is in his prime. He will hit the weights and bulk up a bit more this offseason and hopefully realize he should stop shooting. He should feel more comfortable and play much better with Amare back.

Positive Prediction: 28ppg 13rpg 3bpg 3spg. Get him on your fantasy team now. He might actually break out of time and space like The Matrix, the movie.

Negative Prediction: 21ppg 10ppg 1bpg 2spg. He always gets 20 and 10. Will Amare impact his numbers?

~

Steve Nash: Every single person on the court can straight up ball. Amare should take some of the pressure and minutes off Nash. I want to see him break the single season average assist record. He's "Magic" on the showtime Suns.

Positive Prediction: 18ppg 15apg. Sure his scoring average is down but that's a good thing. Single season average assist record! He makes his season debut in cornrows!

Negative Prediction: 16ppg 9apg. Still probably the best point guard in the world.

~

Boris Diaw: Expect Boris to elevate his game into the NBA's elite this season as we saw glimpses in the Western Conference Finals.

Positive Prediction: 20ppg 10rpg 10apg 2bpg. It's a stretch but he has the talent and I would love to see someone average a triple double.

Negative Prediction: 20ppg 8rpg 6apg. He will be very close to this and do it very nonchalantly.

~

Raja Bell: Raja has been elevating his game all season long. He has become much more well rounded offensively and defensively, he is in the NBA's elite. He is a great court leader who gets his teammates to "bring it." Bring what? It's just what they bring.

Positive Prediction: 18ppg 4rpg 4apg 2spg 50% 3's 50% field. No more clothesline outbursts while still bullying the other teams best guard.

Negative Prediction: 12ppg 2rpg 1apg 40% 3's 48% field. Still a solid defender who brings energy and leadership.

~

Leandro Barbosa: Leandro has the ability to be a big time scorer in the league with his quickness and array of shots. He just needs to finish better and harness that incredible speed.

Positive Prediction: 20ppg 5apg 2rpg 50% 3's 52% field. Hopefully he starts dunking more so his layups stop getting blocked and/or changed.

Negative Prediction: 14ppg 3apg 1rpg 45% 3's 48% field. Still a great sixth man.

~

Kurt Thomas: Arguably the best man-to-man post defender in the league. Solid jump shot from 6 feet out and sets a mean screen. Only the best post scorers can get theirs on Kurt. Most likely he will come off the bench and be a warrior at center for at least 20 minutes a game and he won't give the other team an inch. Hopefully he can come back strong from his broken foot.

Positive Prediction: 12ppg 10rpg in 25 minutes. A straight up gladiator in the paint.

Negative Prediction: 7ppg 7rpg in 20 minutes. Similar to last seasons numbers while the Suns were playing their best regular season ball.

~

James Jones: James is a very smart player with good form on his jump shot. He was a lethal three point threat through the regular season but struggled with consistancy. He is a good defender who can take charges, block shots and rebound. A real hustler who gives everything he can. Great at drawing fouls behind the three point line. Anything from "Junior" Jones is a bonus. He is worth more than his contract and the Suns couldn't get back as much as he gives in a trade.

~

Overall, the positive prediction would have the Suns averaging 151ppg! They wouldn't even have to go back on defense, ever. The negative prediction would have the team averaging 111ppg! Suns fans, we have nothing to worry about. Barring injury, this team should take us at the very least, deep in the post season if not winning a championship while having entertaining basketball for years to come. Lets get a little more optimistic.

Bryan Colangelo Is Using Live Bait; D'Antoni Needs Better Lures

Bryan Colangelo went fishing today and caught a 6'6", 207 lb, Salmon. Colangelo must have had enlisted the help of some resident Canadian fisherman during negotiations with Salmons since moving from the land of sand and Saguaros to the city on a lake. Or, he offered Salmons more money and the opportunity for more playing time. Living in Phoenix, Mike D'Antoni hasn't yet had much of an opportunity to go fishing considering it is a landlocked desert. Also, he needs to practice flicking his lures a bit better or more free agent fish will get away. Since John Salmons has been a career marginal bench player, this event shouldn't be too devastating. Unless this becomes a routine thing where Colangelo steals our prospects and/or D'Antoni can't seal the deal. We obviously didn't act fast enough enlisting mercenary Mounties to deal with the problem that is Bryan Colangelo and his abyss of cap space. This really isn't much of a deal considering the player and the fact that he is being grossly overpaid. Ok, the bad joke is over now.

It's Getting Hot In Here

I'm starting to get a little irritated. More "what-if" news came out today about the Suns imminent veteran free agent addition. I'm not going to ramble on about what John Salmons would bring to the team or what his role would be or his potential or any of that other crap. I'm sick of speculative sports writing that has the legs of an earthworm when you can read the news here. I am not happy about Bryan Colangelo meddling into our affairs already. Maybe we can hire a few hockey haired Mounties to enforce a laissez-faire clause preventing the Raps from screwing with our team. Now Colangelo has more cap room to sign all potential Suns players to the Raptors. Oh, and Colangelo, that Charlie V. for T.J. Ford trade was a huge mistake. That move will make the Raps as much of a contender today as Ralph Macchio becoming a heavyweight boxing champion.

My favorite contact sports moment this year has been hands down Raja Bell's clothesline of Kobe until Sunday. I now have mixed emotions. When I saw Zinedine Zizou try to freaking ram his head through that Italian dude's sternum like a damn Bighorn Sheep I froze in awe. Never in my life have I seen anything like that. One word, awesome. Now, the Raja clothesline was badass and it had more personal significance for me because I cannot stand Kobe. But that head ram thing was priceless. Especially since a few minutes earlier I watched him head butt the soccer ball like a rocket toward the goal. Obviously I watch a lot of soccer. Much of his power is certainly derived from that dome. So, which takedown was better? I don't know but if we can get Raja to do a Bighorn Sheep ram through Kobe's chest, he would be the undisputed champion of the world. Has anyone seen that new PR stunt where Kobe tries to improve his image through an autistic boy? What a leech.

Arrgh, maybe it's just the heat.

Amare Stoudemire Is Not Gambling In Vegas

That Jumper is looking good home boy. Booyakasha!

The Luxury Tax Isn't Just For Monopoly Anymore

Another boring "what if" post for the summer. I have nothing better to do since I carpool and stay at work longer than needed, and I know you don't either. The things I do for the environment. Anyways, the Suns staff is pondering what to do to fill the 3 remaining roster spots. Do they choose a minimum contract player from the Summer League? Or, do they get a proven veteren who most likely is guaranteed to contribute? For the perfect piece, Robert Sarver is actually willing to exceed the Luxury Tax threshold. This is good news for us Suns fans as we can move past the business aspect and focus on getting as many good players for a run at this title as humanly possible. Sarver has previously kept the team under the cap for obvious business reasons but he is now on board with the rest of us as arguably the worlds wealthiest Suns fan. He is willing to pay unnecessary cash in order to bring a player to this team that can help us achieve sports Nirvana: an NBA Championship.

In this article there is a great Quote from Ruben Douglas, a free agent. Ruben says:

If Phoenix is interested, they are interested. If not, hopefully someone else is. If not, I'll go over waters and make some money.

Oh how great it is to be reasonably tall and mildly athletic. If you don't win the NBA lottery you are still guaranteed the ability to travel the world while making decent cash. Being average in height and reasonably athletic gets you nowhere dammit! In sports at least.

Amare Stoudemire is Cautiously Scoring a Lot of Points

We have more Summer League action going on as Amare and the Suns played the Knickerbockers Summer League squad this weekend. In the end, Amare on autopilot scored 24 points to lead the Suns in a blowout win over the other team. Amare, still taking it easy, worked on explosively scoring and shooting in the game while playing at about 10%. He came out nonchalantly swinging and had a few dunks. In the end, Amare had one rebound as he continues to ramp himself up into more combative shape. The Knicks standout, David Lee, continued to play well with a double-double of 21 and 13 despite thinking that this is the NBA Finals.

I didn't see the game so I can't say whether anybody else on the Suns played very well. It can be very inconsistant during these games and everybody is still trying to learn and find their role. From the box score, I cannot determine anything except that a couple guys, other than Amare, scored in double figures. It is hard to compare the stats of a Summer League game against the stats of a real NBA game since the competition is easier and players minutes are short and erratic. Look for the coaches to use the best talents from the squad in the last couple Summer League games.

A Minute With Leandro Barbosa

Leandro, or Leandrinho, Barbosa is like that kid you went to school with who seemed to have a million nicknames. Not only did he have a bunch of nicknames but the ease at which you could make up a new nickname was astounding. Whether it is "Starbosa," "Brazilian Blur," or "Blurbosa," lucky for Leandro, or "Leandrinho," all the names are cool and not derogatory. I had a friend named Chris Weth who was the same way. From the first day I met him the nicknames flowed like Niagara Falls. For him it was, "Wethside," "Megadeath Weth," and "crystal meth Weth." People like this are fun. I don't know what it is about them that make it so damn easy to make up names for but who cares. Especially when they are crazy good at basketball like the "Brazilian Blur." Leandro carved up the Lakers like a thanksgiving turkey. He has the ability to slice up the competition with his lightening quickness. He is also a lethal shooter which makes his game open up. D'Antoni is high on this kid and for good reason. When he plays he makes it look like he isn't even trying, like his slashes to the rim were predetermined. Lets see if he can play significant minutes running the team at the point.

The Suns dropped their Summer League debut to the Minnesota Timberwolves but the good news is Amare played well.

Boris Diaw Can Compete

Boris Diaw absolutely erupted into the Phoenix Suns scene this year as a toss in to the Joe Johnson trade. I know this is a little late but it's a new blog and it's the summer. Also, it may have turned out to be the best thing for both Boris and the Suns. It's more like the Boris Diaw trade with Joe Johnson as the throw in. Last summer I was following the trade closely and when I found out we would be getting a French guy named Boris Diaw, I was intrigued. I started following the World Championships and the French National Team and noticed Boris puting up gaudy numbers and carrying a team who had Tony Parker on it. This could be good, I thought. Then he blew up in the Vegas summer league, even better. Soon the Frenchman would be a starter and one of my favorite players. I could not believe the basketball I.Q. he had for such a young player. He knows more than some 10 year veterans ever could.

Boris' game is rediculous. He possesses uncanny court vision, a threading-the-needle passing ability, he boxes out better than most players, he rebounds well, he plays great post defense, and now he has become a scoring machine. He has a beautiful baby hook, a delightful finger roll, brisk bank layups, and then monster posterizing dunks, fakes, footwork, and a jumper that the Atlanta Hawks would die for. Early in the season he was a bit timid, never having such a huge role in such a competitive league. He was so unselfish that he became selfish, if that makes sense. Like a sponge, he soaked up everything that the coaches and media were telling him to work on and exceeded expectations. Now he can finish with the best of them and he can even hit a few three's when the moment calls for it. He is also the most likeable French person I have ever seen.

Boris lives up to almost every French stereotype that I know, except the rude one. He is intelligent, speaks English well, knows a good wine, and he even knows how to wear a beret properly! I couldn't make that up. Boris probably has more fans in the world than any other Phoenix Suns player. I'll bet he has ten million fans because talent like this is one in a billion. If I were French (which I do have some French blood in me) and was cheering for a French player I would choose Boris every time. Tony Parker is boring and overrated. I'll take that back when Tony posterizes Dirk Nowitzki. I hate to say it but Boris is even a better jump shooter than Tony. On Boris' website there is a forum where people are discussing whether or not he has a girlfriend. Girls love him, Bill Walton loves him, and I love him too. In a completely platonic way of course. But seriously, if anyone knows if Boris has a girlfriend, some people would really like to know.

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention?

I've just been handed
an urgent and horrifying news
story.

I need all of you
to stop what you're doing

and listen.

Ron Burgandy, Anchorman?

Mike D'Antoni has a plan to fill the Suns roster with extremely limited resources. The Vegas Summer League roster and schedule have been established and at least a couple players on the team will be on the Suns regular season roster in 06/07 in order to fill 15 spots. The standout of this group, aside from Amare is a man named Romain Sato who has played in the Italian league for Benetton Treviso . It sounds as if this Sato guy, who I've never heard of, may become a really great player. His stats are outrageous but I don't know how difficult the competition he faced has been . He is a guy to watch during the summer league. Boris Diaw had a great summer league before this past season and he turned out phenominal.



D'Antoni is a really smart guy and one of the greatest coaches in Suns history. He is definitely my favorite coach. If he can find a valuable piece to add to this uber-talented Suns roster his legacy will grow thick. D'Antoni always manages to get the best out of his players and I think he is capable of pulling this one off too. The best part about D'Antoni is his uncanny resemblance of Will Farrell's character Ron Burgundy in Anchorman. Off the court, he has an easy going swagger, on the court he explodes. D'Antoni needs a small effort from a new reserve or two to solidify this roster for championship dreams. Another player to look out for in the Summer League is Maciej Lampe. Evidently he is a sweet-shooting PF/C who plans on working extremely hard to make this Suns team. They will play with Stoudemire during the summer league in Vegas.


Apparently Amare Stoudemire owns a luxury condo in a building across from my work office and is buying more real estate in the same area. I wonder if that was his Lambo I saw a couple weeks ago? Also on Amare's schedule was his annual basketball camp at Desert Ridge High School and he unveiled a Reading & Learning Center at a Boys and Girls Club in Phoenix.

Amare Stoudemire is studying

This man amazes me on the regular. While most people who make more than a couple hundred thousand dollars in a single pay period would be shopping for extravagent gifts or vacationing in exotic destinations during time off from work. Amare Stoudemire learns Spanish. During the year long rehab after double knee surgeries, Amare not only has worked diligently on healing and strengthening his knees but has worked on improving the weak areas of his game. His game is evolving to not only be the most explosive player on the court but he is also a much better shooter than he was. The man has a tight schedule. He is using his time wisely. He studies Spanish for an hour each day. I took a Spanish class once in high school and it wasn't pretty.

Coming off of 3 years of French classes, I decided to have a go at Spanish and it was disasterous. I was pretty good at French so I figured I could be well rounded and know a little of Spanish as well. French and Spanish are very similar. After a month I was confusing everything. I was saying French words when I should have used Spanish and vice versa. The two languages are so mixed up in my head now the damage is irreparable. Amare was smart, choose one and go with it. Living in Phoenix he will probably use it too. Considering he most likely has a large number of Mexican fans and he plans on being active in the community, it is a good idea. The man is motivated. Me? I would probably try to learn French again, which makes the least amount of sense possible, 'cause thats how I roll.

Cheers!

Free Agency

Tim Thomas you are dead to me. Thomas apparently agreed to sign a four year, $24 million deal with the Suns Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Clippers. After repeatedly stating that he would take a pay cut to stay in Phoenix, Thomas reneged on his deal and went for the money. Hopefully he resumes his pre-Suns ways in Los Angeles and becomes a lazy, unfocused, cancer on the team. What a waste of breath Tim Thomas is.

The Suns did agree to a deal with Eric Piatkowski, a 6-foot-7 small forward, who played for the Bulls and can shoot. He will most likely play minutes behind Shawn Marion, along with James Jones. Piatkowski will play his 13th and 14th seasons in Phoenix as a back up shooter. The Suns are also interested in picking up Lindsey Hunter from the Detroit Pistons as a back up point guard but will have to wait to see how much Detroit and other teams offer first. Hunter played pretty good this past season in Detroit and could make an impact with the Suns. The Suns are also interested in Matt Harpring but will have to wait to see what other teams do first.

I think the real reason the Clippers signed Tim Thomas is for that feminine little hand wave he does when he makes a shot. Always ready for the latest trend to jump on, I am expecting many in Los Angeles and Clippers Nacion to take to the hand wave immediately. Jump on the bandwagon Los Angeles. Tim Thomas is one long running joke.

Give me Q-Rich and his bull horns anyday.