Being Steve Nash: 07-08 Phoenix Suns Preview

The end to last season sucked. (As I type this the Sp*rs are getting their rings.) We've heard plenty of whining, complaining, conspiracy theories and trade rumors to try and cope with that fact. The new season is here.

We've taken time this summer to look at how the returning players on our favorite team could improve this summer. Amare wants revenge, Marcus Banks wants playing time, Shawn Marion wants $60 million dollars, the front office wants to stay away from the luxury tax. What does Steve Nash want? He wants a ring.

Last season's Steve Nash was the culmination of two years of hype and his rise into the NBA upper crust. Nash is now a guy people will pay to see play. Nash played with an edge last season and his focus on winning a title produced some great basketball. However but we've read comments from Coach D'Antoni that the team was too stressed out by expectations and it hurt their chemistry late in the year before all the drama of the Sp*rs series.

So what can we expect from the NBA's best teammate this year? How can Nash improve? What can he do to bring the Finals and the chance at the trophy back to PHX? Make it work.

Suns fans aren't the only people interested in Nash. He's been on magazine covers, interviewed by Charlie Rose, profiled in the NY Times and had a major charity event in China with Yao Ming. Steve Nash the conscious celebrity has been busy but what about the baller.

Nash is a true point guard so his teammates, their psyches and skill sets are all part of his success. Guys need to be ready to play when Nash is on the court. Looking at the roster, I can't help but be excited for the season.

The Suns kept their core intact and that feat alone may prove to be more significant than the seemingly bad trades made by newbie GM Steve Kerr. The roster the Suns will put on the floor opening night will be small and probably more suited to Coach D'Antoni's style than any other roster he has had. Nash has plenty of weapons.

Amare Stoudemire is a legit MVP candidate. Perhaps he will make the step defensively to being a truly dominant player but he'll need the easy shots Nash creates to save some energy for defense.

Adding Grant Hill does make the Suns a better team. His skill set even after the injuries fits perfect in this system and his character only serves to amplify the vibe Nash has tried to use to lead this team.

Shawn Marion does not owe his career to Steve Nash. He has been fortunate however to have played with Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury and now Nash. Marion makes the point guards look good with his finishing ability and he does the dirty work to keep the team successful. Nash keeps Marion on Sportscenter.

Boris Diaw has reported to camp in shape and with some aggressiveness. This is a welcome change after Nash was very obvious and pointed with criticism of Diaw's timid play last season. Coach D'Antoni shuffled Boris in the lineup but never criticized him. He'll need to bring a solid effort in his reserve role which will require playmaking and banging with bigs.

Leandro Barbosa seems ready for a bust out year or perhaps some regression as injuries seem to be mounting for the speedster. I'd expect a slow start and furious finish from LB.

Raja Bell has continued his rise to stardom and hopefully has recovered from off season knee surgery. His defense and shooting are invaluable against the dynamic wing players.

Last year's bench busts Sean Marks and Marcus Banks had some impressive moments in the preseason and perhaps might nab some minutes in the regular rotation. Marks will compete with newcomer Brian Skinner for the big man minutes.

The team has rookies for the first time in a while and DJ Strawberry looked very impressive from all accounts in the preseason. Alando Tucker may not be ready for prime time just yet but hopefully he'll be a player that D'Antoni develops.

So that's the roster, what do I think about the season? Here's what I know:

1. The season is too long. Adding in the the international tuneups for the Olympics, players are playing basketball year round and will be forced to pick their spots during the season. The Suns have three key players who played this summer.

2. The West is as brutal as ever. The Mavs will be just as fired up as the Suns feeling their best chance at a title ended prematurely. The Spurs have everything in place to attempt to repeat, except Tim Donaghy. The Rockets added a new coach and good players. The Nuggets are (somewhat) healthy and have Iverson for a full season. Even the bad teams have promising rookies who may spark an upset or two.

3. The East is actually League Pass worthy. The Celtics will be fun to watch, especially when the inevitable fight with the Knicks breaks out. All the good teams in the East have major flaws which may make for entertaining basketball and a competitive regular season. But we still want Atlanta to suck because we get their pick regardless next summer. OJ Mayo or Michael Beasley in a Suns uniform would be nice.

Here's what I don't know:
1. 60 wins seems like fools gold. The sheer number of shit teams makes for plenty of easy nights. But the push for homecourt advantage or the rhythm of winning streaks makes for plenty of nights where guys don't want to give an inch. There will be plenty of times this season where Coach D'Antoni will have to make the choice to let a few games go or go a little bit longer with the rookies. What impact will it have on the win total?

2. Is Marion really all that unhappy? Two thoughts. 1, there are plenty of third bananas who piled up rings. James Worthy, Horace Grant, Robert Parish, the list goes on. Who cares how much credit you get if you have a legit chance to win? 2, Marion plays well with a chip on his shoulder and he might have to carry the Suns to a title if he thinks he's worth $20 million. Marion will be fine. It'll be a shame to see him go next summer. Gilbert Arenas will look good in purple though.

3. Is Grant Hill the missing piece? Part of me has flashbacks to the Sprite commercials (He's a Cowboy), the dunks and even the Duke highlights and I hope he gets the Gary Payton championship. Sure he's a little worn down but he'll make plays and even win a game or two himself. The other part of me thinks about his injury history and I want him to travel everywhere by Segway and hope that D'Antoni sits him during back to backs. More than anything, he's the slasher and midrange player the Suns have been missing. This might be the most complete offensive team we'll ever see play. The overhyped D'Antoni "style" (you know passing and shooting when open) may breakthrough because no defense can account for all the options.

The Suns are a year older and have learned from being at the center of controversy during probably the worst NBA season ever (unless you count 1999 when the Sp*rs won the lockout title). They have a chip and it will translate into playoff success. The Sp*rs are just a year older. They are a target than can be beaten and that will be beaten without the aid of 1990's rules or crooked referees.

While the whispers about Amare being 2005 good, Grant Hill being 1995 good and Marion being a distraction may be season-long storylines- most of the focus will be on Nash. He's the NBA's best leader and while this group is very talented, they'll need some guidance, great performances and good chemistry to win it all.

The playoffs are a loooooong way away though. Personally I'd much rather see a 10 man rotation, starters minutes in the low 30s and a bench who stretches leads more than 60+ wins. (Both would nice though.) How the Suns approach the regular season will be a major part of their overall success this year. It's time to run.