Draftness

The draft is finally here! Excitement! Amidst all the hype and mock drafting, I read a harrowing story about Len Bias. Something makes me think all the doubts about Beasley being a risk for being a funny 19-year-old kid pale in comparison.

Sorry I didn't post a mock draft for you. I hate the thought of writing something that would be proven dead wrong within a few hours and I was too busy watching football. BTW, I heard most of the world missed the end of the Turkey/Germany match. It was f-ing awesome but heartbreaking for the Turks. They may be in the Final but Germany doesn't impress me. If the Turks hadn't lost so many starters to yellow yards, the outcome would have been different but they still attacked the Germans with their B-team and nearly pulled off another miracle. Hopefully their exciting run erases the lingering effect of Midnight Express. But I digress...

After the Russia/Spain match, hopefully I can find the draft on Swiss or Portuguese TV. If not, internet to the rescue. That won't be quite as fun though and that kills the drinking game scenario...

So here's a draft drinking game.

1 drink every time you hear the words 'upside', 'character issues', 'explosiveness' or 'motor'

2 drinks every time someone wears a white suit; David Stern mispronounces a players name; video footage looks like it's from youtube; or someone from your school gets drafted.

3 drinks if the Suns pull a trade.

10 drinks if the Suns sell a draft pick.

You can substitute bong rips or water if so inclined.

I'll write a profile of whomever the Suns draft. Let's get some talent Steve Kerr!

UPDATE: Robin Lopez was the pick at 15. I didn't see much of him this year but from what I've read, he's a scrappy big who rebounds, defends well and blocks shots. I like it. It's 3 am here. I'll check back in the morning...

UPDATE 2: Here's a some thoughts on our two picks...

#15 Robin Lopez, Center, Stanford, 7', 255 lbs.

On paper, I love the pick. I wanted an energy big. I though we'd get that in the 2nd round but we got a quality player in the first. I like Lopez for a couple reasons.

1. He can play right away. The developed aspect of his game are defense, rebounding, shot blocking and hustle. He makes plays on defense. His numbers are decent but don't forget he played with a big man (his twin) that was just as big and a little more skilled. His current skills translate to the NBA.

2. His potential is what makes me like it more. His brother has always gotten more attention. Robin is hungry. For the first time he won't have to share the spotlight. He can develop and he's got some great teachers. He gets to battle Shaq in practice and learn from Bill Cartwright. That's 7 rings (as players) combined. That's a great situation for a young big man. Just because he's a backup role player now doesn't mean that's his ceiling. Plus if he develops into a Marcus Camby type player, I would gladly take that at the five if Amare continues to be an unstoppable beast at the four.

Plus this pic is a classic...

#45 Goran Dragic, Point Guard, Union Olimpija (Slovenia), 6' 4", 180 lbs. (acquired from San Antonio Spurs for rights to #48 Malik Hairston)

Once again on paper I like the pick. Apparently the Suns LOVE the pick. They celebrated when the trade went down because they had Dragic rated as the second best point guard in the draft. I've read through a few scouting sites and found a couple of youtube vids. Word is, Dragic (gotta love that name) is a slashing, penetrating point guard who is a solid if not excellent defender. His weakness is his jumper at this point. He may be able to come over this year if he can get his main team to release him (he plays for three teams). If not, he has a buyout next year. The club sees him as the eventual replacement for Steve Nash. Hopefully he can make it over sooner than later to get some practice time against Nash, get familiar with the organization and get some D-League playing time if necessary.

Here's a couple of highlight vids from youtube. One with a rock soundtrack and another with hip hop stylings. Enjoy...

Phoenix Suns new coaching staff

Head Coach: Terry Porter
Porter was the head coach in Milwaukee from 2003-2005. He was let go in what many saw as a raw deal. He was the lead assistant to Flip Saunders in Detroit the last two seasons. He played for Rick Adelman, Saunders, Pat Riley and Greg Popovich. Porter played with GM Steve Kerr under Popovich in San Antonio. He says his approach will be uptempo with an emphasis on defense. Porter was the starting point guard the Portland Trailblazers 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals teams.
Good info: One Two

Lead Assistant: Alvin Gentry
Gentry decided to stay in Phoenix rather than join Mike D'Antoni in New York. He reportedly loves Phoenix and the group of players the team has. From the Republic, "I really like our team. I still think we have a lot of winning to do. You can look back to the San Antonio (playoff Game 1) and if Tim Duncan misses the 3-pointer or if we finish it off. This team will come back as hungry as ever, and Terry will do a great job. Mike did a great job, and it'll be tough to follow his footsteps. Terry will demand respect."
Good info: One

Assistant Coach: Bill Cartwright
Cartwright will be a big presence on the bench. He was the starting center for the Chicago Bulls 91-93 Championship teams. He was an assistant coach for two more Bulls Championships. He coached the Bulls during their rebuilding years from 2001-2004. He was an assistant in New Jersey prior to joining the Suns. He'll work with the big men and his five rings should carry some weight. One of my middle school coaches played high school ball with Cartwright and remained friends with him. I've heard tons of positives about him since I was 12 years old.
Good info: One Two

Assistant Coach: Igor Kokoskov
Igor Kokoskov brings a lot of NBA and international experience to the table. He's previously worked with the Clippers and Pistons- including during their 2004 title run. He was an assistant coach of the Serbia and Montenegro team in the 2004 Olympics. He's been coaching since his early twenties after injuries from a car accident ended his playing career. His specialty is player development, which bodes well given how ready the young Pistons were in the playoffs.
Good info: One Two

Assistant Coach: Dan Majerle
Dan Majerle's first coaching job will be hands-on player development. He steps out of the broadcast booth and will teach a hard-nosed professional approach to our younger players. Majerle annually gives out a hustle award and hopefully we'll see some of the traits he brought to the Suns in players like DJ Strawberry, Alando Tucker and whomever we bring in this summer. Seeing Majerle's face on the Ring of Honor should carry some additional cred. Majerle started at guard for the 1993 Suns NBA Finals team. He played with Porter in Miami under Pat Riley.
Good info: One Two

Around the L (*Terry Porter notes at bottom)

Been a while since I've written anything. Much like the Suns my offseason began a little early...

Yeah, so I'm not watching the Finals. Not due to any sort of personal boycott, I'm in Switzerland and I'd much rather sleep than stay up til 3 am to watch Lakers vs Celtics. The history aspect is cool but let's not kid ourselves. The battles of the 50's and 60's are ancient history. The 80's matchups were so loaded that we'll never see the likes of them again. In the 1987 Finals both teams brought All-Time greats off the bench in addition to arguably having the best starting fives EVER. The hype in this series is all about the jersey rather than the talent. Kobe is a monster and the new Big Three are interesting but it doesn't mean much to me personally. I started watching hoops in 1988. That Pistons/Lakers epic is still the best I've ever watched. Plus being here for the Euro Cup will dwarf anything late night hoops can provide...

So this coaching search is dragging on a bit. I'm kinda glad because some candidates Kerr is looking at were on playoff teams. I think Terry Porter is the guy. He got an ok team to overachieve and make the playoffs and got a raw deal when the Bucks fired him to move to Terry Stotts (um, yeah). The other finalists Elston Turner, Tyrone Corbin and Mike Budenholzer are all solid. Of that group Budenhozer is the wild card having been in San Antonio during all their title years. Kerr said of him, "He had a great vision for our future and our team, and it didn't surprise me. It's the reason we brought him in."

I think we'll have a new coach next week and from there the rest of the staff should take shape...

As far as the draft goes, I think we should pick up a wing player. I alluded to that in the previous post and I still think that way. The team is bringing in lottery-caliber guys as they are looking to move up similar to last year (to no avail). New York, Memphis and Seattlependinglawsuits are reportedly listening to offers and this may be the chance to move a vet like Diaw or Barbosa to a young team who isn't interested in prolonged rebuilding. If we stay in the 15 spot: Brandon Rush looks like an athletic Shane Battier, Joe Alexander is an athletic freak with upside and Chris Douglas-Roberts is a steal regardless of what the mock drafts say...

Have you listened to the Joe Dumars' press conference where he announces the firing of Flip Saunders? Wow. He puts his whole team on blast and the Pistons will not be the same. The best part is where a reporter mentions rebuilding. Dumars is like "as long as I'm in this seat, I expect us to always be good." I bring this up because I'm sick of fans saying this team needs to dump Nash or Amare now and save money for LeBron of Dwyane Wade. Give me a break. You don't build a culture of success by tanking and rebuilding. Dumars refers to Boston as a fluke because they got a former MVP without giving up any depth. Which is strangely true despite the 7 for 1 trade...

I think these Finals are a testament to shrewd front office moves continuing a trend since the 2006 Miami Heat. That team was a playoff surprise in '04, traded for Shaq and blew Game 7 of the ECF in '05, then overhauled the roster and Pat Riley coached them to a title in '06. Riley surrounded his stars with role players who flamed out as stars elsewhere and got a ring with his last great motivational job. Mitch Kupchak and Danny Ainge made good trades, drafted well and have the perfect role players for their stars. Additionally Ainge got the perfect assistant for Doc Rivers in Tom Thibodeau, the best defensive coach in the NBA. The Suns will make a good coaching hire but the details are in the draft, trades and free agency as they attempt to put a team on the floor built to win a title. The team's recent success has shown they have the talent but they've lacked the depth and approach to beat championship level teams. It's time to develop that approach now and when Nash and Shaq are ready to retire, the Suns can continue to compete at the elite level by adding another superstar in 2010...

A thought about football, proper football. The Euro Cup hasn't even started but I haven't seen the type of passion for a sport that I've seen here for the Euro Cup. There are flags flying everywhere. Heated debates over teams. My in-laws are Portuguese and the satellite television coverage of the national team is amazing. The rallies, the 'man on the street' interviews, the coverage of the teams departure, practices and coaching strategy. Cristiano Renaldo has had an awesome year with his clubs winning the English Premier League and the Champions League (why don't basketball teams do this). All eyes will be on him for the next few weeks as the Portuguese have a legit shot to avenge their flameout in 2004.

UPDATE: After reading Bill Simmons' preview of the Finals, I'm thinking twice about watching it. The games will be re-aired on tape delay here.

UPDATE 2: Terry Porter is the new coach of the Suns. There will be more news later as his staff comes together. A few thoughts...

There are concerns about Porter and Steve Kerr being tight but I think the positives outweigh the negative. Kerr knows Porter's strengths firsthand from playing with him and analyzing him on TV. It doesn't stink of the Michael Jordan nepotism and doesn't feel like a retread hire. Kerr trusts Porter to guide his team.

The Suns signed Porter before he even interviewed in Detroit. They gave him decent money, $7 million for three years. D'Antoni made more but got a raise in 2005 after the Suns exploded and another when GM duties were added. Detroit is an interesting situation because they are in many ways what Kerr wants the Suns want to be. Detroit was a one dimensional team (a championship level one) that has added more balance to their attack and managed to stay elite while developing younger players. This is what Porter has been selected to do. Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry can contribute meaningful minutes to this team. Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash can be better team defenders. I think it's kinda absurd that PRACTICING is going to be something new for this team. Porter has a challenging job in a brutally competitive conference but he's been successful through hard work so I think it bodes well for the team.

Here's a link to a Porter interview that provides some insight as to his coaching experiences with the Pistons.

Horny

What if Jeff Hornacek became the new coach of the Suns... with a staff of specialists... 3 HOF caliber veterans, an MVP candidate and hungry young players who don't defend... and the elite medical staff. He'd be scrutinized but hey he might be able to inspire some decent clutch performances. I like Kerr's chances with a coach he picked. We've listened to Steve Kerr's ideas on winning and execution on TV for years. I like Horny's chances with a staff of excellent specialists.

As for 7 Seconds or Less in New York... the Knicks will be the first team to use roller skates.

I think this team would be very successful as a roided-clone of the 1996-98 Utah Jazz. They need to force Amare to emulate Karl Malone rather than Penny Hardaway. Nash can dish in a medium pace game or bang with the bench if they'll all burners... The bench is supposed to stretch a lead... As long as the bench players can play with confidence and speed... The starters can grind it out.

The 15 pick should be a decent player... who can develop as an understudy to Grant Hill as a rookie. Learn how to lead from Shaq... How to practice from Nash... The desire to dominate from Amare... How to play dirty from Raja.

I think Kerr has a chance to really develop a basketball program in Phoenix. One that can produce a title with a perfect supporting cast for a spoiled star. He's won with Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan... He's seen the best and worst of it... For now I'm going keep the faith and see how the hire, the draft, trades and free agency go.

Perhaps it's time to care about the team more than ever. Perhaps it's time to win without a gimmick... To just beat people with skill, preparation and ferocity.

What now?

One of the stranger seasons in Suns' history ended with yet another tough loss to San Antonio. Turnovers once again proved to be the killer as the Suns could not execute with their season on the line.

So what happens between now and training camp? The teams showed a lot of warts and flaws and the direction of the team isn't entirely clear.

The Grant Hill signing fizzled as he got hurt right before the playoffs.

The Shaquille O'Neal trade changed the team for the better (conventionally) but his awful free throw shooting cost the Suns in the three tight losses to the Spurs.

Amare Stoudemire still needs to be programmed for defense and rebounding.

Leandro Barbosa took a step backward this season.

Boris Diaw came alive in the playoffs, but where was he before that?

Steve Nash made some critical mistakes with games on the line and needs a quality backup more than ever.

Coach Mike D'Antoni appears to be on his way to New York or Chicago. Fuck making adjustments in PHX, time to fix bloated rosters with some run n' gun healing.

This is kind of a sad time for Suns fans. The team that really captured our imaginations (and hearts) a few years back is now fading away.

If you haven't read the Bill Simmons' article on the Suns, you should. He breaks down how all the things we've complained about since 2005 have brought us to now. It's kinda sad. Robert Sarver in his attempt to not lose money has blown a chance at dominating the NBA and getting a title. Why own a team if the goal isn't to win a title?

I'm not one to blame Steve Kerr. D'Antoni convinced Kerr the Shaq trade was a good idea. D'Antoni wanted Jay Humphries over Tom Thibodeau (the guy who helped the Rockets and now Celtics become top elite defensive squads). Sarver is responsible for giving away draft picks that have turned in players who could have help this team. Of course D'Antoni wouldn't play them anyway.

I have no idea what direction this team is going.

I will say this. I went to San Antonio twice during the series. San Antonio is a small market, especially compared to Houston and Dallas. The AT&T Center appears to be on an old military base. The place is kinda plain. There's a few things that definitely stand out. Four championship banners hang from the rafters. People pose and take pictures by the championship trophies in the trophy case. The team that no one likes on TV is loved in central Texas. And for good reason, the organization works to win CHAMPIONSHIPS. 'Go Spurs Go' is the most annoying chant ever though.

It'd be cool to experience that with the Suns. Now that possibility seems further away.

Revenge

The regular season kinda sucks after a while. Fans much like players start looking forward to the playoffs. I can't remember a year where I've wanted the playoffs to come so quickly. The ultra-competitive Western Conference has been like the playoffs for the last month. No one could afford a slump or even a loss to the teams close to them in the standings.

So here's a few things we've learned about the Suns from the regular season.

1. The team is at it's best when efficient rather than fast.

2. Turnovers are the barometer for losses.

3. Amare is ready to own the playoffs.

4. Gordan Giricek was a better fit for this team than Brent Barry.

5. The Shaq trade made the team better and more versatile, but...

The series against the Spurs is the real test. We know the Suns can beat San Antonio, but we have to experience it. We have to experience it right away. The looming matchups all seem to pale in comparison. Sure we didn't matchup well with the Hornets or Lakers during the regular season. But how many of those games featured Shaquille O'Neal- one apiece.

How many of the games against the Spurs featured Shaq? Two, both of which we won in tough decisive fashion. However things change with the season on the line. The Spurs are still looking for their repeat title, PHX is looking for their first. The trash talk has already started around the office. I've got my pictures of Nash on my computer and Shaq and Amare dunking on people up in my cubicle.

I know part of you has been waiting for this since last summer. A stupid flagrant foul ruined one of the best series this team would be involved in. We seemed to have turned the corner as foils. As the team that loses, folds or choked on opportunities. The team that got an injury at the wrong time, blew home court advantage or just couldn't beat the glamour franchise. One dumb foul ruined our vision of seeing a fast-breaking and fun-to-watch team win the title.

Now we got Shaq.

Now I want to watch Bruce Bowen fight through a Shaq screen.

We can play both ways now. We can mix it up and beat teams with precision or we can turn up the pressure with solid rebounding and defense.

The regular season wins were impressive but now is where we set the tone. Now is when we see if this team can truly make a run a title. First up, it's the defending champs. They have homecourt advantage. They have a big three that has won together and plays sparing minutes in the regular season. They've got history on their side. And Tim Duncan.

We have more talent. We have 2 former MVPs. We have the memory and a pissed off fanbase.

It's time for revenge. I'll drink my beer and the commissioner's.

I'll be at Game 1. The drunk dude in the KJ jersey

Patience Paying Off

Are you liking the Shaq trade now?

The Suns have strung together five straight wins and are showing the versatility we were hoping the trade would bring. Things started to turn in the loss to Utah. That loss really was the last straw because the bad defense hit bottom giving up 41 in the fourth quarter to blow the game.

The national TV game against the Sp*rs was awesome. I live in Texas so I catch crap from Spurs fans all the time. It was nice to hear them whine about the refs for once. The Suns where gritty and shutdown the Spurs in crunch time. The intensity and desperation were awesome. The highlight we all remember is Shaq diving into the stands for a loose ball.

The blowouts against nonplayoff teams are nice but the win against Golden State was impressive. The Warriors were hot and jumped out early but the Suns eventually played some defense and out-executed the Warriors. I liked all the technical fouls, the team is edgy and tougher now. It showed the team wanted the game more. Shaq was limited with fouls but the team played like the Suns of old and were much quicker with their cuts, dribble attacks and didn't hesitate on good looks in the second half.

The Seattle game tonight should be over early. The Rockets, Pistons and Celtics are next up on the schedule. The team is getting hot at the right time and the tough opponents make for entertaining basketball because no one in the West can afford to lose. It's bananas how tight the West is. The Spurs have lost four straight games are only 2 games back of first. The Suns win tonight and Saturday, they could be in first. The seeds don't matter but matchups do. So it's encouraging that the team is coming together and getting some nice wins. The playoffs are going to be brutal.

Things I'm noticing
1. We regularly outrebound opponents now.
2. Turnovers. They've been lower during this run but that has to remain a focus (BORIS!!!).
3. Gordan Giricek was a good find.
4. Raja finally looks like himself.
5. Beast may not be a strong enough word to describe Amare. The lame MVP talk stories floating around totally take his recent comments out of context. He was asked how he felt about not being included in MVP talk after winning the Player of the Week award.

"I don't know what it is," Stoudemire said. "I hear everybody's name mentioned as far as the top players in the league. My name is never up there. It definitely hurts because I put in the work and the time and the effort to be an elite player. But my thing is just to keep improving. Whether they notice it or not, my teammates notice it, my coaching staff notices it, and we're winning ballgames."

Coming into the season, I committed to supporting Amare after being critical in the past. The guy brings it every night and should be 1st team All NBA again. He probably won't because he's no longer considered a center and KG has been awesome in Boston. Whether or not he gets MVP recognition, he becoming a great player and continues to improve year to year. The people comparing him to Marion are dead wrong. Answering a question honestly is different than constantly complaining about a lack of recognition. Reporters ask this stuff to get good quotes and then craft those quotes into a story. Amare is damn good and we all know it. Whether he gets the pub or not, he'll go all out to get a championship and that's all that matters to me as a fan. Finals MVP is the award to get Amare.

Suns Pursuing (Player Name)

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly pursuing (Player) who was recently waived by the (City) (Team) in an attempt to add depth to their bench. Steve Kerr is said to have personally visited (Player)'s house and bribed him with large sums of candy and prescription pain killers. The Suns need a player like (Player) who can add (shooting/rebounding/toughness/defense) coming off the bench.

When asked for a comment, Suns general manager Steve Kerr said, "Yeah, any time you can get a guy like (Player), a guy who brings (shooting/rebounding/toughness/defense) to the table, not to mention his playoff experience and high character, it's really a no brainer to at least tell people you're interested in him."

When Mike D'Antoni was asked about the rumors, he gave his trademark smile and said "I hope we do get (Player). I'm sure he'll love sitting next to Sean Marks and Eric Piatkowski while wondering why he's not getting any playing time."

Rewriting the future

So the Suns have sputtered a bit since the trade. They've had a few tough losses and a couple blowouts as they played without Marion and now with Shaquille O'Neal. A subject that's been coming up a lot is the playoffs. After what we saw with Dallas last year (and even Cleveland when you think about it), matchups are everything.

I think we know who we DON'T want to play in the first round.

The Hornets beat the Suns in every way imaginable this season. They beat us at the buzzer, held us off in the clutch and blew us out. They're still young and inconsistent at times but they matchup well with the Suns and they are the last team we want to see in the first round. The Hornets are where the Suns were 4 years ago- trying to win a fanbase back.

As it stands right now, the Suns have the 5 seed and fourth best record, which would mean homecourt advantage in the first round against a team like Utah. At this point, I don't think there are any favorable matchups for anyone in the West, let alone the Suns. The stretch run will be important for the team because they are working in a gigantic piece to the puzzle in the Big Upgrade.

The Spurs and Lakers are hot are even though the standings are still tight, I'm not expecting either team to cool off. The Yao Ming injury really hurts Houston (and China's olympic team, godspeed in recovery Yao) and while they are still red hot, I expect them to fade. Kinda nuts that a team could possibly win 45-50 games in the West and be in the lottery and a team in the East could win 36-40 games and be in the playoffs. The West reloads, the East rebuilds.

I was looking at some playoff history trying to find some precedent for a team that made significant midseason trades and won titles. The 2004 Pistons come to mind. They got Rasheed Wallace midseason and won the title as a three seed. They didn't lose any players of real significance though. The 1995 Houston Rockets traded for Clyde Drexler midseason, a move panned by NBA heads. They successfully defended their title as a six seed (and beat our beloved Suns on Mario Elie's kiss of death three). The 1989 Detroit Pistons traded class act Adrian Dantley for Mark Aguirre and won their first title. There are more I'm sure but these are ones I remember.

So while other fans can celebrate winning streaks and signing veterans off the waiver wire, we get to think. We can analyze each game as our team develops a new identity and tries to rewrite the future. Our team is built for the playoffs. Our role players will have an impact. Amare will dominate. Nash will make big plays. No matter when the season ends, we will drink... excessively.

Open Letter to Brent Barry

Brent,

I understand this must be a tough time for you. The San Antonio Spurs traded you to Seattle to retool in their quest for a repeat and fifth NBA title. It's gotta hurt. Not only did they feel they could get there without you, now they are dangling money to come back as if nothing happened. A couple girls used me the same way but that's a painful story for another day.

Don't look back Brent. There's a great story in the Bible about Sodom and Gomorra. The lone instruction given to Lot's family was don't look back. His woman took a long gander and turned to salt. The Spurs' championship chances will soon be destroyed like fire raining down from the heavens. Why not rain down a few threes and snuff out your old team in Phoenix? Don't let your game dry up and turn to salt on their bench.

Brent, Phoenix is about rebirth. Veteran players strive in our system and in our community. Our medical staff has helped Grant Hill turn his career around. His bionic ankle is no longer a burden. Shaquille O'Neal is already showing signs and he's hungry for a fifth ring. We know you still have some flash left in your game. Dude, you won the Slam Dunk title. I know you would love to get back out on the wing and take a dish from Nash for a dunk. It's in you Brent, let the monkey out.

You're an open court player Brent. You're a Pac-10 guy. You have a chance to be part of something special in Phoenix- our first championship. Your championship experience combined with Shaq's four rings will energize this team and your skills will fit right in. The Spurs don't value you. They were willing to trade you two years ago for JR Smith. Dude... JR Smith can't even get off the bench in Denver.

It's time Brent. Call up Steve Kerr and sign on the dotted line. Your future is in Phoenix. A third ring is your destiny.

Sincerely,
Hersey
The Rising Suns

Detroit Basketball...

Detroit is the best team in the league. Their continuity and versatility is impressive and they put on a clinic Sunday afternoon.

Suns overpower Celtics

This is the type of game that the Suns got Shaquille O'Neal for. The grinders. How would the Suns respond when someone tried to muck it up and push them around with Shaq in the lineup? We got a decent idea Friday night. The Suns broke out early and matched the Celtics intensity throughout in a 85-77 victory.

The Suns were sloppy and without Leandro Barbosa, after losing him to a bloody cut and head injury early in the game. However Boston could not capitalize on the turnovers and the Suns defense was solid. The Celtics couldn't hit a shot and the Suns completely controlled the boards. The Suns hit the Celtics with quick 15-0 run and set the tone.

Then it turned into a playoff game. Garnett and Amare started going at each other full on. Elbows, trash talk, tight defense and the occasional basket. I personally thought Amare was afraid of Garnett in the past because Garnett tries to intimidate opponents and I've seen Amare shrink into poor games against him. Not in this game.

I think we're seeing Amare (28 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk) transform into an MVP caliber player. Shaq (4 pts, 14 reb, 2 blk) is building his confidence and creating openings for him on both ends of the floor. When Shaq moves through the middle, players hesitate and Amare is getting a ton of open looks, driving lanes and blocks. Amare played excellent defense against Garnett (without fouling) and I'm glad he got a tech for shoving him after the big dunk. This is a different team and this is just the beginning.

What more can I say about Grant Hill. Hill (14 pts) nabbed 13 boards and attacked the rim. DJ Strawberry brought the rookie energy tonight with extended minutes as well. He made plays on defense and created some turnovers. The kid just has to find a few points in those minutes and he'll be a solid rotation contributor. Ray Allen (11 pts, 3-12 FG) and Paul Pierce (8 pts, 2-13 FG) never got it going and a lot of the credit has to go to the perimeter defense.

I thought Boris (10 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) was impressive in extended fourth quarter minutes as well. He is STILL passing up too many good shots though. Diaw can't do that against teams with strong principles like the Celtics. The Suns only squeezed off 11 threes and most of those were in transition or shot-clock desperation heaves. Layups and free throws are the key to beating good defensive teams and Boris has the ability to create those opportunities. He'd cut his turnovers if he simply attacked them rim instead of constantly kicking out.

At his best, Nash controls the tempo of the game. There are only a few players in the league who can do that. The bigs like Duncan and Garnett do it on the defensive end and Nash on offense. When it was clear this was going to be a defensive struggle and Shaq and Amare had it under control, Nash (18 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast) turned into Chauncey Billups in the fourth quarter with two huge threes.

This game was ugly but fun as hell to watch. The 24 turnovers were due to poor spacing and facing the best defensive team in the league. The Suns were the aggressor though. The attempt to be physical just got the Celtics into foul trouble and they dug a hole they couldn't get out of. I think the Suns exposed a weakness as well- little interior scoring. When the jumpers weren't falling, the Celtics relied on defense to come back. It helped but the Suns still put a few runs on them and never trailed in the game.

The Suns know they can score and now are finding they can rebound and defend better with an eraser in the middle. We got a glimpse of their newfound versatility against elite competition. Detroit promises to be just as fun and probably just as nasty.

First to 125 wins

"When we do get used to each other, we'll be the most dangerous team ever created." Shaquille O'Neal

The doubters, naysayers and Lakers fans will start chirping right away but the first game of the NASH/SHAQ campaign was intriguing. I had to watch this game Frankenstein style. I rocked a little ESPN360 until it died. I followed the gamecast play by play. Then I decided to watch the 2nd half at a sports bar. Sierra Nevada kept me loose as the Lakers broke our Shaq cherry with a loss.

Plenty of stuff caught my attention. The Lakers put 3 dudes 6'10" or bigger on the floor to start the game. They got a ton of layups off the pick n' roll and Kobe got hot early. Recipe for disaster normally but the Suns can still score at will by putting guys in perfect positions- basically give it to Steve Nash.

The lulls in playmaking were largely due to Boris Diaw. He was too busy partying and came to the game in cat mode. Hey Bo, when you look like a cat playing with a ball of yarn on defense- second units go on big runs... and take a big step in from the three point in the first quarter. Get warmed up before launching threes copain.

So I've been saying that Amare is the star and needed the training wheels taken off before he'd turn in a dominant player. With no Marion around, we have to see him do some dirty work and keep the energy to score at will. Tonight (37 pts, 15 reb, 3 blk) he showed the ability to do it but the pace and wanting to avoid foul trouble still led to a lot of easy baskets.

Fuck Pau Gasol. I hate you.

Getting no points from Raja hurts because his offense keeps Kobe honest. DJ Strawberry showed the ability to be in a Kobe highlight. He played him tight but when he's hot, get him to drive into the big guys and give up the ball. What do I know though- if had a solution for Kobe I'd be McCain's running mate.

Before anyone says anything about the 3-1 record against the Lakers- this is not the same team and neither are the Lakers. In fact the Suns are facing the leagues two best defensive teams in their next two games. We'll see the difference Shaq will make in the grinders. The Big Upgrade (15 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk, 3 ast) will make plays in the shootout games. Notice how he seemed to be everywhere in the fourth quarter.

There are plenty of plays to be made in a game that depends on execution. As accustomed as we've gotten to the Suns run n gun ways, the high shooting percentages are a result of picking the best opportunities to score. The opportunities will change now that Shaq is in the middle on both ends. This team will peak at the right time.

Mos def would have liked to have won this game but the Lakers are hot and the Suns have work to do. Should we face them again this postseason- it'll be fun. I'm pumped for Boston.

We root for Shaq now

Ok, we've had a few days to take this all in. Let's look at the trade for Shaquille O'Neal.

1. We actually have a center now. Think about that for a second. The Suns are now a power team. All of Shaq's title teams have feasted on points in the paint and behind the line because defenses double and sag. The Suns were already an efficient offensive team now we have Shaq in the middle.

2. Shaq always believes his team is a contender and isn't afraid to say it. F*ck the doubters, he demands optimism. The guy has won just as much as Duncan and has been to the Finals six times and wants to get back. I want him to back it up. He's wants a fifth ring and I him to get it.

3. Summer of 2010. I'll be at the World Cup in South Africa. The major issue is who will be signing a free agent contract with the Suns. Both Shaq and Nash will come off the books and the core of Amare, Boris and LB will be 27 and hopefully have a ring or two. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James will be unrestricted free agents if they opt out. Both players took shorter extentions and by opting out that summer will have the ability to get paid and be part of a contender. Steve Kerr was thinking about the future with this trade too.

4. D'Antoni has to play at least one rookie now. Strawberry and Tucker need to get a look because we'll need athleticism on the floor. The team just got older so the rookie energy will be useful and on some nights a necessity.

5. Don't bank on a number 1 seed. This team is building for the playoffs. The team has to build an attack that incorporates Shaq's strengths as he gets into Phoenix Suns shape. There will be some losses and there might be an ugly night or two in this transition. But when the game slows down- we have a huge big man whose won 4 titles, another big who can score at will, the best point guard in the game and a supporting cast that knows how to score. I like our chances.

All this depends on health of course. Any of our veterans get hurt- we're done.

Hoops comes into focus

So I've finally gotten out of bed and have begun to cope with my beloved Patriots losing Superbowl 42. For me it's on par with the 1997 Rose Bowl, Game 6 of the 2002 World Series and Game 5 against the Sp*rs last year. When our teams lose it sucks, especially with a title on the line. Sports is the best form of entertainment with real drama rather than scripted twists and turns. When your team loses and the season is over the whole community feels it and you try not to dwell on it until the next season starts.

I mention all this because I haven't been following the Suns as closely as I would like because I've been obsessed with football for obvious reasons. The Suns can however help me move on... to more heartache. This season is quite possibly a final judgement on this group of Suns players. While my football team's recent success makes it a little easier to handle a playoff loss, my other teams never win. The San Francisco Giants have been the World Series twice in my lifetime and haven't won. The Suns have been to the Finals once and ran into the Jordan buzzsaw. You think 'we were so close we just need to make a move and just grow up a bit and we'll get back.'

Oh if it was only that simple. The chemistry has been iffy this year as Marion, Stoudemire and Nash have taken turns complaining. The front office says they are sticking with this core group and for all intents and purposes, this 2nd half stretch and playoff run could be the last we see of this team as it is.

The country is now turning it's focus to basketball as the NBA starts national coverage and the college hoop drama gets us warmed up for the playoffs. There are good stories. The resurgence in Boston (pray for no playoff upsets- Boston vs Detroit must happen). The surprising rise of the Hornets and Blazers. Then there's the totally unexplainable genius of Mitch Kupchak.

How the f*ck do you trade Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol? Sure the other pieces are nice but that gives the (healthy) Lakers a huge and talented starting lineup- to go with their awesome bench. Before the Bynum injury, I thought the Lakers were better than the Suns. Now the Suns have to fight to win their division. It looks like at least two teams above .500 will MISS the playoffs in the West. Seeding is probably more important than ever and given the few games separating the top teams, a couple bad loses can drop a team from 1st to 6th.

While there a ton of obstacles in the Suns path to the Finals, seeing if this team can break through will be nerve wracking and fun. This team will have to be on the same page because their salaries prevent the team from seriously retooling and require that they simply get better to be an elite team. The way the Suns have played so far, it seems this team has a ceiling. Their lack of consistent defense, height and depth makes it hard to see this team getting any deeper than the previous three years. The West might be the best it's ever been and the Suns will have to show us more if they're gonna win it. We'll been watching living and dying with every play.

Time to figure it out

So the buzz word about Suns fans is we're whiners. We're obsessed with almosts. It's been 40 years with tons of talent and no title. A fan who can stay committed even through a fraction of that time (Danny Manning's knee, Mario Elie's corner 3, McDyess goes back to Denver, Kidd for Marbury, Joe Johnson's face, Raja's calf, Robert Horry) becomes a sharp observer of their team. Despite the team's 23-10 record, the team doesn't look right.

The Suns got a healthy dose of crappy teams after the loss to the Lakers and Amare Stoudemire backed up some strong words about defense and his own play with some excellent numbers against some decent big men. The result was four straight Suns wins and a temporary hold on the number one seed in the West.

@ Clippers: 30 pts, 15 reb, 4 blk
vs Clippers: 28 pts, 10 reb, 3 blk- clutch baskets clinch win
@ Sacramento: 31 pts, 17 reb, blk
vs Seattle: 34 pts, 11 reb, 3 blk

Then Saturday versus New Orleans, the team plays poorly in the fourth and ends up losing a game they had control of. Stoudemire wasn't in the flow offensively and despite a decent night (17 pts, 8 reb, 5 blk) wasn't a factor and got exposed in the pick n roll. The team was missing Raja Bell so the guard rotation was a little different but the team looked disjointed in the second half. Shawn Marion was a nonfactor as well. Strange but the team can't seem to close against good opponents.

There's a piece in the AZ Republic about chemistry issues on the team. Sure there have been plenty of teams that have lulls and struggle but when it happens on a team expected to contend, it's troublesome. Especially in the wake of the report earlier this week that the team will make no roster moves this season.

Toss in the fact Amare missed practice Sunday and showed some frustration in his postgame comments for the 2nd straight time after a loss- I think we all know there's a backlash coming. The numbers don't lie though, when the Suns feed the beast, they win. When Amare gets touches on offense, he plays harder on defense and posts huge games. I used to think he was a potential cancer but now I just want the guy to dominate because the team is obviously flawed and his big games give them the best chance to win.

Looking at how the good Sacramento teams faded away and how Dallas panicked and let Nash go, they never could find a counter for Shaq or Tim Duncan. That doesn't mean a guy to shut those players down (doesn't happen- even Russell never really shutdown Wilt) but a guy to match the essential interior production. In this offense with so many good shooters and a great point guard- Stoudemire should be leading the league in scoring.

It seems strange but this team has all the conventional basketball talent necessary to contend but seems reluctant to win with things like depth, defense and feeding the post consistently. As the team repeatedly gets exposed, the second guessing starts. Every time Boris Diaw gives up a layup passing out for a three... Tall guys watching as the teams gives up yet another offensive rebound... Marcus Banks, Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry not even sniffing the floor unless it's a blowout...

Is the so-called "brain trust" butting heads? Robert Sarver has handcuffed Steve Kerr because of the luxury tax but Kerr won three of his five titles on teams with arguably the best role players in the modern era. However the role players the Suns are overpaying, D'Antoni doesn't play.

So what is wrong with this team? The front office, coaching staff and players all seem to have a different agenda. The league has taken notice and teams are pouncing on their weaknesses. It's the fans who have to sit back and watch and hope these Suns aren't flaming out.

A little...No, very concerned

The Suns have faced several good teams lately and the tougher competition has given fans and NBA heads a better idea of how good this team actually is. Uneven efforts are going to be there early in the season and teams lose some games they shouldn't lose- that's acceptable. What becoming clearer, the more I listen to Jeff Van Gundy critique the team while they lose on national TV- this team is not as good as last year.

The same can be said for several teams who have awful records (Miami, Chicago) but the Suns' record is good but their play is frustratingly inconsistent. They beat Utah at home, then can't convert in the clutch against New Orleans. They play great defense and get clutch buckets against the Spurs and then spot Dallas 37 points in the 1st quarter of a game they lose by three. They get a balanced effort against Toronto then get worked by the Lakers, who are a better team at this point.

The team just isn't putting together a solid 48 minutes. A major reason (beside starters admittedly not playing hard, poor chemistry and injuries) is the awful bench play. Some games the bench is weakened by LB starting due to Raja's mounting injury issues. Overall though, the bench rarely builds a lead and often treads water until Nash returns to the game- especially against good teams. Similar to football, the formula for success isn't just star players it's an abundance of capable role players. When Coach D'Antoni turns to the bench he gets points from Barbosa, rebounds and blocks from SKinner and whatever from Diaw. In the West, all the teams are deep and right now it looks like the Suns don't have enough versatility for the tougher match-ups.

Watching the team play, it seems they are revealing who they really are after a East-heavy start. The team feasted on the East last year as well but their 12-2 record against the East is the bulk of the "elite" record at this point. In many games the team is playing to the level of the competition and failing to bring consistent energy on defense. Meanwhile, Golden State plays small ball better than PHX and with more athleticism. The Lakers have a stellar bench that scores and defends in relief of Kobe. Just looking at these teams within the division who've handled the Suns to this point is cause for concern. It's becoming obvious it's time for a trade.

They have to bolster their bench or at least give some guys minutes to earn their money. I too have begun to feel as dumbfounded as other fans who don't get how a team can make moves to save money yet play the shortest rotation in the league. Either stop wasting money on practice players or make a move to get some help. Marcus Banks either needs to play or be bought out. Watching Boris Diaw go through the motions makes me sick considering he makes more than players like Marcus Camby and Hedo Turkoglu and about the same as Tayshaun Prince. LB continues to be a great scorer but he isn't a point guard and the 2nd unit offense just stagnates when his shot is off.

Of course with a team over the luxury tax, it's easier said than done but it's obvious on the court that this team is missing something. The team only plays defense when they're down 10 or more. The Suns nastiness seems to primarily reside with Raja Bell. After watching the Lakers highlight reel on Christmas day- the team should be embarrassed with their defense. This is no longer the powerhouse team that came into your arena, lit you up and rolled out with a win. The Suns have a bulls-eye on their back but now they often fold after taking a team's best shot.

I think at this point a personnel move is the way to go. Their role players have bad contracts but they do have a bargaining chip in Atlanta's draft pick. Even if it's a backup point who can actually run an uptempo team and create shots or another shooter, something has to be done because the gap has been closed in the division and the conference. The Suns weaknesses will not go away without a roster move. I'm optimistic the team can improve internally but it will require a far more consistent effort than they've put forth in recent weeks. No matter how good Coach D'Antoni says they are- pathetic defensive efforts like the one against LA are fuel for his critics and proof this roster can't seriously challenge for a title.

1st Quarter

The 07-08 season is in full swing. Let's discuss...

Record
16-5 (6-2 Home, 10-3 Road)
The good start is welcome after slow starts the last two years. The team has also had a customary early season winning streaks with a 8 gamer and a 5 gamer that were both ended with sluggish road losses.

Starters
Steve Nash (17.9 PPG, 12.3 APG, 46% 3FG) remains a nightmare to guard and gameplan for. Raja Bell (12.0 PPG, 40% 3FG) has found his shot after some injury trouble. Shawn Marion (16.1 PPG, 11 RPG, 2.24 SPG, 1.62 BPG) has let his play silence his offseason trade demand. Grant Hill (15.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG) has reminded everyone how deadly this team is with a slasher who has midrange game. Amare Stoudemire (21.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.78 BPG, 58% FG) has been brilliant but his constant foul trouble translates into an average of 29 minutes a game.

The team boasts the best starting five in the league. With all the injury problems, Nash, Marion and Hill have been the rocks. Nash carried the team early on and as Grant Hill has gotten into 'Phoenix Suns shape' he's proven to be a valuable addition. Even though LB is a tremendous slasher, he a weapon when he comes off the bench. Grant gives the team what they had with Joe Johnson, another playmaker who can score and defend (he's better on D than JJ). Amare has had some monster games but he's a target for opposing defenses. He still picks up silly fouls and takes himself out of games and his rebounding numbers have to be much better. Marion remains one of the leagues best rebounders and glue guys. His shooting numbers haven't been as good and his scoring continues to decline but he is still has a major impact in every game.

Bench
Leandro Barbosa (17.8 PPG, 2.9 APG, 34% 3FG) has been great off the bench and in the starting lineup. Boris Diaw (7.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.8 APG) continues to be an enigma but does make plays. Brian Skinner (3.9 PPG, 4 RPG, 1.29 BPG) has been another solid addition with good defense and timely offense. Sean Marks, Eric Piatkowski, DJ Strawberry and Alando Tucker have mostly seen blowout minutes.

LB is again leading the team in shots attempted and his big scoring nights prompt people to say he should start. That's precisely the reason Manu Ginobili doesn't start. He brings a change-up and terrorizes other teams 2nd units. Boris is tough to figure out. There are some shots he takes without any hesitation but the creativity he used to show in the post has become a slew of unnecessary passes and turnovers. It shows in the stat sheet in a different way: the +/-. Boris has a +/- of +6 on the season. Compare that with playmakers Nash (+184) Hill (+161) and LB (+72). LB comes off the bench and has an impact, the same can't be said for Boris most nights. This ultimately keeps the rotation short because the team has had trouble stretching leads without Nash on the floor.

Thoughts
The good start is very welcome and we've grown accustomed to the Suns smacking teams once they get into shape. There are few teams with a solid game plans who can beat the Suns straight up without the assistance of injury or a grueling schedule. The upcoming schedule will get tougher and the boys will be rolling out to my backyard to visit the Spurs and Mavs. As Grant Hill has pointed out, the team isn't ultimately concerned about beating teams like New York- or even Atlanta or Minnesota for that matter. It's Dallas and San Antonio that are the real tests for the roster and coaches.

The team has won in different ways including clutch victories and scoring showcases. The blueprint to beating this team however remains to hold them under 100 and pound them inside. The story is there in their losses. The Lakers loss was a fluke. The Atlanta frontline controlled the game (shit the entire team is 6'7" or taller) with STAT out. Golden State relentlessly attacked the rim and outgunned the Suns. Yao finally controlled a game against PHX. Minnesota caught PHX on a back-to-back and got a monster game from Al Jefferson in the post and on the boards. (On a side note, why is Al Jefferson so hard to like as a player. He's destined to be a career loser, which doesn't make me sad.) While that loss was embarrassing the team still shutdown the T'pups in the 4th but couldn't shoot well enough to rally. The key component is the interior. The interior attack lead to easy buckets, offensive rebounds, fouls and free throws. When those numbers pile up, the Suns struggle.

The season long question will be how will the Suns address their weaknesses and cope with defenses that find a way to slow them down. Enter Grant Hill. It's evident at this point why the staff is so high on the guy. Grant is 6'8" and he provides a legit solution to both issues. I've already mentioned the offensive aspects but the defense is key. The Suns are running more double teams and traps at the post to force teams to shoot jump shots. They bank on guys taking the first open bad shot rather than making the extra pass. When doubling, Grant is similar to Marion in that he deflects a lot of balls plus he gives great help and takes charges. The team can switch almost every pick n roll and minimize the mismatches.

The team looks good but they have a long way to go as far as peaking as a unit. The team defense is by far the biggest concern because the team is more geared toward small ball than ever. We'll look at these subjects again in about 20 games.

Definitive Obstructions

Photo by Barry Gossage via Getty Images

Everyone knows they're favorite players strong points. They know how D-Wade loves to pull up for the mid-range jumper when guys are playing them too loose, just to keep them honest. They know all about how any time Dwight Howard catches a ball near the hoop there's the distinct possibility that the ball will be hitting the ground before he lets go of the rim. They know that regardless of how many people are on Kobe and how highly contested that turnaround-fall-away with three people on him is, he can still make it, and quite often does. It's those things that people pay attention to, the smooth offensive plays and unstoppable power jams that garner the most attention from the fans.

Most people don't realize, however, the limitations of the players they love so dearly. Oh sure, they know all about how Kobe has a tendency to shoot instead of pass, and they know plenty about how Dwight Howard has no business shooting outside of six feet from the basket. Who hasn't heard about how Dirk tends to shy away from contact? Anybody? Most people do realize these things. The not-so-subtle reminders from the players that they are flawed and that, a lot of the time, they don't fully recognize their limitations. For the die hard fans of a certain team, however, one finds out exactly what certain players can and can not do. The plays that the kind of fan who watches all 3936 minutes of the season, plus whatever overtime sessions happen to take place, starts groaning about as soon as they see it developing. The pet peeves that national broadcasters never mention and local broadcasters never bother to mention, for the most part. Considering the fact that I'm that type of fan for the Phoenix Suns, and the whole point of coming to this place is some sort of insight into the game that one wouldn't normally find elsewhere... let's make a list for some of the major players for the Suns.

Steve Nash
It's really hard to pick apart anything that Nash does that is so egregiously wrong from a basketball standpoint that one rips out hair from the roots... except for one nagging problem Nash displays. You won't catch it unless you tend to watch the game off-the-ball a lot, but it just so happens that the most annoying thing that Nash does happens exclusively off the ball. Sometimes you might watch the game and notice, "Hey, Nash doesn't play absolutely awful man to man defense like everyone says. Matter of fact, considering the fact that he's not actually very athletic, that's about as well as you could hope for him to play [insert point guard here]." But then you look at the box score and notice that Francisco Garcia had 31 points or Sasha Vujacic had 12 points in 14 minutes. If you watch those games, it's like "Hey, it doesn't look like Nash is playing bad defense!" until you watch him when those players don't have the ball in their hand. When the ball is on the opposite side of the court, Nash just kind of wanders off into the lane and sometimes, even worse, towards the perimeter in the middle. Now I know what you're thinking... "But Nash needs to be in the lane, he's our shot blocker, our intimidator!"

... Oh wait, he's not? Then why in the world does he wander off his man and let them get wide open shots? Not sure. He draws the occasional charge but, generally speaking, it's not in situations like that. It's on the break, or when the guy he's defending isn't a good shooter. So next time you watch a Suns game, agonize with me in unison as Nash plays eight seconds of excellent defense and then wanders away aimlessly like a 4th grader with ADD in a recreation league.

Raja Bell
What? Our beloved Raja has flaws? Sounds like nonsense, right? Okay... maybe not. But this is the one that sticks out in my mind the most, and every time it happens I nearly crumple into a heap and cry myself to sleep. (Okay, once again, maybe not. It's more of a "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" shouting sort of ordeal.) Raja Bell, bless his heart, thinks he can dribble. I'm not sure what gave him this idea, but he well and truly thinks he's an adept dribbler and will often careen several feet towards the lane for no apparent reason and with no plan in mind. Never mind that he's an outright poor finisher at the hoop and that he's not a good passer (minus entry passes), he's going to pump fake and dribble around for a little while. This is most evident in the open court because, if he gets a rebound, he's taking it all the way up court. Dribbling around his back and through defenders, commonly ending with a turnover as those adept at this "defense" thing I keep hearing about realize that he has no business doing so. Fearless as always, Raja remains undaunted as he dribbles to fifteen feet after a pump fake, goes to the opposite side of the court, backs up a little bit and gives the ball to Steve or Leandro. It gives me indigestion just thinking about it.

Grant Hill
We're still in the honeymoon phase of this free agency signing aren't we? Not quite? Allowed to start nagging? Well, oddly enough, Grant Hill is probably the hardest guy to see any amazing and outstandingly annoying things about, thus far. Maybe it's because he's only been playing for my team for less than 15 games, that's a distinct possibility, but the only thing about Grant's game that I'm really having a hard time dealing with is that he's on the floor almost as much as Manu Ginobili. (But for different reasons usually.) If he attached one of the mop things to the back of his jersey he could help out the kids on both sides of the court quite a bit, they would barely have to go out there to clean up wet spots. I mean, I love that he goes to the basket fearlessly, that's really the best thing about his game... but I think 19 is a bit too young to be developing heart problems because every time you hit the floor my chest stops working for a second. As a key acquisition with serious injury problems, I have a hard time dealing with the fact that no less than nine times a game I think you may have gotten injured, based on the fact that you just fell down at rather accelerated speeds.

While I'm on the subject: Grant Hill is a very good defender, better than advertised for sure. I didn't realize it in the Orlando days, because... well... he was gimpy. Not so gimpy any more though! Gotta love the Phoenix training staff.

Shawn Marion
Shawn is the one that spawned the idea to write this article. Shawn's game is, as always, unique... The one facet of his game that you can always be sure of is that you will never have any idea what in the world he is doing. In fact, you may not always know where he even is while he's in the game. (Which is how he scores quite a few of his points, I'll note.) The one thing that you can always rely on with Shawn? The two dribble rule. Shawn gets two dribbles. If Shawn dribbles more than twice in any half court play, it's not going to end well. Pay close attention, any time he doesn't dribble or dribbles once, it's a high percentage shot. Any time he dribbles twice, there's a good chance that he's going to throw up a 15 foot floater of some sort. Any time he dribbles three times or more, the play ends in a bad shot. A good example would be when Shawn Marion got posted up against the Warriors, I believe it was against Kelenna Azubuike. He got the entry pass, dribbled, tried to create space, dribbled, tried to create space, dribbled... dribbled... threw up a jump hook which had literally zero chance of going in. Or perhaps Shawn will give a fake, get his man in the air... two dribbles, someone steps in front of him, so instead of taking off and going for the foul, he'll cross over a couple times and either take a semi-fade-away from 16-18 feet out or pass the ball out to one of the guards (for aforementioned reasons, hopefully not Raja) and the entire possession's momentum is killed.

That's why I'm hoping D'Antoni reads this and forces Shawn to abide by the two dribble rule. Make it the Two Dribble Law, Mike!

Amare Stoudemire
Foul trouble. That's it. Stop hitting people, Amare. Especially when the Suns have the ball. This isn't really a little known fact or anything, but it's the most frustrating thing about watching the Suns. Watching Amare invariably get a foul or two in the first three minutes is almost enough to reduce the entire city of Phoenix to tears.

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That's it for the starting line up. I'll probably end up doing the key contributors off the bench in the future (Namely, Leandro and Boris. Haven't seen enough of Brian Skinner or whoever else is rotting on the bench to really be able to develop pet peeves for them... but I can always make assumptions based on small sample size. Might be the best way to get a job for ESPN or something, come to think of it...

Agree with me? Disagree with me? Thinking of things that I missed? Inebriated and seeking something to do with your time that is generally unproductive? Shoot me an email or leave a comment!

Suns stay hot, doubters get fuel

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

So if you read NBA previews, a lot of people picked the Suns to nab the number one seed in the West and picked the Spurs to repeat. A lot of people knocked the Suns for letting Kurt Thomas go and poo-pooed the Grant Hill signing. A lot of people think this team is entertaining but ultimately won't win in the playoffs. So the whole 82 game regular season is waste and no matter what we should bank on watching someone else raise the trophy.

Meanwhile the Suns are hot right now. They took a back to back set from the Kings. In the first game, they built a built a big lead only to let it melt away in the fourth. Amare Stoudemire (26 pts, 13 reb, 4 blk, 1 stl) was killing the Kings and I had a feeling he would make a decisive play. After clanging two crucial free throws, he blocked a jumper at the buzzer to ice the 100-98 win.

The next night was classic Suns basketball. The Suns came out gunning and put up 47 in the first quarter and 80 in the first half. Nash (20 pts) was aggressive with his shot and dished 15 assists in the 127-111 blowout win.

The short-handed LA Clippers rolled into town on Black Friday and Sam Cassell (26 pts, 18 in 1st half) had it going early. The Suns took control in the second half with better defense and better play from the frontline. Shawn Marion (21 pts, 17 reb, 5 stl, 2 blk) dominated the game, Amare (29 pts, 11 reb, 2 stl) had the offensive touch and Grant Hill (19 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) made some nice plays including a big follow dunk. The Clippers couldn't hang and lost 113-94.

Thoughts
As far as injuries and playing time, there were a few minute developments this week. Raja Bell did return to the lineup in the Clippers game and while the shot wasn't there, he did make plays in the fourth to help the Suns pull away. Marcus Banks got some good minutes in the second Kings game and played with a lot of confidence. Nash's minutes are down a bit but Marion and Hill are playing big minutes. Nash has become the league leader in assists with 10+ in seven straight games and 15 in three of the last six.

So the winning streak is at eight. Optimists will say the team has played few games at full strength, they are winning ugly games and Hill and Brian Skinner have been very good additions. The doubters aren't impressed by winning streaks, they'll point out that we've played teams missing players and they'll point to Amare's knee surgeries as evidence he's the second coming of Bill Walton.

The question for me is- are these people really Suns fans? I'm questioning their fanhood. EIther you like the team or you don't. Fans root for the guys on the floor and hope for the best. We don't know what'll happen in the regular season nor the playoffs. Injuries, suspensions and clutch performances are dramatic and heart breaking because they are unexpected. Why focus on that now? Just enjoy the process of getting there. This Suns team has exciting players, interesting personalities, and a legit chance to win every time they play. To me this is something to get behind. I could be wrong, maybe people just chase championship teams or sure things and real fanhood is dead.