Sorry Marbury! You're not welcome anymore

A Sons of Steve Nash internet poll confirmed that Suns fans have had enough of Coney Island's Finest.

So, this very democratic blog won't lobby to bring Stephon back to Arizona.

Of the 17 total votes received 6 of you (a huge 35%) chose "No thanks enough already" while only 3 expressed their favour for a return. The second-most voted option was "Please get serious !"

Thanks a lot for voting !

Go Suns !

I just don't agree with the move.

Phoenix assigns Alando Tucker to Albuquerque of the D-League. NBA transactions from Thursday Nov. 29th.

I just don't agree with the move.

Alando played four years in college, he's not gonna get any better in Albuquerque where the level of the game is not that high. He needs to play in the NBA to improve. Give Alando and Strawberry five-six minutes a game, not during garbage time, give them a chance to play, only a few minutes...but a chance, to play with two or three starters still in the game. Tucker will become much better playing with Marion and Nash 3 minutes a night than playing 35 minutes in the D-League.

Despite the fact that we know - and was quite clear to everyone before the draft - that Tucker is not a shooter and never will be, Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said in the Arizona Republic: "What we've asked them to do with Alando is focus on his two (shooting guard) and three (small forward) game, his outside shooting".

Why draft an athletic (but underside) non-shooting small forward when the Suns were looking for a shooter? Because he was possibly the best player available...so give him a real chance to improve, put him in games...NBA games.

Go Doe ! Go Suns !

It'll be either the Suns, the Spurs or the Mavs...

Former Sun Jalen Rose, now an ESPN Analyst, makes a bold prediction on the Western Conference: you wouldn't believe he's picking either the Suns, the Mavs or the Spurs to win the West...even following a Monday loss by each one of them. Other than the easy pick, Jalen is actually making some interesting comments on those three teams, from a guy who used to play with those same guys he's now watching; the best: "Phoenix, the team I finished my playing career with last season, is one whose style can make an opponent look its worst on a given night".

Don't forget to read the best recent portrait of Steve Nash, it's "Not to Get Too Mystical About It" on NY Times Play Magazine. What can you say about the man anymore...

Go Suns !

Have a Suns Thanksgiving !

On this occasion there are a few things I would like to be grateful:

I am thankful for the pure pleasure of watching Steve Nash run the floor and getting ready to dish yet another magical pass for an open dunk.

I am thankful for Leandrinho being so fast. He's so fast you sometimes forget he does all of it while actually handling the ball.

I am thankful for Raja because he cares and never quits!

I am thankful for Shawn Marion never feeling appreciated by the Suns' front office and still giving 110 percent every night.

I am thankful for Grant Hill in a Suns uniform.

I am thankful for STAT. Just keep jumping !

I am thankful for the Suns scoring 47 points in one single quarter.

I am thankful for Coach D'Antoni because as a kid I hated him as a player (he used to kill my favourite team every time) and now I wouldn't change him for any other coach in the World.

I am thankful because this season will be a journey we'll never forget, whatever happens.

I am thankful...just for being a Suns' Fan. And you should too.

Go Suns !

Why Rankings are better than Standings

I really love rankings, they don't count since it's not the NCAA but they're so much more enjoyable than checking the standings: 8-2 is great, we all know the Suns are great and getting better with each game, but how great? are they better than the Mavs (7-2) or the Spurs (8-2)? Are the Magic (10-2) better than the Celtics (8-1)?
That's what rankings are all about...they do the same we, the fans, do all the time, guess!
Experts, Analysts, Fans: everyone can rank NBA teams, and almost everyone can make a point or two to support his decision. That's why I love them. Here's a round-up of my favourite five:

NBA.com Power Ranking has the Suns 2nd while the Celtics lost to the Magic and got back to no. 1.
ESPN.com John Hollinger Ranking has the Celtics and the Magic at one and two while the Suns are in 7th place !!! (behind the Lakers and the Nuggets...oh please!)
ESPN.com Mark Stein Power Ranking has the Suns on top of the list ahead of the Mavs and the Spurs. Magic an Celtics following.
CBS Sportsline Power Ranking has the Suns on top as well, followed by Boston and Dallas.
Sports Illustrated Power Ranking has the Suns on second, with Boston leading the way.

I am looking forward to next week's rankings as I expect the Suns to lead all of them. In the meantime, could someone please explain the difference between a Ranking and a Power Ranking?

Go Suns!

Eight games played already ! Suns at 6-2

After eight games already played, not many but still almost one-tenth of the NBA season, the Suns are 6-2, including 4-1 on the road and the usual domination of the Eastern Conference so far. Some of the doubts about the Suns' attitude have been answered over the last few games, especially during the recent Southeast road trip when our guys came out ready to fight more often than not.

The Usual Suspects on the Suns' roster have performed well overall: Stoudemire, Hill, Nash, Marion and Barbosa have played well so far with Leandrinho being the most impressive over the last couple of games.
Grant Hill have been all we had hoped so far, even if he tends to take more 3-point shots than he actually should. Amaré is recovering well from knee surgery and other than the Miami game, when he got ejected early in the second half, has been excellent. Marion has probably been the most consistent Sun so far: scoring, playing solid defense and rebounding very well. Raja Bell is having trouble with his ankle, he should sit out until completely healed, but he'll be fine.

Point-center Diaw has been the biggest question mark so far. Boris has played a couple of good games (vs Cleveland and at Charlotte), even filling in for STAT at center, not to mention guarding Shaq for half a game.He is always hustling and playing hard but sometimes it seems like he's still looking for his place on the court. He's very versatile on a basketball court but possibly because he is often asked to play so many different positions he looks a bit tentative at times and never really comfortable.

Checking the rest of the Suns' roster there's not much to report really. Coach D'Antoni should use his bench more especially so early in the year. It will make a difference in May, when the best players will have something left in the tank for the Playoffs.
Skinner, Banks, Marks, Tucker and Strawberry are good player. Of course they're not as good as the starters...that's why they're on the bench ! Banks will never be Steve Nash nor Tucker will become better than Marion anytime soon, but they could contribute right now.
Of course D'Antoni sees those guys on a daily basis and knows, much better than anyone else, what they can do on a basketball court, but I hate to see the starters (or just 6-7 Suns), playing 35 minutes each even with comfortable leads late in games. Nash is averaging 34 minutes a night, Marion 37, Hill and Raja 35 while Banks and Skinner only 11 while Tucker made only one appearance. Check the Suns' stats if you're interested.

Over the next few days the Suns will play the Bulls, the Clippers and the Kings (twice on consecutive nights) but the game I'll be looking at with great attention is next Saturday's vs the Rockets in Houston, first game against one of Texas' big three.

Go Suns !

It's never too early to analyse things

It's too early to panic but it's never to early to analyse things, even after only a few games in the new season. I am writing these notes before Friday Night game in Miami and since it's early in the year things could change quickly.

The Suns don't look like last year's perfect machine, maybe just not yet, and on most nights have been outplayed especially on the boards and running the floor. There are a lot of potential explanations for the slow start: Amaré's injury, Barbosa and Bell playing on sore ankles, Diaw having spent most of the games at center and so on. If it's just a physical problem, it'll be solved in a few weeks. The Suns could be back in shape in time for December, a month that is possibly the toughest of the entire season with 10 of 14 games on the road including trips to Dallas, San Antonio and the Christmas' date with the Lakers.

There's only one thing that really could sound a bit alarming: the hypotheis that the Suns are not finding the "correct" motivations for regular season games, those needed to compete on any of those 82 nights. The basketball world has been talking that these Suns are "built to win the championship", talking about the "window of opportunity closing quickly" and how the season will depend on the playoffs on a rematch with the Spurs and so on.
Mike D'Antoni was probably already bit worried about it during training camp as on a couple of occasions he told the Suns needed to enjoy the journey and not focus on the Conference Finals in November.

Go Suns !

Some quick notes around the NBA

Here's some quick notes on the NBA season so far...1 to 20 in no particular order:

1. Undefeated teams in the NBA so far: Clippers, Pacers, Hornets, Celtics and Pistons. Schedule has a key influence in teams being undefeated so early in the season.
2. Biggest disappointment so far: the Bulls and the Warriors at 0-4. They're much better than that. Golden State needs to start playing some (just a little) defense. the Bulls, I just don't have a clue, as they actually played some teams they should have beaten easily (Nets, Sixers, Bucks and Clippers). I am sure they'll bounce back.
3. The Western Conference, despite some top talent going East, seems even better than last year. Early on the best teams in the Conference look even better.
4. There are no easy games in the West.
5. The Suns are not in game shape yet, but will eventually get there. They're so good that at half speed they'll win against almost every team in the East and half of their Conference as well.
6. I am bit worried by Amaré Stoudemire's right knee. I hope he'll get enough rest not to risk worse injury.
7. Coach D'Antoni should use his bench more, even if that means losing a few games here and there. It won't matter if the Suns win 55 or 65 games...the Suns' destiny will be decided somewhere in Texas in late May. You can't think to have guys ready to compete in the playoffs if you don't play them in the winter. Suns need to get to May with at least 9 players ready to play in the playoffs.
8. Phoenix is Steve Nash's team. No big news here.
9. Those three teams in Texas look very impressive. Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, the Suns will have to deal with a couple of those to win the Conference.
10. The Mavs will have the best record in the NBA in the end of the regular season but the Rockets look like the toughest team in playoffs-perspective. Yao and T-Mac (if they stay healthy) will be a force, T-Mac is playing with great enthusiasm and Yao seems to be even a little bit "more" aggressive on the court. I think I saw Yao argue with a referee...
11. How great is the Jazz offense? Utah plays the best half court offense in the League and that Williams to Boozer pick and roll is the best I have seen in a long time...possibly since the Stockton to Malone era.
12. The Atlantic Division looks like one of the toughest in the League as at least 3 teams will fight to the end for the Division title. Looking forward to see those teams play some of the Big Boys in the West.
13. Kevin Garnett is good, actually great. On Opening night at the Garden the atmosphere was like it used to be in the old glory days. Boston is a special place to be a winner. Celtics fan will start chanting "MVP" to their no. 5 before December.
14. Kobe, who won't get traded, is unhappy but this on-going tension is turning into a positive force (must be some kind of Zen Master's truck involved here) as his teammates have raised their games and the Lakers look like a much better and more balanced team than last year's version.
15. Despite that, Kobe is still leading the League in scoring. In all the mess on trade rumors it's easy to forget he's possibly the best player in the NBA.
16. This is probably the deepest rookie class of the last 10 years...do I hear 1984 ? And we won't see Oden play any time soon.
17. Kevin Durant is the best pure talent coming in the League in a long time. Check a Sonics game if you have a chance, he's a real natural and seems born to play this game.
18. D. Wade and R. Hamilton's injuries are killing my Fantasy team....so far
19. Please keep the Sonics in Seattle.

...and finally

20. Go Suns !

Suns 1-1. What to think now?

Watching the first couple of games of the year it's quite easy to feel like it's going to be a long season. Thursday's night 106-99 win in Seattle and last night awful home loss 119-98 to the Lakers just seems to suggest that.

The game in Seattle was not a great overall performance as the Suns would have normally blown away those Sonics (despite the fact that they have great young talent and Kevin Durant is a real pleasure to watch) but the Suns were able to stay focused, play well when it mattered, make plays in the end and eventually take home the W.

By the way, please keep the Sonics in Seattle ! The Supersonics belong in the Pacific Northwest, If Mr. Bennett doesn't like his arena deal, just move yourself out of Seattle, not the Sonics.

The home opener was just a nightmare from tip-off as the Lakers looked like the Suns and outplayed our Phoenix team in every aspect of the game. Lazy defense, poor passing, lack of overall effort...you get the idea. It was really bad. If you didn't see the game, trust what you're reading, don't watch it. When was the last time Steve Nash had 3 assists (and 5 TO) in the whole game? (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The home crowd booed the Suns and Phil Jackson called a much needed timeout with the Lakers up 111-78 with 4:55 left to play...must be some Basketball Zen we'll never fully get.

Of course expectations are high as never before, but booing the Suns on the first night of the season seems too much and sorry, I just don't buy into the "I pay therefore I boo" philosophy. Suns are not expected to win 82 games but are expected to put a solid effort on the floor every night.

Were the Suns not ready? Was it just a night off? Are the Lakers so good? Probably it was one of those nights but let's just hope all this "cruise through the season, get-ready for the Playoffs since all we care is the NBA Championship" doesn't mean the Suns won't be ready to put on a fight every night.

It's way too early to get into the alarm mode (dont' forget last year's start), but the next few games will be a good indication as after the Cavs on Sunday at home the Suns will play four consecutive road games in the Southeast with the games in Florida looking like a good test.

It's way to early to panic ! so just Go Suns ! (say it louder this time)

Nash Equilibrium

"In game theory, the Nash equilibrium is a solution concept of a game involving two or more players, in which no player has anything to gain by changing only his or her own strategy unilaterally. If each player has chosen a strategy and no player can benefit by changing his or her strategy while the other players keep theirs unchanged, then the current set of strategy choices and the corresponding payoffs constitute a Nash equilibrium". (Nash Equilibrium definition, Wikipedia)

Sounds a lot like the 2007/08 Phoenix Suns ! The Suns begin their quest for the title tonight in Seattle (7.30 PM) riding their usual up-tempo style of play trying to outrun, outshoot, outplay, out-everything each opponent until next June.

There's been a lot of discussion about wheather the Suns' style of play will ever be good enough to win in the playoffs when everything gets tougher, games become slower, the Spurs keep posting up Tim Duncan, Referees - even non gambling ones - are allowing more contacts and so on.

I was even discussing lately the irony of the fact that Mike D'Antoni the player was possibly the opposite of D'Antoni the coach. Mike was a great defender, pass first point guard, then I realized the two sides of Mike have something deep in common: they belong to the most intelligent man in the arena. The player and the coach always played in such a way to give his team the best chance to win: same with the Suns. D'Antoni will not try to impose his theories on players, he will ride their abilities, just like he used to do guiding the great Milan team of the 80's to Italian and European glory.

The 2007/08 version will be the best Suns team of the last 10 years and will play the only way they know: at full speed. It's their DNA, it's the way they have been assembled and success will ultimately rely on the thin equilibrium this team has been built on. The Suns are a perfect machine guided on the field by the best quarterback in the League and on the bench by the best possible coach. This Nash-D'Antoni combination is what this equilibrium is built on and everyone else will follow, trying to adjust, trying to find his role and his place and adapt to the ever changing flow of the game. That's also why basketball intelligence is what could eventually lead the Suns to the NBA title and that's also why Grant Hill is such a great addition.

This will never be Amaré's team nor Marion's (and it has nothing to do with their All Stars basketball skills) because the Suns have been built as a group with one inspiring philosophy: follow Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash's Beautiful Mind. Will it be good to win it all? not sure but it'll be by far the best show you'll ever witness on a basketball court these days and I just plan to enjoy every minute of it.

Go Suns !

PS Don't forget it's Steve Nash Day on The Bright Side of the Sun. Make sure to check the You Tube highlights, Steve's amazing !!!