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 !
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 !
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