41 DOWN, 41 TO GO. Time for a Report Card

41 down, 41 to go is where the Suns stand right now. We have reached the midway point of the regular season and it's time for a check on the Suns' performance so far.

The Record: 29-12

Phoenix has the best record in the Western Conference and a one game lead on the Lakers in the Division. The Suns are 15-4 at home and 14-8 on the road.

The Division race looks much tighter this time, as the Lakers have really improved and should be able to contend for the Pac 5 crown despite the fact they'll miss Andrew Bynum for a few weeks. Andrew was the League most improved player and was starting to become a dominant NBA center.


The Players (and a 1-10 rating of their respective performance so far)

Stoudemire: (22.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.18 BPG) big numbers almost every night, poor defense and the sense that he could be better and could actually take over a game almost every night. (8/10).

Barbosa: (17.1 PPG, 3.0 APG) usual spark off the bench. As quick as they come, solid season so far but nothing spectacular (7/10).

Nash: (16.9 PPG, 12.1 APG, 3.63 TPG) Steve is just being Steve...walking around on the Suns' half court (often clueless when his direct opponent doesn't have the basketball) but passing the ball like Tom Brady, leading the League in assists and shooting very well from 3-point range (8/10). Suns co-MVP.

Marion: (16.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.95 SPG) still unhappy I guess but so far has just played hard every night. Not having his best season stat-wise since he had to give up some shots to Grant Hill but shooting well. Suns co-MVP so far (IMHO), since he's the most consistent player on a very inconsistent season (8/10).

Hill: (15.9 PPG, 4.60 RPG, 3.5 APG) all we expected and possibly more. Great mid range shooting, running well and looking young. Hope he'll recover well from appendicectomy (8/10).

Bell: (11.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 APG) Raja started the year with some minor - but annoying - injuries that limited his mobility. He's coming back, shooting better and playing better difense (5/10).

Diaw: (7.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG): the biggest question mark of the year so far. Seems to have turned the corner, could be interesting to watch him when Grant Hill comes back (4/10)

Banks: (5.4 PPG, 1 APG, 13.0 MPG) he's out of favour with the Coach and has been replaced by Strawberry in the rotation lately. Shooting the ball well from outside, the feeling is the Suns would love to trade him if not for his huge contract (5/10).

Skinner: (3.7 PPG, 4.30 RPG) a nice addition, he's a fighter and a better than expected shooter. Always ready, good signing (6/10).

The rest: D.J. Strawberry is emerging as a role player, hopefully he'll be able to play 10-12 minutes a game untile the end of the year. His defense and hustle could become very useful in the playoffs. Not much to report as Tucker has appeared in 5 games only while Marks and Piatkowski are just there to fill the roster.

Coach D'Antoni

Trying to keep the team focused and motivated which is difficult on a nightly basis when everyone knows their season will rest on playoffs' performance.

Team has showed too much inconsistency and on a few occasions and alarming lack of energy and effort sometimes. He's doing a good job lately as team's performance (and defense) is improving.
Since, nothing less than a Finals appearence will be considered a success and D'Antoni knows well you can't win the Championship in December but you can lose one, he's putting some heat on his team lately.

He's missing Iavaroni as the Suns have been beaten in the paint often this year.

So far, Coach D deserves a 7 (out of 10).

The Mood

Losing often against top teams in the West had all Planet Orange worried (and stil is) but performance is improving (i.e. the nice win against the Lakers). Mood is positive and I think the Suns will be ready for the Playoffs. I am expecting another 30 wins in the next 41, a division title and a top 2 seed in the Conference...then let the battle begin !

Go Suns !