Sons of Steve Nash

I've found a new home

2011-01-30T14:46:00.002-07:00

Check the Steve Fan's new home at the Sun-n-Gun.com

GO SUNS !

Sons of Steve Nash is moving to Fanster

2008-10-03T02:38:00.003-07:00

The Sons of Steve Nash is moving !

The blog will officially become part of the Fanster All Sports All Phoenix Network, the ultimate resource for Arizona Sports Fans.

This is the new home of the Sons of Steve Nash

Please make sure to update your links, bookmarks and feeds as the season is approaching.

Sio, louder then ever Go Suns !

Yours truly, Steve Fan

Stay tuned

2008-09-25T23:21:00.002-07:00

Stay tuned fellow Suns citizens....Camp will open on Tuesday.
There will be some basketball played....Finally !

Go Suns !

Suns sign Dragic...finally

2008-09-23T22:48:00.003-07:00

The Suns will open camp in a few days with their back up PG ready to go. Goran Dragic is officially a Sun as yesterday signed a three-year deal (with an option on a fourth season).
It's quite important to have a PG in camp from day one as he'll need all the time he can to know his teammates, learn the plays and get ready for life in the NBA.
Goran has talent, that's a given, has size (6-4) and a tremendous upside at 22 years of age.
Whether those qualities will make him a good NBA guard will be seen. We'll try not to put too much pressure on him...so please stop all those Tony Parker comparisons.

In the meantime, welcome to the Valley!

I can smell training camp around the corner, finally.

Go Suns !

Two meaningless news of the week

2008-09-14T08:33:00.005-07:00

I can't wait for the season to begin...I am looking to see that damn basketball bounce again...please. Can't stand any more weeks of Suns news of this great relevance...

First, the Suns invite 3 players to camp, non of whom will have a chance to make the Opening Day roster. In case you care those invited are Robert Hite, former Heat player, Trey Johnson, last seen in Summer League play following a year in Serbia, and Jiri Hubalek from Jackson State...Huba who?
In case you wonder, Suns already have 13 players under contract for next year.

Then, The Big Cactus declares he will retire at the end of his current contract....Really? I believed Shaq was gonna play until 50.

Whatever, Camp opens in Tucson in less then three weeks. Looking forward to Year I of the Porter Era

Go Suns !

2008/2009 The Top 5 Suns Dancers

2008-09-06T02:44:00.004-07:00

It's the off season, I'd rather check the Suns Dancers roster then reading about Thunder Dan producing a movie.

Having a look at the new cheerleading squad, selected from a very crowded auditions (tough choice must have been).

I have to admit this year's group looks promising. The road to catch the NBA finest, The 3-time NBA Dance Bracket champ Miami Heat Dancers, is still a long one, but Suns dancers are on their way.

Anyway, here's my preseason top 5.

1. Kayla (Arizona, 3rd year). Still the best, an All Star for years to come. The "Steve Nash" of dancing. This season KTAR poster girl.

2. Brooke (Arizona, 1st year). Could replace Brandy if give playing time. Rookie of the year stuff.

3. Brittany A (Wyoming, 2nd year) Could be the year of the Brittanys' ?

4. Brittany B (Arizona, 3rd year) Former KTAR Billboard girl

5. Amanda R (Indiana, 2nd year) Hoping to avoid a sophmore slump. Looks just great

Way to go, Girls !

Go Suns !

Nothing to write

2008-09-06T02:16:00.004-07:00

This is possible the worst part of the year for basketball fans as the new season is getting closer but it's still a good two months away.

Draft is forgotten, unless you consider Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur recent "off the field" performance. I know boys will be boys....as they say, but are these kids dumb or what? The NBA rookies Orientation program is basically about Women, Drugs and Finance.

Trade talks and free agent signings are done.

Of course, since the season is getting closer a few Suns players are actually coming to the Valley for various activities: support the Mercury, announce the Suns will go solar in 2009 and talking to the press like STAT did last week on Suns.com.

So nothing really to write about. I thinks I'll check the 2009 Suns Dancers over the weekend, maybe the season will look better.

Go Suns!

The Summer of Steve Nash, finally some time off...chilling out with Sidney Crosby

2008-08-13T06:59:00.006-07:00

After our beloved one spent the summer in the usual activity....

playing soccer in NYC with, among others, soccer legend Thierry Henry

thrilling Vancouver

helping Uganda's youth overcome a terrible tragedy

attending the ESPYs awards cerimony

and so on....not to mention some film making and plenty of other charity work

It's now time to take some rest, recharge batteries for the new Suns season. The same Sons of Steve Nash paparazzi that got him hangin out in the desert with Randy Johnson last year this time got him on the Australia Gold Coast, chilling out by the sea with none other then fellow canadian NHL legend Sideny Crosby.

Here's the pictures.

Enjoy the rest of summer. Have fun...and Go Suns !

The 2008/09 Suns Schedule

2008-08-07T06:50:00.004-07:00

The 2008/09 NBA schedule was finally released on Wedensday. As always schedule day is a great one...as you ccould actually start counting the days to the new season.

The Suns will open the season on the road they way they ended the last one...playing the Spurs on Oct. 29th. Nothing better to start the year than a rande-vous with Tim, Tony and Manu.

Here's some of the highlights of the schedule:

Opening game: Oct. 29th in San Antonio (on ESPN)
Home opener: Oct. 30th vs New Orleans (on TNT)
First meeting with the NBA Champ Celtics: Jan. 19th. The Celts will return the favour on Feb. 22nd. I just hope we won't regret the trade that never was (KG) by that time
Final game: Apr. 15th vs Golden State
Longest home stand: 4 games in March (Philadelphia, Washington, Denver, Utah)
Longest road trip: 6 games in January (Toronto, Boston, New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington) from Jan. 18th to the 26th. There's a tough, but short trip East between Feb. 8th and 11th (right before the All Star Game) with the Suns playing the Pistons, the much-improved Sixers and the Cavs.
Toughest month: December as the Suns will travel a lot and will play on the road at Dallas, New Orleans and the Lakers while hosting Utah, Orlando and San Antonio among others.
Toughest stretch of the season: there are two very interesting 4-game stretch one in Nov. (16-22) when the Suns will play Detroit, Utah, the Lalers and Portland and one in March (6-12) with Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Cleveland).
First Steve Nash - Dirk Nowitzki reunion: Dec. 4th in Dallas.
Biggest game of the year: That Christmas date with the Spurs (Dec. 25th at 12.30 on ABC). It's possibly better than last year's Xmas with Kobe.
First Lopez Family reunion: Nov. 4th in New Jersey and Nov. 30th in Phoenix.
Those Lakers games: in LA on Dec. 10th, Feb. 26th and in the Valley on Nov. 20th and March 1st.

And finally don't forget the 2009 All Star Game is coming to the Valley, on Feb. 15th.

Start counting, it's 83 days to the Suns opener

Go Suns !

NBA to release 2008/09 Schedule later today

2008-08-06T09:08:00.003-07:00

The 2008/09 NBA Schedule will be released later today, but according to the Arizona Republic the Suns will play on Christmas day this year as well.After the Xmas with Kobe in 2008, we could be looking at Xmas with the Spurs. What a Joy!

The Suns will open the season on the road in San Antonio on Oct. 29th before hosting the Hornets the following day. For sure not an easy way to start the year.We'll see what the rest of the upcoming season will shape up anytime now...

Go Suns !

Suns sign forward Matt Barnes

2008-07-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

According to various sources, including the official Suns.com, the Suns have reached an agreement with free agent forward Matt Barnes. Barnes will sign a one-year veteran’s minimum deal to play for the Suns next season.

Barnes, a five-year veteran, played the last two season with the Golden State Warriors and last year averaged 6.7 PPG and 4.9 RPG. He was one of the surprise players in the great Warriors playoffs run in 2006/07.

The signing seems like an excellent move as the Suns are adding a solid pro who can share playing time at small forward with Grant Hill while leaving some money under the cap to complete the roster.

The Suns have now only two spots left on their roster and will try to sign a back up point guard as the top priority since Dragic will stay in Spain next year and the recent Summer League proved that D.J. Strawberry, while playing with great energy and being a solid contributor, is not going to be an NBA point guard anytime soon.

Go Suns !

Rockets beat Suns 100-97 in Summer League opener

2008-07-14T22:42:00.001-07:00

Donte Green scored 40 points on 12-of-20 shooting to lead the Rockets past the Summer Suns 100-97 last night in Las Vegas in the opening game of the 2008 Summer League for both teams.

Suns sophomores D.J. Strawberry and Alando Tucker - last year’s picks in case you forgot - each scored 22 points in the Suns 2008 Summer League debut.D.J. shot 7-for-15 from the field and missed on his only two 3-point attempts, including one in the closing seconds of the game that would have tied it at 100. Alando went 6-of-16 from the field and both grabbed 6 rebounds as well.

The biggest news of the day had to be Robin Lopez first game with the Suns. Robin had a solid game more or less confirming the scouting reports we saw immediately after the 2008 Draft: athletic player, solid rebounder, good defender, can run the floor but can’t shoot.Lopez scored a good 19 points (5-for-13 from the field but a very poisitve 9-of-11 from the free-throw line), grabbed 5 rebounds, had 7 fouls called on him in 27 minutes of play.

From what we’ve seen last night nobody else really emerged as a possible candidate for a spot on the 2008/09 Suns roster.

It was the usual Summer League game, a lot of young athletic players running and hustling on both sides of the court, up and down all night. At least it was a real game of basketball.

The Suns (0-1) will now face the Spurs (1-0) on Thursday afternoon (5:30 PM).

Go Suns !

The 2008 Suns...Summer version

2008-07-09T10:19:00.004-07:00

Amid all the talks and the rumors at least we're about to see some basketball. It's once again Summer League Time. Not the best game on the planet I understand, but at least they're keeping scores and you can actually watch most of the games on TV....Oh, and a few of the guys will play in November.

The most interesting thing will be watching Robin Lopez make his pro debut and taking a look at Tucker and Strawberry to check if they are better then last summer. By the way, D.J. had a very good summer league last year and he's not guranteed a contract for nex year.

I am sure I would love the Summer League given a chance to spend a week in Vegas...not bad, a vacation in Vegas with some basketball as a throw in.

Anyway, the Summer Suns, 2008 version coached by Thunder Dan Majerle will begin play on July 14th at 5:30 against the Summer Rockets. The Schedule will run through Sunday July, 20th and the Suns will play the Spurs, Knicks (and have a look at Gallinari), the Blazers (Oden? Fernandez...who was a Sun for 15 minutes) and the Wizards.

Generally the Summer coach is one of the Suns assistants so Majerle is perfect, plus Dan is in great shape, sporting a great tan...or in other words just perfect for a Summer League in Vegas.

The Summer Suns Roster is made of group of young players (basically all rookies) most of whom - with the possible exception of F Rod Benson, PG Jared Jordan and G Marcus Vinicius - won't have a chance to make the roster but it's a great occasion to show the world how talented you are playing against high draft picks.

I know it's not the real thing, but I am looking forward to some basketball...it's been long since the Suns lost to the Spurs basically ending my basketball season.

Go Suns !

The Direction of the Suns !?

2008-06-29T05:46:00.006-07:00

After watching his press conference (Check it on YouTube) I already love Robin Lopez! But...

Lopez is at best an NBA bench player, maybe a solid pro for years but will take time to develop since the guy, based on what I know is very limited with the basketball. Next year he could be more or less a Brian Skinner (no blonde beard...but that hairs rock), more athletic but a worse mid range shooter, even if Steve Kerr stated he has a good shooting touch.
He also has the perfect skills (solid defender, good rebounder) to play alongside Stoudemire (great offensive player, possibly the best in the NBA at his position). I would have loved the pick in the second round.

With second round pick Goran Dragic very unlikely to be in Phoenix next season. It means the Suns are still looking for the 2008/09 back up to Steve Nash. He has a nice upside, but he's at best a 2-3 year project. He'll be ready once Nash will be gone.

The direction of the Suns is quite unclear at the moment.

The Suns roster looks like this:

Guard: Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, D.J. Strawberry and Goran Dragic, maybe.
Forwards: Grant Hill, Boris Diaw, Alando Tucker.
Center: Shaquille O'Neal, Amaré Stoudemire, Robin Lopez.

So far the Suns are the same as last year: very good, old at key positions, not enought depth, without a clear identity and overall not good enough for a Championship run.

Go Suns !

With the 15th pick of the 2008 NBA Draft the Suns pick Stanford Center Robin Lopez

2008-06-27T10:30:00.006-07:00

So the Suns picked Stanford 7-foot center Robin Lopez with the 15th pick and drafted Oregon guard Malik Hairstom in the second round (48th overall) and sent him along with cash to the Spurs for the rights to Slovenian guard Goran Dragic who look very promising (I have seen him play a few times and he's a very good young player) but won't be available at least for another year or two.

Robin's brother Brook was drafted with the 10th overall pick by the Nets. I wonder if it has ever happened before.

The Suns need a point guard NOW and a small forward, unless Coach Porter think he can use Diaw at the 3 position.

Lopez is a solid player, a good defender and rebounder. I am just not sure what this pick means for the Suns. I expect a few additional moves in the offseason and above all I expect a very different Suns team next season, maybe not in the roster but for sure in the way they'll play.

Go Suns !

2008 NBA Blogger Mock Draft

2008-06-26T13:41:00.002-07:00

Chirs from the What Would Oakley Do? blog (a nice Sports and NY Knicks blog) had a great idea: Put together a bunch of NBA bloggers and invite them to hold a 2008 mock draft.

Chris was also so kind to invite me to represent the Suns.

The result was a great post, a much better mock draft than the usual mainstream stuff.

In case you're intersted, the Phoenix Suns picked PG Mario Chalmers from Kansas with the 15th pick.

The Pick: Mario Chalmers, out of the University of Kansas

The Reason For: For once the Suns will draft a player they can use and not simply pick some talent and ship him somewhere else for future picks or cash considerations as they did with Loul Deng, Rajon Rondo, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez. The Suns' biggest needs are (1) find a back up point guard to play at least 15 minutes a game; (2) add some defense to the team and (3) find someone who can play right now, as the Suns are looking at a 2-year window. Plus Chalmers reminds a bit of Terry Porter, solid defender, good shooter and ready to play with a 3-year experience at a top-level program like Kansas. So, Mario, welcome to the Valley!

Go Suns !

2008 NBA Draft. Suns need a guard, not cash

2008-06-25T01:34:00.001-07:00

This year’s NBA Draft could be very important in shaping the future of the Phoenix Suns. Let’s just hope the ownership and the new coaching staff are willing to grab something other than cash.

The Suns will indeed pick 15th and hopefully, since they’ll make the Playoffs in the next couple of years this could be the best chance to grab some talent that could eventually make the difference.

Consider that the Suns biggest needs, not counting cash considerations, are more or less these:
1. Back up point guard
2. Athletic small forward
3. Shooting guard
4. Defense

The Suns draft history has ranged from bad to worse lately, even if the front office has been able to pick some good players.

There were some mistakes (Cabarkapa in 2004, Gortat in 2005) but over the last 4 years the Suns have drafted plenty of good players that eventually became good NBA players.
The kind of players the Suns are now in desperate need. A check of the Suns draft history is quite revealing in this sense.

Need a back up point guard?
The Suns drafted Nate Robinson (2005, later traded to NY for K. Thomas later traded to Seattle for cash); Rajon Rondo (2006, traded to Cleveland for draft picks); Sergio Rodriguez (2006, traded to Portland for cash).

How about a small forward?
The Suns picked Loul Deng in 2004 and traded him to Chicago for picks, the rights to Jackson Vroman (who?) and of course cash.

In other words, the Suns did well in spotting talent but made plenty of poor decisions either trading or simply in the way they used – or not used – those players. This eventually cost Mike D’Antoni his job.

Getting back to the Suns needs entering the 2008 Draft, last season the Suns drafted the best guard available in Europe in Rudy Fernandez, a defensive minded point guard in D.J. Strawberry and an athletic small forward in Alando Tucker. Then of course they traded away the right to Rudy (guess what…for cash !) and basically never gave a chance to D.J. and Doe.

So what to do with the 15th pick this year?

I believe the Suns should pick a guard in the first round hoping one between D.J. Augustin (Texas), Mario Chalmers (Kansas), Brandon Rush (Kansas) could be available. Just please, pick one, let him play and avoid trading the guy to Portland for cash an hour after the trade.

Go Suns !

Steve Kerr and Terry Porter. Notes form the Presser

2008-06-10T03:57:00.004-07:00

Terry Porter was introduced yesterday as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns during a well attended press conference at US Airways Center.
Among the usual array of common sense and typical “I’m glad to be here, it’s a great opportunity and so on” a few interesting notes emerged from the presser.

Porter and Kerr agreed that “it’s going to be a different team looking forward”. On Shaq, the new Coach stated “he has some game left” and that he’ll “sit down with Nash and Hill” to talk about the Suns.

The Suns will play a similar up-tempo game to the one we’re used to, but more attention will be given to pick and roll and of course, the great missing, defense.

Steve Kerr wanted Rick Adelman, whom he considers the best in the business and quoted the fact that Porter (himself and Mike D'Antoni) have had some experience under Coach Adelman as a reason why Terry was chosen as the new coach of the Suns.

Most of all, let’s just make it clear: Steve Kerr is the real head coach of the Suns while Terry Porter will be paid to be his man on the bench. At least that’s what I understood from watching an humble and shy Terry Porter saying very few words, while it was Steve Kerr giving the answers. I might be wrong, of course.

Go Suns !

The Search is over. Terry Porter to coach the Suns

2008-06-08T00:30:00.003-07:00

After interviewing almost every available NBA assistant, broadcasters and former Suns, GM Steve Kerr signed the first guy he auditioned for the job.

The long wait was becoming a bit nerve wrecking and the fact that the GM was actually working out prospects for the Draft without an Head Coach in place was a bit disturbing.

As you all know by now, Terry Porter will replace Mike D’Antoni as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He’s expected to sign a 3-year deal and could be introduced early next week.

Terry had an outstanding playing career that lasted 17 season and was one of the best guard in the league while playing with the great Blazers team of the late 80’s early 90’s. He’s always been known as a great competitor but a classy guy on and off the court.

His coaching experience is a bit limited, even if it was the longest among the possible candidates. Porter coached the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons (2003-05 withe a record of 71-93 .433) and was currently an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.He made the Playoffs in his first year with the Bucks and he helped develop rookie PG T.J. Ford into an NBA player.

Porter is the man Steve Kerr wanted from the beginning. They played together with the Spurs for a few seasons at the end of their playing careers. He’s Steve’s choice 100 percent and I am sure during the last few weeks they discussed the Suns agenda, an agenda that I believe could look more or less like that:

1. Play Defense. It won’t be easy, but at least trying could help.
2. Develop a point guard one that could back up Nash and eventually take over in a couple of years.
3. Stay competitive while rebuilding, that’s the tough part…as it’s never been done in the NBA.

I think the 3-year deal is the key as Porter should be allowed to work with a long-term perspective of guiding the Suns transition from an aging but still very talented and competitive team to a new younger version. In a couple of years Steve Nash will be a full-time film producer or an amateur soccer player, Shaq will be a full-time Super Cop and STAT will still trying to become the Man in the Locker Room.

Kerr and Porter will now have a few weeks to evaluate the situation and get ready for the draft. It’ll be the first real test for the new coach. So, Welcome to the Valley, Coach Porter.

Go Suns !

Phoenix probe lands on Mars

2008-05-26T05:18:00.003-07:00

According to CNN "Diesel-powered" Phoenix probe landed on Mars a few hours ago.

According to other unconfirmed sources, should any form of life be found on the planet, Steve Kerr will likely interview it for the head coach position with the Suns.

Suns.com reported earlier in the week that the Suns have begun an extensive search for the new head coach as more than a dozen candidate could be interviewed for the job.

Good luck, Captain Steve

Go Suns !

It looks so 80's

2008-05-20T06:10:00.002-07:00

Update on the Suns coaching carousel. So far GM Steve Kerr has interviewed or planning to do so very soon:

Mark Jackson, Terry Porter, Elston Turner, Tyrone Corbin (looking good in a the Suns photo) and Paul Silas

Is Steve Kerr trying to put on an 80’s all star game?

With Del Negro and Kerr himself we could field a pretty good team.

Go Suns !

Searching for the Perfect New Suns Coach

2008-05-14T02:26:00.003-07:00

Amid all the talks about possible candidates for the Suns head coach position (see the great short list compiled by Greg Esposito on AZ Sports Hub) I find it difficult to find a candidate I really like to coach the Suns next season.

The key is understanding what’s inside Steve Kerr mind:

Whether `tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of REBUILDING NOW or to take arms against a sea of troubles and GIVE THIS TEAM ONE MORE SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

In the former case the Suns need a teacher, a coach who can evaluate and develop talent, trade away all the big salaries and start rebuilding around Stoudemire; in the latter Suns need a manager and a leader one that can ask a bunch of aging offensive minded players to play defense and deal with the huge pressure of having to win it now. Avery Johnson would be a good fit I think.

I think it would make sense to start a rebuilding process now but I am not sure I’d enjoy it. It’ll mean at least two, maybe three, years of losing basketball and that IF you do a good job. As it happened in the past it’s possible that you choose a coach to start the process, grow talent and after a couple of losing season his successor will be the one getting the fame and the glory. Teachers often fail in this crazy NBA.

Ideally the Suns could follow the Blazers route to glory and avoid a Bulls like collapse of the post MJ era. Paul Silas could make it work.

I don’t know.

Go Suns !

Ciao Mike. D'Antoni signs with the Knicks

2008-05-10T22:53:00.005-07:00

Mike D'Antoni (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic) is officially the former coach of the Phoenix Suns after signing a 4-year 24 million deal with the New York Knicks.

I think it was the right decision for him, personally, and for the Suns. It was clear D'Antoni and the Suns front office could not work together anymore.

Thanks Mike, whatever it was four great years (253-136 .650 winning pct.), at least 3 were really great, and we saw the best basketball on the planet.

It's clear Steve Kerr wants someone who can actually coach defense but it's better not to forget the Suns players, more or less, simply can't play defense.

Now it's time to move on. List the candidates for the position, evaluate the situation, prepare for the draft, make some moves.

Grazie Mike e Buona Fortuna!

Go Suns !

D'Antoni won't coach the Suns next season

2008-05-05T01:27:00.003-07:00

Clues are now adding up. Solid evidence is growing that Mike D'Antoni will not coach the Suns next season.

Clue no. 1
Suns denied reports of D'Antoni departure. In pro sport it generally means he's already gone.

Clue no. 2
The initial meeting between D'Antoni, Kerr and the Owner couldn't reach a decision. You don't need to postpone a decision another 10 days if you plan to retain the Coach.

Clue no. 3
ESPN.com is reporting D'Antoni will be allowed to talk to other teams with New York and Chicago the most likely destinations.

The Suns need a change. That's step 1.

Go Suns!

The 2007-08 Suns. The Season

2008-05-03T01:44:00.003-07:00

After each game during the season I posted a recap at AZ Sports Hub. I have decided to post all the headlines from each game: 1 to 82 and then 1 to 5 in the Playoffs. I think it will help go through the last few months of Suns basketball as understanding the past is the best way to build for the future.

Suns shake off rust in 2nd half, Beat Sonics in opener
Lakers win 119-98. Suns booed by home crowd!
Suns come back to beat Cavs 103-92
Suns (3-1) dominate Bobcats to begin Southeast trip
The Hawks are good! Suns lose in Atlanta 105-96
Nash takes over in the 4th. Suns beat Heat in Miami
It’s Barbosa doing magic as Suns beat Orlando 106-96.
Suns beat “shorthanded” Knicks, improve to 6-2
Running with the Bulls, Suns win 112-102
You can’t reach the Sun with a Rocket! Phoenix beat Houston 115-105
Suns hold on for 100-98 win in Sacramento.
Suns score 80 in the first half, beat Kings 127-111
Suns beat Clippers 113-94 for 8th straight win
Yao leads Rockets past Suns 100-94
Raja leads the way as Suns beat Magic, 110-106
Hill’s 28 lead Suns past Knicks in NYC
STAT’s 42 lead Suns past Pacers 121-117
Suns score 136 to beat Raptors in Toronto
Suns “just incredible”, Beat the Wiz 122-107
Suns get cold in second half, lose to Minnesota 100-93
The Heat is on! Suns lose to Miami 117-113
Suns beat Jazz 103-98 as Nash leads the ensemble…and chipped a tooth in the making
Hornets beat Suns 101-98 as Paul edges Nash in the Big Easy
Hill leads Suns past Duncan and the Spurs 100-95
“WunderDirk” leads Dallas past the Suns 108-105
Suns win eighth straight vs Raptors 122-103. Now it’s Christmas with Kobe
Santa is a Laker! LA beat Phoenix 122-115
Amaré plays big as Suns walk over Clippers 108-88
Suns score under 100 and WIN! 94 enough to beat the Clippers
Suns end year with win no. 22 in Sacramento
Suns come back from 20 down to beat Sonics 104-96
Paul and the Hornets come back to beat the Suns 118-112
Suns drop 20 3-pointers on the Nuggets in a 137-115 win
Suns come back to beat Pacers in OT without Nash and Hill
Jazz hold shorthanded Suns to just 86 points in Utah
Nash’s season-high 35 points lead Suns past Bucks (for the 20th straight time at home)
Clippers beat Suns in LA giving Division lead to the Lakers
Suns finally beat Lakers, regain Division lead
Suns dominate Wolves 115-95 as D’Antoni looks for defense
Suns (29-12) dominate Nets at home 116-92
Nash’s season high 37 points lead Suns past Bucks.
Suns first to lose twice to Timberwolves in the season
Marion’s floater (with 1.1 seconds left) gives Suns 110-108 win in Cleveland
Suns gain “gritty win” in Chicago, 88-77
Suns run over Hawks 125-92. Now ready for Spurs
Spurs come back in the fourth to beat Suns, 84-81
Suns’ 16 triples beat Bobcats, 118-104
Suns lose again to Hornets in 2OT, on the night Shaq became a Sun
Waiting for Shaq, Suns beat Sonics with a little help from Wally
STAT scores 31 as Suns beat Wizards 108-107
Baron and “the Man” lead Warriors past Suns 120-118
Suns beat Mavs 109-97 in final game before break
Kobe ruins Shaq’s Suns debut. LA wins 130-124
Suns get first win of the Shaq era, beat KG and the Celtics 85-77
Pistons run over Phoenix 116-86 as Suns play worst game of the year
Suns back at full speed, beat Grizzlies 127-113
Hornets sweep season series vs Suns with win in New Orleans
Suns lose at home to Sixers. Is it time to worry?
Suns hold on for 97-92 win in Portland
Melo and A.I. lead Nuggets past tired Suns, 126-113
Jazz send Suns to third straight home loss, 126-118
Suns beat Spurs 94-87 as Shaq shows the way
Suns roll over Grizzlies for second straight win, 132-111
STAT lead Suns past Warriors 123-115
Suns run over Kings for 4th straight win
STAT and Shaq lead Suns past Blazers for 5th straight win
Suns make it six in a row with win in Seattle
Perfect STAT leads Suns past Rockets 122-113
Pistons end Suns’ seven game win streak in OT
KG leads Boston past STAT and the Suns
Amare and Raja lead Suns to easy win in Philly
Amare (again) leads Suns past Nets and back on top of Pac5
STAT and Nash lead Suns past Denver in biggest comeback of the year
In the end the Suns can’t shine in Denver
Suns do “their job” against Timberwolves, win 117-88
Suns collapse in the fourth, Dallas wins 105-98
Suns clinch playoffs spot with win in Memphis, 127-113
Nash, Shaq and STAT lead Suns past Spurs 96-79
Rockets “out-hustle” Suns 101-90. Phoenix now 6th in the West
Suns blow lead then come back to beat Warriors 122-116
Suns beat Blazers 100-91 to end season at 55-27. Spurs Next !

and then came the Spurs, once again.

Suns vs Spurs: Focus, Paint, Refs and “our” Frenchman
Suns fans’ worst fears materialized as Spurs take game 1 of the series in 2OT
Spurs’ Big Three beat Suns in game 2. Phoenix in 0-2 series hole
Suns quickly setting in Phoenix. Spurs dominate game 3
Suns still alive as Diaw and Bell lead Phoenix past Spurs in game 4
It’s Over. Spurs eliminate Suns 4-1

Go Suns !

Suns out of the Playoffs. D'Antoni out next?

2008-04-29T22:58:00.006-07:00

Led by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan the Spurs once again eliminated the Suns from the playoffs. For the third time in the last four years, the Suns' great expectations were shattered by the Spurs.

The season's over for the Suns and plenty of questions will fill the offseason, including the biggets of them all: Should Phoenix rebuild now or give it one more try to Nash and Co. ?

“It seems like every time we get to the playoffs we play the Spurs, and they beat us every time. They’re well-coached…they’ve got solid players…they understand what it takes to win. They were the better team." Stoudemire stated after the game 5 loss.

In case you didn't notice it sounds a lot like STAT's goodbye to Coach D'Antoni (AP Photo/Eric Gay).

The Suns were clearly out coached and out played in the series. The Shaq move, made to beat the Spurs (don't forget that), didn't work. I am not sure whether it was D'Antoni or Kerr who made that deal, but I feel it's time for a change.

Coach D'Antoni will be fired also according to both ESPN and SI.com who recently rumored about insanable differences between D'Antoni and the front office. I think the Owner and the GM Steve Kerr believe the Suns are not going to win with that coaching staff.

We'll have plenty of time to write, discuss and analyse everything from poor drafting to the Shaq trade or the non-use of bench players.

Fire Mike D'Antoni is probably the easy (and partial) answer to a more complicated question about the Suns ability to win an NBA Championship. But we all know easy answers is what an Owner tends to look for.

It's more or less 185 till Opening Day...

Go 2008/09 Suns!

Do you still believe?

2008-04-26T00:35:00.004-07:00

Three reason why I still believe Suns (Barry Gossage/NBAE Photos) will come back and win the series

1. Shaq, after game 3: "I think if we can win just one game we can take it from there and see what happens. It's never been done before but will probably be done one day."

2. San Antonio can't play so well, make every clutch shot, execute perfectly on every play

3. Suns had been able to build big leads in game 1 and 2, menaing they can actually outscore the Spurs.

Of course, there's one (huge) reason why I don't believe the Suns will come back

1. Spurs are a better basketball team.

Whatever Go Suns !

Spurs-Suns or simply Nash and Ginobili

2008-04-24T03:44:00.008-07:00

The first two games of the Spurs series were decided by two players. After watching game 2 I realized it was not about Duncan, Stoudemire, Shaq, foul trouble, zone defense or anything.

It all comes down to Manu Ginobili and Steve Nash (Ronald Martinez/NBAE Photos). Suns can’t limit Manu and can’t play efficient offense without Nash on the court.

1. Suns don’t have an answer for Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili has a plus/minus of + 9 in game 1 and +12 in game 2.
Raja Bell can’t guard him, nor can Grant Hill. Zone defense (2-3) can be used to protect the inside and the big men from getting into foul trouble but it’s very vulnerable to outside shooting, or better, to mid-range shooting.
Parker and Ginobili beat the first line of perimeter defense, easily, and can score without actually having to deal with Shaq and STAT coming up the middle. Check the shot charts of Manu and Parker in Game 2 from espn.com

2. Suns offense can’t function without Nash.

It’s not only evident by watching the games, Steve has 13 of a Suns season-low 16 assists (if I remember it right) in game 2. The Spurs defense can send the Suns completely out of rhythm and when Nash is on the bench it gets really ugly.

The Suns could use Barbosa and Diaw as alternative point men. Forget that! as both are having an awful series (-18 for both in +/- in game 2).

By the way, did you notice that in the high-equilibrium Western Conference each series is now 2-0?

Go Suns!

"New" Suns lost game one in the "old" Suns way

2008-04-20T06:26:00.007-07:00

The Suns lost game one of the Western Conference first round series against the Spurs in dramatic fashion.

Michael Finley 3-pointer to tie it (Barbosa on him? Why not Grant Hill, the Suns best defender?)

Tim Duncan first triple of the year (rotation?), Manu Ginobili amazing shot (help up the middle?) whatever...

Phoenix played poor defense in the second half, mostly because of the big men's foul trouble.
With Shaq, STAT (Jeramie McPeek/NBAE/Getty) and Diaw in foul trouble the Spurs "underlined" all the Suns defensive limitations on the perimeter. Ginobili and Parker often beat the first line of outside defense driving to the rim.

The Suns played well for the most part, on the road despite the fact that their initial game plan (protect the paint, attack TD, keep Manu and Parker out of the area) was denied almost immediately by foul trouble.

Suns and Spurs have now played each other in the Playoffs four of the last five season. Phoenix has actually been eliminated by the Spurs on every such occasion.

In 2004-05 (Spurs 4, Suns 1 in the Conference Finals) San Antonio won game 1 (121-114), in 2006-07 (Spurs+Stern 4, Suns 2 in the second round) SA won game 1 (111-106) and of course in 2007-08 Suns lost game 1 (117-115 in 2OT). On each of those three games Tim Duncan led the Spurs to victory.

During the D'Antoni era the Suns have played the Spurs three times in four years and in each of those occasions San Antonio took game one of the series. By the way, the Spurs eventually took the series in '05 and '07.

While all of our worst fears materialized on Saturday night's game 1 loss there's plenty of reason to believe this is going to be a tough and long series.

Go Suns !

Suns vs Spurs: Focus, Paint, Refs and "our" Frenchman

2008-04-18T23:57:00.007-07:00

The great statistical analysis at 82games.com will confirm tha the Suns are the better team on offense: shooting .552 to .504 and passing the ball as 65 percent of the Suns baskets are assisted to the Spurs 58%.
Steve Kerr has identified his won five keys to beating the Spurs on Suns.com.

Scout Inc. broke down the series on ESPN.com as the Suns won the Season series 3-1 for the first time in five years.

Even on their side of the story on MySA.com, The Spurs are worried by Shaq.

Everyone agrees this will be an intense series with lots of close game. There will be blood indeed.

With the Playoffs beginning on Saturday in Texas I believe the Suns-Spurs Series will come down to four key factors

1. Stay focused.

Never lose sight of the situation. Never try to win the game with one single player. Never give up on defense. Never stop running. Never. It's got to be 100 percent every second of every game.

2. Control the Paint.

Suns need to have control of the painted area and the boards. It means no second chances for the Spurs and trying to keep Ginobili and Parker from driving to the hoop. It all starts from their initiatives. That was reason no.1 why Shaq came to the Suns.

3. Have decent officiating.

Refs need to prevent the Spurs from making this series Royal Rumble II. It's the playoffs and everything, but it's still basketball. The last time I checked the game had not yet made special rules for the occasions. San Antonio loves fighting even more than playing basketball. The Suns are the best basketball team. Let's just hope that game will be played.

4. Boris Diaw needs to step up.

Our Frenchman can change the series. He's a great defender and an unstoppable combination of passing, shooting, inside and ouside game, but he needs to put energy and will on the court. Leave everything you have on that court, Boris!

Spurs have eliminated the Suns three of the last four Playoffs but this time will be different. I think the Suns can beat the Spurs this time. 4-2 Suns in the series.

GO SUNS !

Suns vs Spurs. Next

2008-04-16T22:42:00.003-07:00

So, after 82 games (55-27) of the regular season, it’ll be the Spurs again starting this weekend in Texas. We haven't forgotten.

Go Suns !

Today we're all Sonics Fans

2008-04-16T12:45:00.003-07:00

SAVE OUR SONICS

Save this great franchise from moving to Oklahoma City.

Do something, take action ! It's not too late. Write your NBA owner, post on your blog, let them know they're making a terrible mistake.

That move is "ripping" a great basketball town and the Seattle fans who supported their Sonics for 40 years. By the way, I can't see any long-term economic sense either.

Keep the Sonics in Seattle as today, we're all Sonics Fans.

Go Sonics !

The Envelope Please

2008-04-13T05:00:00.007-07:00

It's time to hand out some silverware to the best in the 2007/2008 NBA season.

MVP - Kevin Garnett (Boston)
Each time Kobe, CP3, Garnett, STAT and Co. go to the line these days the crowds start the inevitable "MVP MVP" chants. To me the MVP has to be the best player on the best team. There could be a case for both Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant but KG changed the franchise beyond the numbers. Case closed

Coach of the Year - Byron Scott (New Orleans)
Made a great team from a bunch of talented player. A close runner-up has to be the Rockets' Adelman for his great job without Yao Ming.

Rookie of the Year - Kevin Durant (Seattle)
Played in a low-pressure, just play and have fun, environment but did very well in his first NBA season.

Most Improved Player
Either Rajon Rondo (Boston) or Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies...I would say Gay in a close one.

Best sixth man
This is a real non sense award. No awards, please. I am not really willing to hand out an award to any member of the Spurs, anyway.

Suns MVP - Stoudemire put up great stats but did not really improved his game. Steve Nash is still my MVP. By the way, Steve got over 40% of the votes in the recent Sons of Steve Nash poll ;-)

Go Suns !

The expected April decline of Steve Nash

2008-04-13T04:45:00.004-07:00

I am a bit worried by the last few games played by Steve Nash.

He looked tired and I am afraid his back is starting once again to feel the pressure of playing 35 minutes each night.

The long discussed inability of the Suns coaching staff to develop a decent back up to Nash is taking its toll, as usual in April. Just check his Split Stats on ESPN.

Nash is averaging 13.2 points, 11 assists and shooting a season low 35 percent from the field. This decline in production has already happened in 2005-06 and 2004-05 and that means 3 of Nash 4 seasons with the Suns.

With the Suns more or less locked in 6th place in the West, why not rest Nash for a week?

Go Suns !

"The baddest 36-year-old ever created"

2008-04-09T23:16:00.005-07:00

"I played through everything," O'Neal said. "I told them that if they play me single coverage, let me make them pay. I'm still the baddest 36-year-old ever created."

The Shaq (AP Photo/Eric Gay) after the Suns 96-79 win in San Antonio on ESPN.com

The man is a genius.

Go Suns !

Who would you like to play in the Playoffs?

2008-04-09T09:42:00.001-07:00

Since the Suns clinched a playoffs spot with last night’s - otherwise meaningless - win in Memphis we can probably start thinking about Playoffs matchups in the Western Conference.

All the debate about the Suns final place in the standings has to do with home court advantage and above all who's gonna be "our" first round opponents. It’s all about first round opponents, really, since the real disaster, not only for the Suns, would be losing so early in the Playoffs.

The Suns are currently 6th in the West and would face the Lakers. Fifth place could mean facing the Jazz in round one. Those seem the two most probable combinations at the moment. Do you like those matchups? Not at all as the Suns are a combined 2-5 against Utah and LA.

It wouldn’t be any better if the Suns had to face say New Orleans, San Antonio and given last Sunday’s game Dallas.

Of the Suns’ 28 wins vs the West, 18 came against non playoffs teams. The Suns are 8-14 vs Western Playoffs teams.

I like the Suns’ chances against Houston and Denver, but everyone would love to play those two teams in the first rounds since the Rockets will be without Yao and the Nuggets without any form of defense.

If only the Suns could play the Clippers or the Kings.

Go Suns !

Nash: The Monthly Invoicing

2008-04-01T02:49:00.004-07:00

Somehow, during this season, I got the idea that Nash was having a so-so season, possibly not in line with expectations nor with his previous performance as the Suns PG. I decided to have a look at the numbers.

Steve Nash season so far looks like this: GP 73 MPG 34.7 PPG 17.2 APG 11.2 TO 3.70 3P% 0.48 while his Suns career stats are MPG 35 PPG 17.6 APG 11.2 TO 3.6 3P% 0.45.

Nash is in line with his past performance and shooting the best of his career from 3-point range. So, could you please bring back those MVP MVP chants?

Here's a statistical recap of Steve Nash's performance, on a monthly basis.

November (too many turnovers, but a great moth)

GP 16, MPG 34.3, PPG 19.5, APG 10.9, TO 4.2, 3P% 0.50

December (great passing month)
GP 15, MPG 34.5, PPG 13.9, APG 14, TO 2.8, 3P% 0.40

January (another excellent month)
GP 15, MPG 33.7, PPG 18.6, APG 10.5, TO 4.3, 3P% 0.49

February (too many turnovers in the toughest month of the season for the Suns)
GP 11, MPG 36.4, PPG 17.7, APG 10.3, TO 4.6, 3P% 0.43

March (adjusting to the Shaq era)
GP 16, MPG 35.3, PPG 17.5, APG 9.8, TO 3, 3P% 0.56

In case you wonder, here are Nash's stats in the post Shaq era: GP 21, MPG 35.2, PPG 17.5, APG 9.6, TO 3.1, 3P% 0.52

So, Steve is playing is usual great game. There's not much talk lately about Nash since everyone is focusing on Shaq and Stoudemire. Only dangerous sign is playing time, I'd rather se Nash play under 34 minutes a game trying to rest him a little before the playoffs, since the Suns failed once again to develop a back up PG.

Go Suns !

Upon Further Review or Hurting Myself again.

2008-03-28T09:30:00.003-07:00

Instead of going out to dinner with friends I decided to spend last night at home, in front of the TV, hurting myself, watching the last two Suns games one more time. So I took the laptop on my knees and started re-watching the games in Detroit and Boston. Here’s what I think I saw in no particular order.

Wait a minute! Arron Afflalo (correct? Double R, Double F) is in the starting five for the Pistons. He was drafted a few picks later than Alando Tucker who as of today has played the grand total of FIVE games so far. Why can’t we ever play a rookie, why? Trade all draft picks from here to eternity, maybe the Mavs could give us Dirk Nowitzki if we just pack all first rounders until 2020.

D’Antoni is starting the game on a 2-3 zone defense. Am I watching the right game? I think I saw Amaré coming from the weak side to provide help on defense. Twice! He even seems to care a bit more about what’s going on.

Whit Shaq on the court the Suns are actually a better (forget our initial fears) fastbreak team since they can trust Shaq under the boards and the other four players can just fly quickly to the other side. Yet the Suns are a totally different team from the one that opened the season. Different players, different attitude, different plays, different everything and they’re depending more and more on Nash; without Steve at QB the Suns can’t play offense at all now.

Did you notice nobody seems to miss Marion or is it just me?

I had not realized how good a defender Grant Hill can be. With Nash, Shaq and Hill on the court the Suns have by far the highest basketball IQ on the planet. It should have happened 4 years ago.
Shaq can give the Suns 20 minutes (no more) of high quality basketball each night, despite being in the best shape of the last 2-3 years, another great job by the Suns training staff.

The Suns have completely stopped playing the pick and roll between Nash and Shaq which they tried often in the first four games of the Era of the Big Cactus. Wow, how about trying to defend a pick and roll between Diaw and Nash with Steve actually setting the pick and getting open for a three…lovely. (It happened with 5:50 left in the second of the Detroit game).

I don’t like Gordan Giricek.

Do you recall the last time the Suns had a little help from the officials? C’mon ref, that’s an offensive foul

Leandro Barbosa is definitely overrated, as much as I love the guy he’s still very far from being a complete basketball player, he’s the best at coming off the bench, shooting and running as fast as he can, but he’s far from getting the inner details of this game. Don’t get me wrong, I like Leandrinho, Beep Beep !

These days Stoudemire vs Garnett is the best match-up in the NBA to watch, possibly even better than Lebron vs Kobe. KG (I know we should have made that deal) can change a team like no other player in the NBA. I love that guy, he’s the best overall player in the game right now, no one can give you so much on BOTH sides of the court. Garnett has to be League’s MVP. Kobe, Lebron, Paul, are all great players, possibly with superior talent, but he’s the MVP. (all photos by AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

And finally, give us the playoffs, I am getting tired of the regular season.

Go Suns !

State of the West

2008-03-24T00:59:00.007-07:00

While it's quite clear the Eastern Conference Champions will be eventually chosen between Cleveland, Boston and Detroit (I like the Pistons), in the West everything is possible. With less then a month left in the regular season here's what could happen on this side of the moon.

Lakers (48-22) Gasol and Bynum will come back in time for the playoffs, the schedule looks promising with 8 games at home (9 if you count the road game with the Clippers) in the remaining 12. Expect LA to hold on first place in the Pac 5 and the Conference.

New Orleans (47-21) 4-6 over the last 10 on the road could mean trouble as the Hornets will play mostly out of the Big Easy including visits to Cleveland, Boston, Toronto, Orlando, The Lakers and Dallas. Division lead in jeopardy but I think they'll be able to hold on and retain the second overall record in the Conference.

Houston (47-23) That 20-something win streak was amazing but how long can Tracy McGrady and Luis Scola carry this team without Yao remains to be seen. Houston will only play teams within the Conference and mostly on the road, but some of those foes are easy ones (Clippers, Sonics, Kings twice each). Make the playoffs but end up third in the Southwest.

San Antonio (47-23) The "hated" Spurs are starting to get into playoffs mode: tight (dirty) defense, clutch plays, the usual amazing play from Manu and more or less just ugly wins. A tough stretch in the schedule with Houston, Golden State, Utah, Portland and Phoenix in 10 days. 2nd in the division is where they'll end. They'll be there to the end as usual.

Utah (46-25) 7 home games left and since you can't beat this guys in Salt Lake City (30-4) it's good news for them; although you won't find a tougher final stretch of the year (San Antonio, New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Houston and the Spurs again). Easly win the Northwest and should have a couple of rounds with home-court advantage in the post season.

Dallas (44-26) along with the Suns this is the most interesting team to watch since the whole season has been an emotional roller coaster, and the ride is far from over over since Jason Kidd is still looking for his place, Marc Cuban is still unsure about Coach Johnson's leadership and skills, Josh Howard has lost some of his early season form and above all Dirk could be out for a few weeks. The schedule is so-so, not bad but not too easy as this team needs to find answers now. The Mavs could well win the League or miss the playoffs (Cuban won't stand still in the latter case).

Golden State (43-26) still running at full speed, making each game a tactical mess. Monta Ellis has become one of the best guards in the League and with Davis and Jackson it's never easy to face Nellie's band. The Warriors are trying to hold off Denver for the last playoffs place in the West. The schedule is not easy early on but the end the season with 4-of-5 at home. They'll play the Nuggets twice and those games could mean a lot. I still think they'll make it as the 8th seeded team.

Denver (42-28) the Nuggets are a very good team but a victim of the tough Western Conference. I think they won't reach the playoffs despite the great recent play of Melo and Iverson but they still have a chance and have destiny in their hands (as they say) since they'll play Dallas once, Phoenix and Golden State twice. I don't think they'll make it.

And finally, your Phoenix Suns (47-22). The Suns are finding a new balance, defense has been better, if not good, lately and after a few difficult games Phoenix is again shooting the ball very well. A seven game winning streak is there to prove it. With 13 games to go I expect the Suns to win 9 and possibly lose 4 (Detroit, Boston, Denver and San Antonio all on the road). A 56-26 record should be good for a top four seed and a chance to play at least one at home in the playoffs. Second place in the Division and third in the Conference is what will happen.

And then...I'll just sit down, root for the Suns, and watch. Each team in the West (maybe except the Nuggets should they make it) is very capable of winning it all.

Go Suns !

Watch out Spielberg !

2008-03-22T03:31:00.003-07:00

According to The Arizona Republic Steve Nash sees filmmaking in his future as he already started his cousin.

Check some of his magic on You Tube. That's some director's talent.

I am sure Steve will one day become the greatest film producer in the industry.

Go Suns !

The consequences of trade

2008-03-18T14:23:00.003-07:00

A recent Sons of Steve Nash poll, among others, came to the conclusion that the Lakers made the best deal available by trading Paul Gasol for nothing. A real no-brainer. I wish Steve Kerr had asked them first.

The move was clearly much better, from LA point of view at least, than any other Western Conference trade.

But speaking of trades it was interesting to read some nice considerations on pre and post trade team performances in the Moderatly Celebral Bias Blog. A bit strange to hear that after 10-12 games teams more or less failed to show any significant form of improvement. Very interesting, indeed.

This also is a nice occasion to judge the Suns, comparing the pre and post Shaq era. On the always great Bright Side of the Sun I just realized that so far the Diesel-powered Suns actually improved scoring (by a short margin .6 PPG), allowed almost 2 points more, rebounded better while winning percentage actually declined.

The next 5-6 games will be a better judge, after the trip Northwest the Suns will play Houston, Detroit and Boston.

Still not sure what to think about the Shaq trade, anyway.

My heart likes it (Shaq is a great presence, a charismatic man and still can play), my brain still hates it (Shaq is slow, old and is basically ruining the Suns' system).

Go Suns !

Are the Suns willing to play defense?

2008-03-09T04:45:00.006-07:00

The Suns defense is awful. We all know that, but I am still not sure of the reason.

The Suns players are individually very poor defenders with the possible exceptions of Bell and Strawberry. Stoudemire is big, athletic but doesn’t have a clue on defense, Hill doesn’t have the size to guard a forward in the League, and so on.

Well documented are Nash’s defensive limitations, i.e. check this very interesting post from the Empty the Bench blog, while "of course" I don't agree with the fact that Nash is overrated.

I actually believe Nash is not that bad one vs. one, at least in trying to drive his opponents where help should be coming. Steve (and more or less everyone else on the Suns team) is lost when opponents start spreading the basketball, playing the passing game and setting consecutive picks.

Did you notice how many open shots Suns’ opponents can take in a game?

The departure of Shawn Marion means the Suns are suffering on the perimeter. Check the stats of the small forwards the Suns faced recently: Anthony scored 30, Gay 36, Iguodala 32, Jamison (playing at SF most of the night) 28 as Raja often has to guard the opponents' small forwards. Raja (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens) is a very good defender on guards but he’s not big enough to guard much bigger players.

The Suns play possibly the worst pick-and-roll defense in the League. Often opponents play pick-and-roll (even the NBA teams not calling Salt Lake City home), most of the time that’s the play they call to start their offense, with a combination of PG and C (or PF). Against the Suns it means the 2 worst defenders on the team, Nash and Stoudemire, come into action. Shaq is not any better as a pick-and-roll defender.

So the Suns need a good defender at small forward…Marion? Right, back then we needed a big presence in the middle. It can't be solved, I am afraid.

Playing defense is so far away from the Suns state of mind that even if they enter the play with a decent attitude, they just fail to play defense for 24 seconds. They often look more or less lost.

So the question is, can a team of poor individual defenders become a decent defensive team? I think it is possible as it’s mostly a matter of will, attitude, good coaching and work ethic. Let’s just hope it can be feasible in a couple of months.

Go Suns !

The Schedule is against the Suns

2008-03-09T04:43:00.000-07:00

Entering today’s game against the Spurs, the Suns (40-22) will have exactly 20 games left in the 2007-08 season.
Of those 20 games Phoenix will have 16 vs. the West and the four games against the East will be played on the road in Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Of those 20 games, 13 will be against teams with winning records.
Before the end of the regular season Phoenix will play 2 vs. the Spurs, 2 vs. the Nuggets, 2 vs. Golden State, 2 vs. Houston. You got it.

It’s time to get worried as the Suns are SERIOUSLY in danger of missing the playoffs or eventually enter the post season with the Conference 7th or 8th seed.

Go Suns !

The STAT project

2008-02-25T06:55:00.003-07:00

I can see clearly now.

The Western Conference is getting tougher with each passing day and the Suns need to stay focused and perform sooner than later or could find themselves seeded 4th or 5th in the Playoffs which could be the perfect situation for disaster. How about a first round match up with Dallas or Houston without home court advantage.

Now I understand. The Suns’ moves of the past weeks were not panic driven nor Steve Kerr is dealing with the team with the sense of urgency we believed.

They are indeed rebuilding: around Stoudemire, I understand.

Steve Nash will be gone in a couple of years, Coach D’Antoni much earlier (I am afraid) and the Suns better have a plan to avoid a long way down. So, enter the Big Cactus.

Amaré is not ready to lead the Suns right now, he needed a mentor, a role model on and off the court, a Master he can look at for guidance.

Stoudemire is the only Suns really having great benefit from playing alongside the Big Man. “Before we even get started, Amaré Stoudemire is the best big man in the game right now,” O’Neal said. “I didn’t know he was this good”.

I may sound a bit negative but I guess that’s what watching the whole 48 minutes of the Sunday’s Pistons-Suns game can do for your.

Go Suns !

On trading: Shaq, Kidd and Gasol.

2008-02-20T10:12:00.006-07:00

The recent trades of Paul Gasol to the Lakers, Jason Kidd to the Mavs and of course Shaq to the Suns changed three of the best teams in the Conference.

But did they really change the Western Conference Geography? Quite frankly, they did not.

The Mavs, the Lakers and the Suns had to be considered serious contenders even before making those moves but I belive each trade has to be analysed from a different perspective.

Possibily only the Lakers improved without question. LA traded more or less nothing for one of the best forward in the game and once Bynum comes back they should have the core of a potential championship team in the making (don't forget you need three good-to-great players to win the League...unless one is named Jordan).

We know by now that Shaq to the Suns is both a chemistry and a panic move: Marion had to go to improve life inside the Suns' lockeroom and the GM (and the Owner) were getting worried about the Suns inability to beat the best teams in the Conference.

The Mavs Kidd-napping was guided by the desperate need to find leadership. Dallas knew JT and Dirk would not be able to provide the kind of guide needed during a championship run, that Kidd could deliver. Otherwise you don't trade away a very good 24-year-old PG and a couple of draft picks for a player (an All-Star I have to admit) 10 years older.

Of the three, the most intriguing move is the Suns getting the Diesel. I am still not 100% convinced about the trade, as I would have rather traded Marion for, say, Gasol, but tonight game will sure be interesting to watch.

Shaq making his Suns debut against the Lakers, vs Kobe, on ESPN. This is a lucky league, or maybe have the greatesr PR Department in the World.

Go Suns !

Diesel-powered Suns

2008-02-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Would you really put diesel fuel in a race car? That’s what happened to the Suns who traded the fastest forward in the game, one known as The Matrix, for the biggest (and possibly the slowest) center in the NBA.

There are potentially at least two different points of view to look at the trade, both I think come down to the three men in charge: Robert Sarver, Steve Kerr, and Mike D’Antoni.

Sarver and Kerr believe the Suns’ style of play won’t take them to the championship and are desperate to fix it in order to give the Suns a chance to win it all within a year or two, or the time Steve Nash will play in Phoenix.
When the GM and the Owner believe there’s something wrong in the team’s style of play it means the coach is more or less done. Don’t be surprised if, unless the Suns win the championship this year, Mike D’Antoni will be coaching somewhere else next season.
Mike has always preferred a system that didn’t include a classic big static center, now he’s got exactly that.

"If it works, I'm a genius," Kerr said. "If it doesn't, I'm a moron, I guess."

Mike D’Antoni has realized the Suns won’t be able to compete with the best teams in the League (5-9 vs the Western Conference playoffs teams so far this season), especially in the playoffs, simply by running full court. So bring on Shaq and his post presence on both end of the court. The other four Suns can run at will anyway. Shaq could create a lot of difficulties for Duncan, Bynum and co. and could create a very interesting match up for Stoudemire. How many teams have a mobile 7-footer to guard STAT at power forward?

I think Marion wll be missed a lot, especially on defense, since he was by far the best defender on the team and the only player capable of effectively guarding anyone from a shooting guard to a power forward.

Shaq could also bring stability and leadership to the locker room and could help Amaré become a real dominant center in a couple of years, one on which to build the future of the franchise.
That could well be the case and would have a lot more to do with the intangibles Shaq can bring to the Suns than with his real on court contribution. I guess that’s why Shaq got such a huge ovation last night when was introduced at the US Airways Center.

I am planning to order a Shaq # 32 replica jersey any day now.

The trade sounds a lot like a panic-driven move, and Steve Kerr has declared last night the Suns are planning to add another player to their roster over the next couple of weeks. I don’t know who could be leaving (Diaw maybe? Draft picks?) nor coming. Maybe another surprise?

Go Suns ! Go Shaq !

Shaq to Phoenix for Marion and Banks?

2008-02-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

It sounds like a joke to me, but actually it seems it could be true, pending a Shaq physical.

For as much as I respect and admire Shaq, a great player in his prime and a very intelligent man, it doesn't make much sense to me. I know the Suns are willing to get rid of Banks' contract...but that's way too much.

The Suns would be trading Marion, 29, their best defender for Shaq, 35 going on 36, slow and basically injuried more often than not.

While a Marion for Kirilenko deal (not to mention anything bringing KG to the Valley) could have made sense, I am sorry, this one does not. Even a Marion for Gasol would have been a much better trade.

Phoenix would get a 20-minute a night player who can defend and rebound. Stoudemire will be moved to Power Forward and Boris Diaw would play a lot more.

I can't see how coach D'Antoni could agree with the move. Unless there's something we don't know, Shaq in a Suns uniform means that there's indeed a strong difference of opinion between the Coach and the GM. That trade would mean Steve Kerr is the guy in charge and that Coach D'Antoni could be out sooner than later.

Go Suns !

Next ten games could be the key for the future

2008-02-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Suns have the best record in the West after beating the Bobcats on Monday night at 34-14 (.708), they're 8-2 over the last 10 games.

Phoenix is 20-2 (yeah, you got it right, 20 wins in 22 games) against Eastern Conference teams, only 14-12 vs. the West but what's making most of Suns fans worried is the 5-8 record against teams with winning records in the Conference.

Right now, any playoffs matchup, would mean trouble for the Suns. If the regular season ended today Phoenix would play Golden State. Not sure I like the idea.

The Suns' February schedule is the perfect test to check the real value of this team: over the next ten games the Suns will play 7 at home and play 8 games against teams with winning records. Anything less then 7-3 would be disappointing.

Phoenix will face some of the League's best: New Orleans (Feb. 6th), Golden State (Feb. 13th), Dallas (Feb. 14th), The Lakers (Feb. 20th), Boston (Feb. 22nd), Detroit (Feb. 24th) and the Hornets again (Feb. 27th).

Go Suns !

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

2008-01-22T02:56:00.000-07:00

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 !

Will the real Diaw please stand up?

2008-01-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

A collection of the headlines (just click on the link if you're interested in the complete stories) from The Arizona Republic dealing with our number 3, Monsieur Boris Diaw (Photo AFP) since the start of the season.

- Diaw: Big game "nothing special" (Arizona Republic, Jan. 13th, 2008)

- Diaw's struggles puzzle D'Antoni (Arizona Republic, Dec. 28th, 2007)

- D'Antoni turns up heat on Diaw (Arizona Republic, Dec. 13th, 2007)

- Diaw's selflessness may irk fans but not D'Antoni (Arizona Republic, Nov. 25th, 2007)

- Diaw's selflessness an asset (Arizona Republic, Nov. 24th, 2007)

From this simple selection you pretty much get the idea. Diaw is very talented, has the potential (Je crois) to become a dominant player in this League. Boris has a point guard mind in a power forward frame, not a bad combination to begin with and he should thrive in the Suns' system built on speed, passing and shooting. He's the prototypical NBA modern player: quick, string, tall, good shooter, great passer...

But Diaw is currently averaging 7.2 points and shooting .426 from the field his worst total - so far - as a Sun. His career stats so far:

03-04 Atlanta 25.3 MPG 4.5 PPG 4.5 RPG 2.4 APG
04-05 Atlanta 18.2 MPG 4.8 PPG 2.6 RPG 2.3 APG
04-05 Phoenix 35.5 MPG 13.3 PPG 6.9 RPG 6.2 APG
05-06 Phoenix 31.1 MPG 9.7 PPG 4.3 RPG 4.8 APG
06-07 Phoenix 35.5 MPG 7.2 PPG 4.2 RPG 3.5 APG

In other words, over the last 2 and 1/2 years Diaw's performance has worsened as minutes, points, rebounds and assists have been going down.

When this kind of high-potential player doesn't perform at the expected level everyone start thinking about a lack of motivation. Diaw 's struggles have been the Suns biggest mystery so far, one that coach D'Antoni need to solve as Diaw will eventually be one of the key to the Suns' success in the playoffs.

Any idea? Right now I think:

Boris, like Amaré and all the Suns big men, is missing Iavaroni.

Boris needs to find certainties (i.e. a stable position) on the court.

Boris needs to find some fire back. He's a nice man, with a positive attitude and a French upbringing (in other words not your typical NBA player). Boris lists good food, photography, animals and good wines among the things he likes in his borisdiaw.com Mes Gouts section. I hope Diaw hasn't lost his desire to compete in a struggling period.

Go Boris ! Suns Nation Needs You.

Go Suns !

Suns top the West: Un-happy at 23-9 ?

2008-01-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Coach D'Antoni (AP Photo/Paul Connors) opening training camp last October reaffirmed that the Suns needed to "enjoy the journey".

"It can't be, 'This is all a disaster if we don't win the championship', "You don't enjoy the journey that way and I think we didn't enjoy the journey enough last year", said the Coach to ESPN.com Marc Stein on Oct. 12th, 2007.

At the start of the season it was quite clear that the Suns would have won a lot of games in the regular season but as almost everyone knew, this is a team built to win it all. Anything less than a trip to the Finals will be considered a failure.

Now, in early January, with about one third of the season gone, the Suns have the best record in the West (23-9 on Jan. 4th) but more or less seem one of the unhappiest team in the NBA. Somewhat I think I agree with Marv Albert on that (check the broadcast of the Sonics game last night on TNT)

The Suns have been somewhat inconsistent this year, from game to game and sometime within one single game: on and off; scoring 35 one quarter and then 15 the next.

They have played with a lack of energy, mostly on defense, on various occasions (that e.g. costed loss in Atlanta and Minnesota.)

The Suns have also been outrebounded almost every night. Stoudemire have been fantastic on offense, awful on defense, more or less the same with Steve Nash.

Defense has been poor as the Suns won most of their games just by running over worse teams - those being almost 25 teams in the NBA. Phoenix defense was nothing special last year too, it's no big surprise, but it's very important the Suns put a lot of energy on both side of the floor as playing the lanes on defense is the key to scoring in transition.

Despite all of this, the Suns have won over 70% of their game and are in perfect position to enter the playoffs with the best record (and home court advantage) in the Conference.

So, Why is (almost) everyone so unhappy with the Suns right now?

Were we really expecting to be 32-0 at this point? Of course not.

I think the lack of enthusiasm has a lot to do with just a handful of games, those against the teams the Suns will be playing to win the West next spring: Dallas, San Antonio and the LA Lakers (and maybe to a lesser extent Golden State, New Orleans, Houston and Utah).

Against those big three the Suns are just 1-3, with two painful losses vs. the Lakers (booed at home in the opener and defeated on Christmas). The only win came in San Antonio facing the Spurs without Tony Parker and with Tim Duncan just back from missing a few games with injury.

On those occasions I think we more or less felt a little shiver-down-the-back as we saw a Suns team unable to solve last year's problems: playing against teams with talent and athleticism and defending the inside.

You get the idea, it's more fear, than lack of enthusiasm.

The fear that comes with the idea the Suns have only a 2-year-opportunity to win the championship with their current core of players; the fear that comes with the belief that, if possible, this year will be even tougher.

Go Suns !

Would you trade Stoudemire for Garnett now?

2007-12-29T02:46:00.000-07:00

During the offseason talks of the past Summer most of us discussed about a possible trade bringing Kevin Garnett to Phoenix.

Before KG being dealt to Boston on July 31st for a bunch of more or less promising young players - and a lifetime beer supply from Danny Ainge to old pal Kevin McHale - the Suns made a real attempt to bring him to the Valley.

More or less, from what we know now, the Suns were offering, in a three-team deal, Shawn Marion and some draft picks for Garnett while Minnesota was asking for Stoudemire.

Steve Kerr basically refused to include one of the best young center in the League, STAT, in any talk with the Timberwolves. Most of us, included myself on this same blog, agreed with Kerr's point of view.

Now, after two months of the season I am not so sure anymore.

Kevin Garnett (6-11, 31-year-old) 18.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, +26.56 EFF

KG has changed the face of the Celtics. Garnett plays all-out every night, he's shooting well (.545) and playing the best defense in the league. NBA MVP so far this season.

Amaré Stoudemire (6-10, 25-year-old) 21.5 PPG, 8.70 RPG, 1.2 APG, +24.89 EFF

STAT is playing one of the best, if not the best, season of his career on offense (shooting .584) while showing all his well-known limits on defense.

It all come down to this I believe: STAT means future (5-7 more years at this level) and offense while KG means present and a better overall game. Since Steve Nash is 33, Grant Hill is 35 , Shawn Marion is 29, the best chance the Suns have to win it all is NOW (this and possibly next season).

If I had a choice now I would trade STAT for KG. I feel Steve Kerr would do the same....now. But that's just speculation.

Go Suns !

Merry Christmas to the Suns Nation !

2007-12-24T03:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Santa,

all I am asking you for Christmas is a nice win on Chirstmas Day on National TV (Abc, 3 PM) against Kobe and the Lakers.

Thanks

Yours truly, Steve Fan

Believers or Doubters

2007-12-24T02:45:00.000-07:00

Five Reasons to Believe

1. The Suns are 19-8 (11-4 on the road) and have the second best record in the West.
2. Grant Hill is actually better than everyone thought (16 ppg and 4.6 rpg), looks young and has started all 27 games.
3. Amaré is shooting .567, a career high so far.
4. Nash is leading the league with 12.4 assists per game (another career high so far).
5. Brian Skinner can play (12 minutes per game, .560 shooting).

Five Reasons to Doubt

1. The Suns have been inconsistent (especially on defense) often. During the same game we've seen good spans and awful periods. They are 3-4 over the last two weeks.
2. The Suns have been outrebounded badly the whole season: totals so far 1,261 for the opponents - 1,099 for Phoenix.
3. The Suns lost everytime they failed to score 100 points. Suns defense is not gonna win games anytime soon.
4. Amaré looks bad on defense too often, how many times have you seen Stoudemire defending with his arms down or being late in rotations?
5. Players development. D.J. has appeared in six games, Tucker in three and both too often failed to appear in games, even with the Suns up by 20 while Marcus Banks is not the needed back up to Steve Nash, at least that's what the coaching staff believes. His positive performance during the pre-season is long forgotten.

Go Suns!

What's going on in Dallas?

2007-12-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

At 17-7, writing after the loss in New Orleans, the Suns now head to Texas to face the two best team in the West (not calling Arizona home): San Antonio (18-5) and Dallas (16-9).

While the Spurs are playing well, despite Tim Duncan missing a few games (he's back...don't worry), one of the toughest question in the NBA right now is what's going on in Dallas?

It's such an interesting issue (check the excellent Mavsblog on the Dallas Morning News), even for non-Mavs fans, because it's a perfect example of the thin equilibrium NBA teams are living on, day in and day out, as the key is both technical and psychological.

The Mavs are very good at home (10-2) not so good on the road (6-7) but look like a team in search of its soul on most nights.

Compare it to what they have in San Antonio. The Spurs know where they are, trust their skills, know what to do, who should get the ball when it matters; a classic case of winners' confidence.

The Mavs have possibly the best roster in the NBA and for sure some of the game's most talented players: Nowitzki, Howard, Terry, Harris plus some very good players off bench in Stackhouse, Bass, Diop, Barea. Only the Suns' top six players could match the Mavs talent wise.

They have an excellent coaching staff too, led by one the game's brightest young coach, and an Owner ready to pay what's needed to win.

Yet, despite this they are still looking for certainties. I believe it all comes down to Confidence and Collective Intelligence.

On a basketball court it means that you're expecting the best (a win) in every game because you know the TEAM can find solutions that a single player wouldn't be able to create (unless he's MJ...but that's a different story). It means that a team can actually perform better than the sum of its single players.

Good attitude and good coaching can create some form of collective intelligence and the Mavs have both (like the Suns) but only winning can actually generate optimism and self-confidence and I believe Dallas has not recovered yet from last year's awful loss to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs and - above all - the terrible loss (up 2-0 in the series with game three in control) to the Heat in the NBA Finals the year before. It won't be easy to get over those.

Imagine how the Mavs will feel when they start the playoffs next spring. The whole season will be a process of self-confidence building and I think Avery Johnson is primarily working on this side of his team. He needs a self-confident Nowitzki, above all.

While the Suns haven't experienced a "dramatic" loss, the way a first round exit is when you're supposed to win it all, Phoenix will somewhat experience the same kind of mental pressure in the Playoffs.

The next couple of games in San Antonio and Dallas should be very interesting.

Go Suns !

Are the Suns actually playing good defense?

2007-12-09T02:28:00.000-07:00

The 5-game Eastern road trip ended with an unpredictable loss to the Timberwolves but still remained a success with Phoenix winning four (of five) and scoring at least 115 in each of those games. The Suns actually put 122 on the Wizards, 136 on the Raptors, 121 on the Pacers and only 115 on the Knicks. With last night exception against the T-Wolves the Suns have been the better team on the court every game.

Phoenix is 16-4, third highest total in the League behind the Spurs and the Celtics, and is basically winning games because the Suns are outplaying their opponents: Nash & Co. are running faster, passing the ball around and shooting better....sounds easy eh!?

The Suns are shooting an excellent .497 from the field (.373 from 3-point and .786 on FT), their opponents just .462 .361 .708.
The Suns are dishing an amazing 27.9 assists per game, seven more than their foes, not to mention more steals (8.2 vs 7.1), less turnovers (14.1 vs 15.8) and more blocked shots (5.5 vs 3.8) per game.

Are the Suns just better than their challengers or is there a case for the Suns defense as well? Not sure, when the Suns are able to impose their high-speed rhythm to the games they become effective in chasing the ball, getting deflections (a big key in Coach D'Antoni's system) and thus generating fastbreaks and points off turnovers: that's the key to the Suns defense.

The only apparent weakness being the rebounds as the Suns have been out-STATed 45.8 to 41.9. But that deficit on the boards has actually been the results of a few bad games:

54-34 vs LA Lakers
56-40 vs Atlanta
47-34 vs Houston
55-33 vs Minnesota

The Suns lost every time they scored less then 100 points this season (0-4) and on three of those they have been outrebounded badly.

The next few games should be very interesting to check where the Suns are now. After playing Miami (4-15) on Monday Phoenix has the biggest challenge of the season so far with games in New Orleans (13-7), San Antonio (17-3) and Dallas (13-8). Those two games in Texas should be very interesting to watch.

One quick note. I hadn't realized how much Steve Nash had improved his shooting over the years until I read this great (as usual) post on The Painted Area.

Finally, before leaving, remember to Ask Raja on YouTube !

Go Suns!

PG-SG Combo Power Ranking

2007-12-03T02:48:00.000-07:00

Last night's game against the Magic showed how great Steve Nash and Raja Bell are as a PG-SG combination. So while I was watching the game I thought about where would I rank them in a ideal PG-SG (power) ranking.
I have tried to rank the ten best starting PG-SG combination right now. Starting (right now) means no Parker-Ginobili as long as Manu comes off the bench and no Gilbert Arenas or Mike Bibby as only active players have been taken into consideration. I have indeed included LeBron as he's just day-to-day.

Here's my PG-SG Combo Power Ranking. Each player is followed by his current avg. in points, rebounds and assists. (PPG, RPG, APG - NO DECIMALS). Stats as of Sunday, December 2nd, 2007.

1. Detroit - C. Billups (16, 2, 7), R. Hamilton (16, 3, 4)

2. Dallas - D. Harris (15, 3, 5), J. Terry (17, 2, 3)

3. Milwaukee - M. Williams (14, 3, 7), M. Redd (23, 5, 3)

4. Chicago - K. Heinrich (10, 2, 5), B. Gordon (19, 4, 2)

5. New Jersey - J. Kidd (11, 8, 10), V. Carter (18, 5, 4)

6. LA Lakers - K. Bryant (27, 6, 4), D. Fisher (11, 2, 3)

7. Golden State - M. Ellis (16, 3, 2) B. Davis (23, 5, 8)

8. Cleveland - D. Gibson (12, 2, 3), L. James (30, 7, 8)

9. Phoenix - S. Nash (18, 3, 11), R. Bell (10, 3, 2). Great Combination of defense, playmaking and shooting...if you could combine the offensive side of Nash with the defensive side of Bell you would make the greatest guard to ever play the game

10. Miami - J. Williams (9, 2, 5), D. Wade (19, 3, 4)

11. Charlotte - J. Richardson (17, 5, 2), R. Felton (16, 3, 7)
12. Houston - T. McGrady (25, 5, 5), R. Alston (8, 3, 4)

13. New York - S. Marbury (14, 2, 5), J. Crawford (16, 2, 4)
14. Denver - A. Iverson (23, 3, 7), A. Carter (7, 3, 5)

15. Utah - R. Brewer (13, 2, 2), D. Williams (19, 3, 8)

16. San Antonio - T. Parker (20, 3, 7), M. Finley (7, 2, 1). With Manu Ginobili (19, 4, 4) starting the Spurs' duo would be in the top five.

17. Indiana - M. Dunleavy (16, 5, 2), J. Tinsley (14, 4, 8)

18. New Orleans - C. Paul (19, 4, 10), M. Peterson (9, 3, 1)

19. Boston - R. Rondo (8, 3, 5), R. Allen (20, 4, 3)

20. Toronto - J. Calderon (9, 2, 7) or TJ Ford (13, 2, 7) and A. Parker (11, 4, 1)

21. Seattle - K. Durant (19, 4, 2), D West (7, 2, 3) or Watson (7, 2, 6).
22. Memphis - D. Staudamire (7, 2, 4), M. Miller (14, 7, 3)

23. LA Clippers - C. Maggette (20, 6, 2), B. Knight (4, 1, 4). Not much better if you count S. Cassell (13, 2, 4) at PG

24. Atlanta - A. Johnson (4, 2, 3), J. Johnson (22, 3, 5)

25. Philadelphia - A. Miller (14, 4, 4), W. Green (11, 3, 2)

26. Orlando - J. Nelson (12, 4, 5), K. Bogans (9, 4, 1)

27. Portland - S. Blake (5, 2, 5), B. Roy (16, 3, 4)

28. Sacramento - B. Udrich (14, 3, 4) K. Martin (24, 5, 2)

29. Minnesota - S. Telfair (9, 2, 4), C. Brewer (4, 2, 1). Not much better with Marko Jaric in the line-up.

30. Washington - A. Daniels (7, 3, 4), D. Stevenson (7, 3, 2).They're missing G. Arenas (22, 4, 5) a lot.

Go Suns !

Sorry Marbury! You're not welcome anymore

2007-11-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-11-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-11-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

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 !

2007-11-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-07T04:02:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-11-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-01T03:17:00.000-07:00

"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 !!!

How the West will be won...or Western Conference Preview

2007-10-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

The pro sports world is not what it used to be: Massachusetts and Indiana used to be Basketball States, while Texas has always been Football Country. Now, Indianapolis and New England are winning Superbowls, while Texas has possibly the best three teams (not calling Phoenix home) in the NBA...not to mention that they are not supposed to be playing baseball in Colorado in October.

The Western Conference is So Damn Good that the 7th or 8th best team would be good enough to win the East. Just put the Lakers or the Nuggets out there and see. The big question in the Conference is that there are at least 4 teams with a real chance of winning it all, those being the Texas Trio and yours Suns and 3-4 more with a chance of being very competitive in Golden State, Denver, Utah and Kobe's bunch.

Anyway, here's a quick roundup and some predictions: Division Champs and other divisional notes

Northwest: Utah. The Jazz are good, possibly not that good to repeat last year playoffs' run but with a core of Deron Williams, Kirilienko and Boozer they'll contend. Denver is also a very interesting team and a full season of A.I. and Melo playing together could make the difference as they'll give the Jazz a tough run for the division title. Don't forget they won 16 of their last 22 regular season games last year. The big rebuilding projects up in the Northwest will have to wait a couple more years, the loss of Greg Oden will slow the Blazers' development process while the Sonics will ride Kevin Durant and his huge talent and build from there. Don't expect much this season anyway. Hey ! what are the Boston Celtics doing here? no...wait a minute they're the Timberwolves now. Minnesota has talent but they won't go anywhere for 2-3 more years, the key will be to see if coach Wittman can develop a "real" team and create a consistent improvement plan that could make them contenders in a few seasons.

Pacific: Suns. The Suns are so much better than the rest of the division they'll literally run away with it. I'll deal with the Suns in depth in a few days but let's just say they have everything: best point guard in the game, great coach, talent everywhere. The rest of the division is not even close. I expect a surprise season by the Warriors riding their great playoffs' run of last season. They have talent (Ellis, Davis, Belinelli, Jackson) and leadership on the floor (Davis again) to reach the playoffs. The Clippers are a good team but will have their best player (Elton Brand) out until at least February; plenty of good and talented players in the backcourt and a star in the making in Livingston won't be enough to contend. The Lakers are Kobe's team, period. He's so good that could make them a playoff team on any given year especially with a good supporting cast like he has now: Fisher will answer last year's biggest headache at the point while Walton and Bynum should keep getting better. I have to mention the Kings, just for the sake of it. Sacramento is not going anywhere and will win some games because Bibby, Martin and Artest are good players.

Southwest: Dallas. This is Texas, baby. Nothing comes easy and you better be ready to shoot! The Mavs on an 82-game season are better then San Antonio and Houston but to win the Division Dirk and the Cubans (they could sign for next season of American Idol as a pop band) will have to forget the Golden State series and got back to what they can do on any given night. The Mavs have possible the best starting five (Harris, Terry, Howard, MVP Nowitzki, Dampier) in the League and are good on both side of the ball. The Spurs are the reigning NBA Champions and they bring back everyone. They're well coached and know how to win games, when it counts, with the best center in the game (Tim Duncan) and Finals MVP Tony Parker at the PG.

Houston is very intriguing and could challenge the Mavs and the Spurs for the title. Scola will be a great addition but the key will be their health; if McGrady and Yao are fine the whole year they could be very very dangerous. They carry one of the best frontline in the League. Coach Adelman is very consistent, so keep a close eye on the Rockets this year. New Orleans could flirt with .500 record this time and will try to ride one the best young PG in the game to have a shot at the post season. Memphis has a few good players and could improve as I expect a very good job by new coach (former Suns' assistant) Mike Iavaroni. I am sure he'll make Paul Gasol a real All-Star.

So, after all...here's what's going to happen:

Playoff Teams: Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Utah, Denver, Golden State, Lakers

Best Team: Suns in a close call over the Mavs.

Worst Team: I expect Portland to have the worst record in the League comes April. Now imagine they get next season first pick...and get Mayo to play with Oden in 2008/09. Could get a real challenge by the Kings especially of Artest or Bibby get traded to a contender during the season.

Western Conference MVP: Steve Nash. Who else? This could be the year Yao Ming makes a run ath MVP. If he stays healthy and the Rockets win 60-something games, you never know.

Western Conference Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant. His biggest competitor is out for the year. He'll put up huge numbers on a losing efforts most nights.

Western Conference Champs: I expect the Suns to win the West. They're ready. They were just a flagrant foul and a stupid suspension from winning it all last year.

Go Suns !

The West is the best, but the East is getting better....or Eastern Conference Preview

2007-10-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

The East is getting better. Some teams are actually improving in the Eastern Conference. I am not predicting a team from the right side of the map will win the title anytime soon, but they're actually getting better, at least some of them. Here's a quick roundup and some predictions:

Division Champs and other divisional notes

Atlantic: New Jersey. I still think they'll be better day in and day out than Boston and Toronto unless of course they trade Jason Kidd sometime before in February. Of course, Boston has the Big Three and nothing else (but it could be enough to win a playoff series or two) while the Raptors have a very good team in the making, possibly a year or two away from title contention. The Knicks should be very interesting to watch as they have two of the best post-up players in the League in Curry and Randolph and a point guard who's not gonna give them the ball, the one and only Coney Island's Finest, aka Marbury. Philadelphia will have to settle for a few highlights from the jumping Iguodala.

Central: Chicago. This is a very good team with talent (a lot), balance and depth. They could reach the Finals and should win the toughest division in the East. Of course Detroit will be very good (but not great) and Cleveland is still all about LeBron which could prove once again to be enough to reach the Finals; but it won't happen this time. Milwaukee has some talent (i.e. Michael Redd) but too many question marks to contend, including the big Chinese project. Indiana has a very good point guard - center combination (Tinsley and O'Neil) that could even be enough to make the post season in the East but in order to do that a few other players need to raise their games and Tinsley needs to show up every night at his best.

Southeast: Miami. Still like the Heat (Wade has no match in the Conference) better than Charlotte and the Magic, both teams should be much better anyway. Orlando could be good with Howard and new signing Lewis (very good player but definetely overpaid) . The Bobcats lost May for the year before playing a game and that will cost them a chance at the Division; they could be solid anyway. The Wizards have one of the best players in the game, Gilbert Arenas, but basically nothing else is up to the challenge of trying to win the Division.

So, after all...here's what's going to happen:

Playoff Teams: New Jersey, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando.

Best Team: Chicago. They'll be good, very very good.

Worst Team: Atlanta. They're so consistent in tha dept. I don't feel like going against the odds. They had a very good draft and should improve from last year anyway. They could get a serious challenge by the Sixers this year.

Eastern Conference MVP: Kevin Garnett. He'll score, rebounds and plays in Boston. Should get more votes than LeBron. He's a great player and trade to the East has made him the best player in the Conference.

Eastern Conference Rookie of the East: Al Horford, Atlanta

Celtics record (I think it's worth mentioning since everyone is talking green now): Boston was 24-58 last year but comparing that team with the 2007/08 edition is meaningless. Everyone's new in town. Boston should win 50 games behind the big three.

Eastern Conference Champs: The Chicago Bulls will eventually gain the right to lose to the best team in the West. We all know who we're talking about, aren't we?

Whatever, the West is still (by far) the best..

Go Suns !

Looking for Fantasy Owners

2007-10-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Someone out there on Planet Orange willing to play Fantasy basketball? Here it is !
I have just created an NBA Fantasy Basketball League on Yahoo! You don't need to be a Suns fan but it could actually help ;-)
The League is called Sons of Steve Nash Fantabasket ID 104261 it's a classic 12 team head to head league, just to have some fun. Password is "steve" if you're interested.
I'll just have to check if there's a way in the Commish tools to block any KG trade.

Go Suns !

Listen to Paul Coro's Suns preview on AzSportsHub.com

2007-10-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

This time of the year we all start making predictions for the new season as tip off is just a couple of weeks away. Previewing the Suns' 2007/08 season will be somewhat easy: they're good, actually very good, possibly the best team in the League but the Suns season will be judged entirely by the 2008 Playoffs. That's it. Reach the Finals: great year, fail to do so: bad year...yes, is that simple.

Of course how the season ends will be the key, but as coach D'Antoni said recentely to ESPN's Marc Stein it's important the Suns actually enjoy the journey, which is possible even more important than reaching your destination. Thinking about a long journey is often more fun than actually reaching the dreamed destination.

To start enjoying the journey there's nothing better than hear the best Phoenix Sports Journalist, tha Arizona Republic Paul Coro, talk about the 2007/08 Suns. The great interview is avalibale at AzSportsHub.com, aka Arizona's Destination for Sports.

Go Suns !

Have you ever heard of PER?

2007-10-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Basketball has been well behind other sports in the field of stats analysis despite the facts that the game has a long history of score keeping. It's very easy to score points, rebounds and so on, what is very tough, almost impossible I should say, is try to judge players' performance indipendently by their teams.
In other word, the goal is trying to isolate a player's performance from its context and get an advantage from possible market inefficiencies as they say, or in other words things nobody else actually know but you. That's Moneyball ! which by the way is a wonderful book by Michael Lewis.
From Bill James to Billy Beane this has become (more or less) a "common" practice in baseball with quite a few ball clubs actually getting full advantage of it while it's quite new in the NBA. The first club really into it are the Houston Rockets, who named Daryl Morey as their GM. Morey was/is a computer science/stats expert and an MIT alumni...not your everyday former player getting to the upper floor.

Speaking of analytical approach to the game, ESPN insider and basketball analyst John Hollinger has come up, a few years ago, with this PER index. It was discussed in the Pro Basketball Forecast, an excellent publication from a few years ago. I think the last available was about the 2005/06 season.
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating of a player's per-minute productivity and measure with plenty of statistical adjustments. Now the always analytical Hollinger has come up with predictions about the upcoming season.

Yao Ming, Wade and LeBron are 1-2-3 in the rankings while the first Sun is Amaré Stoudemire at no. 12. Steve Nash will be the 3rd best PER point guard in the game and 19th overall.
Of course we all know he's by far the best in the League and makes everyone around him so much better...that's what Steve's stats will never get.
I guess it's no surprise that almost every basketball analyst on the net is predicting the Rockets to win the West.

By the way, Suns beat Kings, 110-99 in the first game of the preseason. A convincing meaningless win.

Go Suns !

Preseason opens tonight at Sacramento

2007-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 7.00 PM the Phoenix Suns will finally play an almost REAL game of basketball against the Kings in Sacramento. It's just a little preseason exhibition game but finally it'll be a real game !
The game will be available for free on NBA League Pass.
The Suns will of course be without Amaré, who's getting well quickly and could be ready by opening day, which would be great news. Since Brian Skinner will be out as well our questions about the Suns' big men won't be answered anytime soon.

Enjoy the first game of the year !

Go Suns !

Respect ?! Come on Marion !

2007-09-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

According to various - reliable - sources Shawn Marion has officially requested a trade from the Suns. "It's time to move on" he declared to the Republic.

It's always about respect, never about money and the Suns refusing to talk about a contract extension is only part of the problem.

Marion wants some respect? How about "respecting" a contract paying some 16 million $$$ a year for a couplemore seasons on one the best franchise in the league?
Why should the Suns extend contract that has TWO more years to go? Why? because at 31 Marion could test the free agent market? come on, get serious.

"I'm tired of hearing my name in trade rumors", Hello ! It's pro basketball. Marion's name had been made in connection with a possible KG trade, unless you're counting Utah trying to get rid of Kirilenko as real trade talk, which I don't.
What's wrong with the Suns trying to trade Marion to another team to get a better player? KG is a better player than Marion. What a surprise, Shawn...it's not about respect.

If a player wants out I believe a team should trade him, but not at any cost. Only fair value should do it.

I love Marion, he gives 100 percent every nigth, plays great defense, can run and he's a very good overall player. Wanna try to win a championship in Phoenix? you're welcome !
Tired of Phoenix? Enjoy L.A. or better yet, have some fun in Utah.

Whatever, Go Suns !

it's 38 days, 10 hours, 15 minutes and counting

2007-09-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

I am tired of waiting, can't stand any more surfing the net looking for news, any news "that's fit to print" as the say at the NY Times. I need games ! but I might settle for training camp or anything that includes someone in a Suns uniform shooting a basketball; I even miss the Summer League.
With this feeling, by far, the most useful site on the web is the Fox Sports Suns Site featuring a nice clock counting down time to the next game...it's 38 days, 10 hours, 21 minutes and 20 seconds until tip off with the Sonics.

The Suns are still looking to sign a big man, while others are actually signing them, just check the NBA transaction notes as Michael Ruffin signed with the Bucks and Elton Brown was grabbed by the Lakers. It seems the Suns will be bring Brian Skinner to camp and it seems a roster spot could be his to lose.

Camp opens in Arizona in a few days and the Suns roster seems basically settled with the inclusion of this year's rookie class as both Tucker and Strawberry should compete for minutes. It could be very interesting to see how Coach D'Antoni will shape players' rotation for the new season...another reason to count the days till opening days.

In the meantime I am trying to get ready for the 2007/08 Fantasy Basketball season. Both Yahoo! and NBA.com have already launched the new season.
Can you believe NBA.com has Gilbert Arenas ranked ahead of Steve Nash at PG and Barbosa ranked no. 9 in that department as well? In the overall ranking KG is no. 1 just above our own Shawn Marion at no. 2. As a tradition I'll have the whole Suns starting five on top of my players ranking which will allow me to have at least one Sun on the roster and more often than not ending in the bottom of my league...

Go Suns !

PS it's 38 days, 10 hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds.

Got an e-mail this morning about a Nash interview

2007-09-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

It came from Sport Business Radio blogger Brian and it included a link of a recent Steve Nash Interview recorded in China last week during the Yao-Nash Charity Chinese Trip.
Can't say enough about Steve...I mean I dedicated a blog to him, but it's always a pleasure to hear the man.

The interview of course is focused on the business side of the game, in this case about Steve's humanitarian efforts but also about China, Soccer and so on. Nothing new, but always articulate and funny.

If you're interested just click on the link above and go to 32:46 mark of the show.

Thanks Brian and of course, Go Suns !

Mr. Brown, area code is 602. Just in case...

2007-09-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

Still waiting on P.J. Brown' call to Steve Kerr, the Suns are currently holding auditions, or simply looking around, for that missing big man off the bench. According the the Republic the Suns are evaluating Michael Ruffin, Vitaly Potapenko, Brian Skinner and Elton Brown among others.
Elton Brown (a 6-9 forward) has the best name and possibly the most upside, coming off a nice D-League season (13.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg) has just signed with the Lakers yesterday.
I am not much a fan of Potapenko but he could be the best of the remaining contenders. He's a much more complete player then Ruffin, as he can shoot and play some defense.
Since the Suns are sitting on the Luxury Tax threshold, any signing will mean they'll basically have to pay double the player's salary, I am afraid Steve Kerr could answer P.J.'s call with a "Thanks, we're not interested anymore. Sorry man, good luck in Miami".

One final note. Would you really have traded Marion for Kirilenko? Well, me neither.
The always "up to date" Paul Coro reported that the trade rumor was more than fantasy basketball talk.
I have had a chance to watch AK 47 play at the European Championship last week, actually leading Russia to an impressive upset of Spain (playing at home, by the way) and he has lots of talent and can do a lot of things on the court. He's younger than Marion but other than that he's a worse offensive player and a worse defender. Do I need to say more?

Whatever...strange things could happen on Planet Orange

Go Suns !

A special day in september

2007-09-11T09:47:00.001-07:00

There's always a special day for every fan, possibly second only to Opening Day (which is basically a Sports' Fan Christmas), it's the day preview magazines hit the stands.
That special day over here comes a bit later than in the US, but it's getting closer by the day and each year I am looking forward to see who is on the cover of the regional edition.
This time of the year I start surfing around The Sporting News, Athlon Sport, Street and Smith (that recentely merged with TSN) and so on and finally today I found this. It means we're getting closer !!!

Guess who's on the cover of The Sporting News NBA 2007/08 Preview (Arizona and co. version) ? You got it right ! Our very own.

Go Suns !

Nash is ready to go...Wait a minute. "He's fired up!"

2007-09-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

According to the Republic Steve Nash is not just ready to go...HE'S FIRED UP ! (Thanks to the Republic for this great photo !)

Steve, new Sun Grant Hill and the two rookies - Alando and D.J. - are already working out getting ready for training camp I presume. The fact the three new players on the Suns' roster are having "voluntary" workouts with SN#13 is a strong confirmation this is Steve's team.

The Suns are heading into the new season with great attitude: STAT hasn't missed a chance to tell the World he's looking forward to the season, Grant Hill signed with Phoenix to have a shot at the Title, Steve won't play forever (actually I am not sure gods can retire) and he's fired up indeed. I hope Coach D'Antoni will keep this team positive without burning out their desire too early. You have to play with focus and passion from day one, but we all know the NBA season is more a marathon than a sprint race and the Suns will need 100% of their mental strenght comes May 2008.

Enough with talks and chats. I need some real games....SOON !

Go Suns !

A (No big) News roundup

2007-09-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Desperately trying to get some relevant news on the Suns these days, here's what I came up with. It's a little roundup as there aren't really big news to report, even if just by checking around you start sensing the season is getting near. Once the NFL has kicked off this weekend we should start getting some decent basketball coverage.

In case you didn't already know it: The Suns remains the cream of the Pacific Division. SI.com just gave us a much-needed confirmation.

Amarè, who is probably the Sun who had the busiest on court off-season, is looking forward to the new season (from the Republic). He's coming off from a very good 2007 FIBA Americas where he played his solid part for Team USA.

Leandrinho, off to a mixed feelings FIBA tournament - 21.8 PPG for an unsucesseful Brazil squad - is nontheless eager to start the season. The Republic is full with positives Suns these days.

The Summer of Steve was just great as he played soccer in Central Park, had his traditional Charity game in July and lately we have been informed he's working with Yao Ming helping orphan kids in China. The Man is just awesome. Just keep doin' it Steve.

Boris Diaw (photo above...) is currently playing for France in the European Championship in Spain. France won its first two games and Boris did quite good scoring 10 (vs. Poland) and 9 (vs. Italy) along with a few boards.

The Tournament is much better and much more fun than the FIBA Americas as there are really solid teams with some good NBA talent (Parker, Diaw, Kirilenko, Bargnani, Belinelli, Gasol, Jasikevicius and the great Dirk Nowitzki just to mention a few). All games are close and the quality of basketball is quite high. Check a few games if you have a chance.

The great Al McCoy will be inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA - where it all began - tomorrow receiving the Curt Gowdy Media Award (the equivalent of an Hall of Fame induction for Hoop announcers). SHAZAM ! Always a pleasure to hear you Al !

Finally, if you have HD TV and some schedule flexibility you could check all 82 Suns games on TV in 2007/08. As I don't have any of the above, I am in for a long winter I suppose...

Go Suns !

Book Review. Can I Keep My Jersey?

2007-09-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

A few hours of my recent Summer vacation were spent reading Paul Shirley's latest literary effort "Can I Keep My Jersey? 11 Teams, 5 Countries and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond" (Villard, New York, 16.25$ on Amazon.com)

Basketball has never had the great literature other sports, baseball above all, have experienced. For that reason I am always interested when a Basketball book gets published and seems to be of some relevance or simply interesting, and this is certainly both. One of the world's tallest mechanical engineer became famous as an author writing a very entertaining blog while on the Suns' playoffs roster in 2005.

It is basically a 4-year diary, sometimes it tends to be too much of it actually as it get into the day-by-day details (you know, like...had dinner, got back to the hotel with Mike, went to sleep, woke up, back to the Arena... and so on), but it seems very honest, open and quite frankly very far from your basic "all common place" basketball stars' stuff. I am sure Shirley could have gone much more in depth, but I am afraid he was possibly trying to not sound too rude or making fun of people he'll end up playing with in the future. I mean, the guy's making a living in pro basketball...

The book includes some nice "insider" considerations about life as a pro player, especially one always struggling to make an NBA roster. He played the grand total of 18 games in the NBA, not much one could say...but many more than 5,999,750,000 other people in the world. Great are also the comments on some of today's NBA superstars: as you know most of them don't have a clue on real life...The only drawback of the diary is the constant (too much anyway) complaining about the disadvantages of travelling the World playing hoops. On a more personal note I think I could live with that.

As a Suns fan, you also have to be pleased by the fact that Shirley really loved his days with the Suns and adds some very pleasing comments on Coach D'Antoni, the Suns Organization and on Steve Nash although the funniest part was probably the recall of Shirley's days somewhere in Russia sleeping in creepy hotels, in cold weather along with some funny characters.

Overall I found the book entertaining and a nice read. If you're a basketball fan and like to see how the world look from the eyes of a pro player, I think it's worth reading.

In case you're interested he's currently on the Spanish League's Menorca Basket 2007/08 Roster where last season played 34 games, averaging 13.4 points and 7 rebounds per game. I am afraid he seems to be on IR right know. Get well soon Paul!

I almost forgot...Go Suns !

A really (really) great Steve Nash interview

2007-08-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Every Suns and basketball fan should check this great interview with our own Steve Nash on the Charlie Rose Show. The host did a great job (as usual) and the interview is really great (much better than Steve's shirt...).
It was really Steve at his best, talking about the game, the players and some more.
You're great Steve !

Go Suns !

Summer Vacation !

2007-08-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers, fellow Suns' fans,

it's time for a summer vacation just to re-charge batteries, study some stats and get ready for next season.

I leave you with a picture of two of the greatest players ever to call Arizona home: Steve Nash and DBacks legend Randy Johnson. I found a picture of those guys hanging out together. Thought you might like it.

Go Suns !

On STAT, P.J. and the new Dancers

2007-08-09T01:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of nice comments on the internet today about our own Amaré Stoudemire. Here's a short list:

Today is: Amaré Day on the Bright Side of the Suns,

There's a very nice article on the Republic on STAT. It's great to know he really likes the Phoenix community and lives there in the off-season as well,

Amaré will help opening the new Suns.com Newsroom at U.S. Airways Center later in the day (Aug. 9 at 1.30). Catch it live on KTR 620. It should be interesting as Coach D'Antoni will be there as well.

Still waiting on P.J. Brown's answer to the Suns proposal. Let's hope P.J. will play for the Suns next year. He should be really helpful in the Suns' quest for the Championship. He's a great defensive player, a solid pro and possibly one of the best options at guarding Tim Duncan and co.

Finally, the news everyone was waiting for: the Suns unveiled the new Suns Dancers squad for the 20007-08 season. You can check it at Suns.com

Go Suns !

The 2007-08 schedule is out ! Suns play on Christmas Day

2007-08-03T01:04:00.000-07:00

The 2007-08 NBA schedule was finally released yesterday. It's always a great day when the schedule for the new season is released, it's just so full of anticipation and excitement. Check it yourself on the Suns homepage.
The Suns will open the season against Kurt Thomas and Kevin Durant in Seattle on Nov. 1st before playing host to the Lakers on opening night in Phoenix (on Nov. 2nd) and the Cavs a couple of days later. It's a very enterteining way to open the season, since the Suns will play Durant, Kobe and Lebron in the first three games before going East for a 4-game road trip.

Here's some of the highlights of the schedule:

Opening game: November 1st at Seattle
Home opener: November 2nd vs the Lakers
First Spurs game: December 17th in S.A.
First (and of course only) KG visit: February 22nd
Final game: April 16th vs Portland
Longest Home stand: 6 games beginning with Atlanta on January 29th
Longest Road trip: 5 games beginning with a visit at MSG on December 2nd
Toughest month: December, the Suns will play 11 road games (out of 15)
Toughest home stand or Happy Valentine's Day: How about the 4-game stand from February 14th to the 24th when the Suns play Dallas, the Lakers, Boston and Detroit
First Steve Nash - Dirk Nowitzki reunion: December 19th in Dallas
Biggest game of the Year (on paper): It has to be that Lakers game on Christmas day on National TV. It's better to have an early lunch thius year, tip off is at 3.00 PM
One final note: the Suns be better play as well as they did last year on the road since of the last 15 games, 10 will be on the road.

There's one more great reason to wait for Christmas this year. By the way, start counting...it's 89 days to opening day.

Go Suns !

So KG is a Celtic...Can we have our schedule now?

2007-08-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

NBA 2007-08 schedule was supposed to be released today, but since David Stern knows when to "use a good news" - and he needs some "real" game news lately - the schedule will be relaesed later in the week. That's because there was a big news to report already. In a League where trade talks remain "just talks" most of the time an All-star going to one of the oldest and most prestigious franchise -not to mention one the country's biggest media market - is definetly a "Big Ticket" news.

As you all know by now, Kevin Garnett is a Celtic and a good guess is that his no. 5 jersey will be the top seller in the League comes November.
On the Celtics website you're greeted by a smiling KG under the words "Now we have the Big Ticket ... click here for Celtics tickets". They know their marketing up in the Northeast.

The move put Boston back on the basketball map: with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and KG they are possibly the, favourite to win the Atlantic with a real chance of fighting the Bulls, the Pistons and the Cavs for a place in the Finals.
Not to mention that basketball BUZZ is back in Beantown. I am sure the Commish loves this move.

The Timberwolves acquired forwards Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes, guard Sebastian Telfair and center Theo Ratliff, along with two first-round draft picks and cash considerations from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Garnett. They'll try to rebuild around Jefferson, Green, Foye and their top pick from this year's Draft, Corey Brewer. All things considered, I can't see how someone could even think this being an even trade. Minnesota got a couple of prospects and not much more for one of the best five players in the NBA. If I had just renewed my T-Wolves season ticket I think I'll ask for some money back!

Of all the comments I read over the last 24 hours, I think Marc Stein got it perfectly in his latest ESPN.com column blaming it on Minnesota owner Glen Taylor. Almost everyone (laugh with Bill Simmons about it "The tale of two Kevin" on ESPN Page two) agrees this was one of Kevin McHale greatest plays in an already great Celtics career!

To Suns fans this causes mixed feelings: we'll never see KG running the field along Steve Nash in a Suns uniform (that the bad part of it) nor we'll see him play with Kobe Bryant in a Lakers shirt (that's the good part). Above all I like the fact that he's going East.

In other Suns news, former Suns’ guard Jay Humphries has been named as an assistant coach and you can read his first one on one interview on Suns.com. He seems like a nice basketball man and I am sure he'll be of great help to Coach D'Antoni trying to replace Marc Iavaroni.

One last note...if you don't mind nice girls dancing on a basketball court yelling "Go Suns" you should check the official audition video for 2007-08 Suns Dancers.

All this said...Dear Mr. Stern, could we please have our 2007-08 schedule?

Go Suns !

Just a few notes (once again) and get well Raja !

2007-07-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Not much to report over the last few days. It's Summer, it's hot, people is on vacation...it's the off-season in full bloom. Anyway, here's some little things I found on the net.

Raja Bell had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee a couple of days ago. As usual the surgery went well and he's expected back soon in 4-6 weeks. That means he'll be ready when the season starts. Good News as Bell has become a real key to this Suns team. Have a great recovery Raja !

STAT played well (or practiced well I should say as it was an intra-squad game) for Team USA that is seeking qualification for next Summer Olympics in China. Team USA will play again at the end of August in the real tournament.

There's a little controversy going on between the Suns and the French Basketball Federation over Boris Diaw playing at the European Championships next month in Spain. Of course the problem is insurance to protect the Suns from any injury Boris might experience while playing for Les Blues. In a similar case last year, if I remember it right Dirk Nowitzki ended up paying for his own insurance to play in the Worlds.

Not much more to report, it's just golfing season so I found a nice POLL on the Arizona Republic asking its readers "Which Valley coach would you most like to share a round of golf with?" of course Coach D'Antoni is leading with 45% of the preferences and leading by a wide margin over the Great One at just 25%. I guess the poll started from a nice story from Dan Bickley a few days before about Coach D playing a round of golf with new Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt.

That's all folks. It's about time a make a run at the fridge for a cold one.

Go Suns !

The Summer of Steve

2007-07-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

Just a few notes on this hot Summer week starting with a lovely interview of Steve Nash on ESPN.com.
Among the things Steve said to Marc Stein the most interesting were:
"I think [Hill] does make us better, but we've still got a lot of work to do on the court"
"I think we can keep getting smarter"
"I love Kevin. I'd love to play with him [someday]. But I love my team, so I don't really think about it" and my favourite: "I feel great right now".
Overall, he sounded ready to go again and very positive about the upcoming season.
Check the video part of the interview as well, as Steve talks about the Spurs, the suspensions and his good friend Dirk Nowitzki.
Over the last few weeks Nash opened a new Health Club in Vancouver and played his annual Charity Classic game which brought us some "refreshing" news in the wake of the recent betting scandal and proved he's a sort of divinity in Canada.

A very funny note. The Late Show with Dave Letterman last night presented a Top Ten Signs a Referee is Fixing Games. At number 9: When talking about the Spurs, he says "we". You can check it yourself on the Late Show website.

Just in case...auditions for the 2007-08 Suns dancer will be held in Phoenix this coming Saturday. You have just 24 hours to get in shape and start dancing ! Hey, it's Summer, have some fun !

Go Suns !

Basketball sense vs Economic sense

2007-07-25T05:03:00.000-07:00

Basketball sense vs Economic sense or in other words:
(a) is it correct to trade Kurt Thomas to save some money against the luxury tax ?
(b) is it correct to trade a first round pick for 3 million $ ?
As fans, quite frankly, I feel we shouldn't care too much about the net operating profit of an already very rich man who happens to own OUR NBA franchise. Our Suns are actually owned by someone else who has all the right in the world to make decisions based on his return. I don't wanna sound too much pathetic on that but that's the point.

All we need to care is that if you have a chance to make a run at the Championship, you have to, even if that means you'll have to pay out 8 million $ in luxury tax or risk paying 3 million $ over a couple of years to a first rounder that could end up playing 5 minutes a game.
The Suns are right now a perfect example of that situation as they have a great nucleus of players that seems so close to winning it all that every move could prove to be decisive unless of course the ownership is already thinking long term? Personally I would make a run, give it a try! But you have to understand that it could mean a few years like those suffered by the post MJ Bulls...after 2 or 3 years with losing records you inevitably start lo lose money.

The balance between the Game and the Economics of the game is what pro sport is all about. Unless you're the New York Yankees, today's GMs have to - above all - manage payrolls, salary cap, luxury tax, contract extensions, etc. so that "real" basketball people can try - under those conditions - to assemble the best possible team.

The Suns have some very good players (Amare, Marion, Leandro, Boris) and a great one (Steve Nash) that should have 2, hopefully 3, great years left in him. Possibly the perfect mix to win a championship during the next couple of years. All the winning teams in the NBA have had at least 2 great players, a few good ones and some role players like the '99 Spurs (Robinson and Duncan), the '00-'02 Lakers (Kobe and Shaq) or the '06 Heat (Wade and Shaq). Not to mention the '07 Spurs...with Duncan, Ginobili, Parker and Donaghy.
I feel Amare could become that second GREAT player and so the Suns could win it all without trading for KG or someone like him, but you need to have at least 8 players that can contribute. In that sense, the Grant Hill signing was just perfect and that is why trading Kurt Thomas doesn't make much sense to me, unless it's part of a bigger plan and that 8 million trade exception was needed. We'll have to wait and see which is so much sweeter when you just come off a 61 wins season.

GO SUNS !

Suns trade Kurt Thomas to Seattle

2007-07-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Suns today traded center Kurt Thomas to the Sonics along with the 2008 and 2010 first round pick for basically a potential big saving on luxury tax and/or the 8 million $ trade exception (and a conditional second rounder in 2009).
This could mean two VERY different things: either the Suns are in saving mode, and this is just a way to get back under the luxury tax threshold (that could explain also the trade of the 29th pick in this year's Draft for 3million) or they are trying to have some room to manouvre fro some big trade. Remember you can use the 8million exception only in a trade and only fro one year. I feel like it's just saving, but you never know...in this NBA offseason I think we could still have some big surprise; Ok I have to admit I am still dreaming of KG in a Suns uniform.

Speaking of surprises, ESPN.com reports today that NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation, by tha FBI, for a possible betting scandal on games he officiated. ESPN reports there may be some Mob connections. From bad to worse. If proved correct this could really hurt the game. Once you start to think there's something behind every bad call in a game....there goes most of the fun. Let's hope it's just an isolated case.

Whatever, Go Suns ! (coming in HD on TV next fall)

Just a few notes...and don't forget to Vote for Steve ! Again

2007-07-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

ESPN.com Insider John Hollinger is making a list of winners and losers, so far, in the NBA off season. I am sure we could agree on his pick of the Suns as winners! He has the Suns third on his winners' list, mentioning the signing of Grant Hill and drafting Tucker as good moves. In case you're interested Hollinger has the Rockets and the Bobcats at 1 and 2.

It's time to vote again ! Steve Nash now faces a much tougher contender, LaDainian Tomlinson in round two of the Who's Now ESPN contest. Keep voting for Steve, I am sure we can make it even against the best RB in the NFL. If we can help Steve to the final round, He'll find a way to beat Tiger.

Speaking of Nash, The Steve Nash Charity Classic will be held in Vancouver next Saturday at GM Place. It should be fun and of course it's for a number of good causes as the event will benefit the Steve Nash Foundation. I believe a few Suns will be there. Once again, well done Steve !

Surfing the net I found a very interesting article "The man behind Suns rise" on John MacLeod, former long-time Suns coach in HoopsHype.com. It's a nice read. MacLeod was the Suns' coach in The Greatest Game Ever game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals in Boston.

Go Suns !

Viva Las Vegas !

2007-07-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

The NBA Summer League is over and I have to say it was interesting and I'll miss it. It was definitely much better than last year, probably because the talent level was much higher. I really think the 2007 NBA draft will be one day remembered as one of the greatest ever.

Speaking of the Suns, they ended the summer season with a 84-81 loss to the Timberwolves, you can check the boxscore yourself and see that the Suns played well in the last 3 quarters but did not complete the comeback from a 15 point deficit in the 1st qt. Not much to highlight in terms of single players' performances other than Hale's 19 points in 25 minutes, George's 12 boards and...D.J.'s 10 TO (along with 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 12 points). There's a nice photo gallery on Suns.com

I tried to analyse boxscores and stats and watched some of the games I haven't been able to catch earlier on NBA.com to find positives and negatives from the 2007 Summer Suns. Here's my list:

Marcus Banks played ONE impressive game. It's difficult to get any indication, but what's important is that Marcus showed he's willing to improve and impress the coaches. Way to go Marcus !

Alando Tucker is a solid player, he can run and I think will play comes november (10-15 minutes, maybe). I am a bit worried about his shooting. We knew he was not a high-percentage shooter...but .418 from the field and .182 from 3-point is a bit low. Another area where I believe Doe needs to improve is rebounding (2.4 playing over 32 minutes per game);

D.J. Strawberry was probably the Summer Suns MVP. He played a lot, in part due to Banks' injury and showed he can play. He can play defense (he was drafted on this strenght) and he's a good passer, he's willing to gamble a bit on offense (which I believe is good especially in the summer games). Overall I think he's a much better offensive player than we thought at first;

Otis George should fight for a place on the Suns roster in training camp. He was good for a double double more or less on any given night. He averaged 10.4 points and 9.4 boards per game.

Pape Sow is athletic and can rebound. From what I have seen I don't think it'll be a enough to get a place on the Suns roster.

That's what I noticed from the Vegas games. Enjoy the summer everyone !

Go Suns !

D.J. can play

2007-07-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

I think we are starting to get some (summer) certainties from Vegas and one is that D.J. Strawberry can play and I think has a solid chance to make the roster comes October.

In the Suns 85-89 loss to the Blazers the Straw scored 27 with 8 assists (along with 6 TO to be precise) and had more rebounds than Tucker (ok...that's 2-1 in favour of D.J.).
Speaking of boards I think Tucker could be much better, Alando has just 2.5 rebounds per game in the first 4 summer games while playing over 32 minutes a night. The other Summer Suns starting forward Otis George had 10 last night and is averaging 8.8 per game.

I think rebounding could be a big key, comes training camp, for those hoping to make the Suns roster for next season.

The last game of the Vegas campaign is tonight (Sunday) at 5 PM vs the Hornets. It should be live on NBA TV.

One last note, if you didn't have a chance to listen to Grant Hill introduction press conference, Just Do It ! The man is very entertaining and it's a funny 21 minutes and makes you count the days till Opening Day (it's more or less 150 days just in case)

Go Suns !

Nice win for the Suns

2007-07-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

The third game of the summer league finally gave the Suns a (nice) win, 94-86 over the Hornets.
What I really like about the Summer Suns so far is that we're getting some positive signs from each game: Marcus Banks (in the first game), D.J. Strawberry, Alando Tucker, Otis George and now Ron Hale.

The best things out of yesterday game: Hale scoring 25 points off the bench, D.J. dishing 9 assists, George and Sow getting 8 boards including 4 on offense for Pape. The most satisfying thing to watch I think was the way D.J. plays the game and stays on the field. I think he will be a solid pro someday, although I am not sure it'll be with the Suns. You can read a short interview with the young Strawberry on the Suns homepage.

On the negative side, I would like to underline the poor overall shooting from Tucker and D.J. going a combined 9-33. While you really can't expect much offence from D.J., I think Tucker could do better than that (he's shooting .417 in three summer games so far) even if we already knew he's not a shooter.

Next game later today against the Blazers (10.30 ET) as you all know, We won't be able to take a look at Oden.

On a final note since it's summer and people generally have more time to relax and maybe read some book, I found a nice link on The Painted Area Blog, listing the best 25 basketball books of the last couple of years. It's a nice read itself and possibly could be a nice occasion to pick up one for an upcoming vacation or a weekend at the beach...or maybe, just read the wonderful Jack McCallum's Seven Seconds or Less once more.

Go Summer Suns!

A good day for the Suns

2007-07-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

It was a good day for the Suns as Grant Hill was introduced during a press conference and the rookies played a solid game in the Second summer league game of the year.

You can watch the conference on the official site and see yourself how great Grant looks in a Suns uniform. Hill is sitting next to Steve Kerr and Coach D'Antoni who seems the happiest guy in Arizona right now.

Speaking of the game in Vegas, itwas a 104-101 OT loss to the Sixers. I haven't been able to watch the game but the boxscore and the recap from NBA.com seem to confirm it was an entertaining game and a nice performance from our two draft picks: the Junior Straw, starting in place of Marcus Banks, scored 19 (shooting 8-17) had 7 assists and 3 steals; Tucker had 29 (on 19 shots) and by the way was 8-10 from FT line. The other player who is having a good start to the summer campaign is George: 20 points (8-12 from the field) and 6 rebounds for Otis, not to mention the 10 fouls!

Welcome to the Suns, Grant !

Game notes from Vegas

2007-07-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

The first game of the Summer Suns was a 93-89 loss to the Cavs. I know nobody really cares too much about the outcome of those games but there were some good news from Vegas. Marcus Banks, back at the UNLV gym, scored 42 points (23 in the 4th quarter alone) and shoot 13-19 from the field including 4-5 from 3-point range. I think it's good news, mainly because it means - at least I assume - Marcus is ready to fight for his place in tha rotation and he's taking this Summer league games seriously: a comeback from Banks could be the best move of the off season. I know...it's just ONE summer game, but I feel quite optimistic.
There was also some solid play from Alando Tucker, who was in action for 33 minutes and scored 13 points. Speaking of Alando, there was a very nice story about him in yesterday Republic, describing the young man's battle to stay out of trouble (drugs, gangs...) and become an NBA player. As I wrote before, I think I like the man, I am sure Suns fans will love him.

Next game will be tomorrow against the Summer Sixers at 8PM, Vegas Time. We should be able to catch it live (if you really can't live without basketball in July) on NBA TV.

Go Suns !

In the Summer (League) Time

2007-07-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

I really love Summer League basketball. I know, it's not really great basketball (not even close) and basically everyone tries to score on every play, and there is no foul trouble, no decent team defense...but that's the point. I mean where else could you watch some talented players just having fun and showing their game to get a contract for next season? And then you can see the players, just out of the Draft, for the first time as pro; speaking of which the first games gave us a 10-foul game from Oden, Durant 5 of 17 shooting and Belinelli netting 37 (What a way to start Beli!).

Speaking of the Suns, they open the Vegas season tomorrow, under Coach Weber with the first game on Monday night and a couple of games available on NBA TV. I am really looking forward to see our new Suns in action.
I don't think, other than Marcus Banks, Tucker and D.J., there's a player on the summer roster with a real chance of making it with the Suns for next year. There are 2-3 players who could at least make it to training camp. If I had to pick one I would say Pape Sow probably has the best chance of the bunch: he's athletic, plays forward/center, and if the Suns are able to trade away Kurt Thomas and his salary, he could even find a roster spot. By the way, according to the Suns Summer League Media Guide he speaks "Wolof" (being from Senegal) which you never know might be useful in today's game as you could take trash talk to another level (Naka mu ? i.e. means What's up).
Enjoy the games. In the summertime when the weather is hot...Chh chh-chh, uh Chh chh-chh, uh

Go Suns !

* Vote for Steve Nash ! *

2007-07-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

ESPN is running a Who's Now Survey to determine the Ultimate Sports Star.

Nash is in the Michael Jordan Bracket and is currently going against Serena Williams.
Click here to vote ! Vote Steve ! Vote Now !

Extra ! Extra ! Grant Hill to sign with Phoenix

2007-07-05T10:12:00.001-07:00

According to ESPN.com Grant Hill has agreed to a two-year deal with our beloved Suns !
The Suns of course won't be able to confirm the deal until July 11th, but it seems like it's a deal. It's reported by Paul Coro on the Republic homepage as well.
Hill will add leadership, minutes and points off the bench and great experience which should be of huge help in next year's playoffs.
The deal, if the news on ESPN is correct, is a preatty good one as Chad Ford reports it will be a two-year deal worth 1.8 million $ next year and 2 million in 2008-09. Given the kind of player he is I really believe the price is more than fair.

And all it took was a Steve Kerr phone call !

Go Suns !

Anyone willing to play for a winner here?

2007-07-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

We're entering that part of the off season when the talk is all about free agents. Who's going where, who's moving, who's staying and, above all, who are the Suns going to sign.

Taking a look at the list of free agents on ESPN.com, not counting those the Suns won't afford to sign anyway, there aren't really many good choices around.
Some of them - and I won't mention the top 4-5 players - would be of great help to the Suns: guys like Mo' Peterson, Desmond Mason, Ruben Patterson. None will be signed by the Suns, I am afraid, not after drafting Tucker at forward. I would have loved to have Luke Walton in Phoenix, but that's not going to happen anyway.

There's even some talk of bringing back Allan Houston, well I am sure he would not cost a fortune, I don't know if he'll able to play much either. He was a great shooter, possibly the best in the League, but how difficoult would be to come back after 2 years of inactivity? Could be a steal but I am not sure it's worth the risk anyway.

All the talks has focused on Grant Hill who would be a great fit in the club since he could provide solid play off the bench, experience and, if last year was any indication, 20-25 minutes, at least 10 points (not to mention a couple of assists) every night. I am not sure he will come cheap, but at this stage of his carreer he'll love to play for a winner. Grant Hill will be the Suns' main target this off season. Steve Kerr is already on the phone !

The toughest job will be to find a decent back up at PG. Any decent point guard will cost too much and I am starting to feel Coach D'Antoni will give Marcus Banks another chance, which would be a surprise. I remember seeing Mike D'Antoni play, I have seen him a lot over here back "last century", and he seemed to be making the right decision all the time, he knows a lot about playing that position and I think he has seen enough of Banks.

Back to the draft for a second, I am sure everyone will love "Doe" Tucker. He comes from a tough Chicago neighbourhood and was able to stay away from drugs, gangs and all the tragedy that comes with them. There's a nice article in the East Valley Tribune reprinted in the Suns official site.
He spent 4 years in college and completed his degree. I really hope he'll be able to fit well in a Suns team made of decent men, even before great players. Good Luck Alando. We'll be rooting for you.

Go Suns !