Mr.Bottomtooth
07-07-2008, 12:06 PM
Is the Sun Setting on Phoenix?
by Samuel Bell Jr
If you were one of the people that thought the Phoenix Suns would compete for a NBA Championship last season, in the words of Michael Jackson, "You are not alone."
In the wake of the Shaquille O'Neal experiment, there are many more questions than answers.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
When Phoenix followed the "big trade trend," and brought The Big Cactus in from Miami for Shawn Marion, the first thought that crossed my mind was what happened when the Big Fella arrived in Miami.
Championship.
Besides, the Phoenix Suns could not emerge from the Western conference superpower San Antonio Spurs shadow.
Many people blamed Tim Duncan for that, but huge moments defined many of those series that didn't go the Suns way.
Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw being suspended for leaving the bench in Robert Horry's infamous NHL-like hip check on Steve Nash.
Joe Johnson, then starting SG for the Suns, being injured and nearly losing his eye, and his effectiveness.
This season though, we expected the Suns to get over the hump. We hoped Shaq would stop Tim Duncan and give Phoenix the inside presence they lacked. We wanted Raja Bell to live up to the defensive hype and contain Manu Ginobili.
What happened was an epic Game One in which the Phoenix Suns had won, and fell victim to timely three-point shots by Tim Duncan and Michael Finley. Along with countless slices to the basket by Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Once again, fate slapped Phoenix around like a nerdy third grader and San Antonio were again bullies of everything purple and orange.
Phoenix never recovered, and eventually lost in just five games.
Just like that, the playoffs were again a memory for Phoenix and they again were on the losing side. A year older, but seemingly not a day wiser.
Suddenly, the trade of a 20-something All-Star for a 30-something aging All-Star seemed all wrong. Whether right or wrong, the roll-of-the-dice garnered my respect.
Unfortunately somebody forgot to tell Duncan and the Spurs.
After a NBA Finals where the Eastern conference dominated the West, supposedly when the power was said to have "shifted" and we witnessed a scintillating race for eighth and playoff position in the West, more questions arise.
One being, "Is the sun setting on Phoenix?"
The Suns have been one of the most successful teams of the millennium. Using a patented "run-and-gun" style, PG Steve Nash joined with former head coach Mike D'Antoni to score a lot of points, early and often.
Despite all of the offense and success, the Suns failed to win a championship in the 2000s as I discussed in another Phoenix article. (Check "Addition by Subtraction: Phoenix Suns Say Farewell to Mike D'Antoni)
With all of the changes and issues facing the Suns, can they continue to be an elite team? We can't close the door on their feet yet, but here are three issues that face them next season.
An Aging Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal
When Steve Nash arrived in Phoenix, he wasted no time making them a formidable opponent and improving squad in the West. When Shaquille O'Neal arrived in Phoenix, he wasted no time slowing them down and looking like an aging former All-World center.
He played respectable basketball, averaging 12.9 PPG and 10.6 RPG, but that's a far cry from a career average of 25.2 PPG and 11.5 RPG. Phoenix didn't need him to average 25 per game, but they needed more than 13 and 10. Now a year older, can Shaq play anywhere near 82 games and improve on those numbers?
Furthermore, if he can't who will step in? Drafting Robin Lopez from Stanford may help in the future, but nobody else other than Amare Stoudemire is able to play center.
Amare is a true PF, and we saw what he can do playing there. With Steve Nash 34 and turning 35 during next season, can he sustain the rigors of an 82-game season, and who will relieve him? Leandro Barbosa is the only worthy G who the Suns have to backup Nash, and he's more of a scoring SG.
If the Suns don't get active during the free-agent period, they may find the heat warmer in Phoenix.
Emergence of Other Western Conference Teams
After watching Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tony Parker in the playoffs last season, Steve Nash must be shaking in his Nike socks. Each team made it through the first round, and the Hornets gave the Spurs all they could handle, unlike the Suns.
Phoenix has to wonder, are they falling behind?
Although the Suns won 55 games, just one shy of New Orleans, they didn't look good doing it. Riding into the playoffs on a soft schedule, the Spurs brought them back to Planet Earth. Let's face it, Chris Paul and Deron Williams dominate Steve Nash, and so does Tony Parker.
With the possibility of San Antonio getting a bit younger by signing either Corey Maggette or J.R Smith, and the Hornets and Jazz having relatively young nuclei, the Suns should be biting their fingers in nervousness.
I know Shaq is somewhere planning his next police act for his soon to be post-NBA career. Unfortunately, his rap about Kobe may have Black Mamba rapping to his teammates next season, "Now Shaq, tell me how Bynum's a** tastes!"
Will Amare Stoudemire's Knees Hold Up?
Amare Stoudemire has had knee problems for most of his NBA career. He wants us to believe that his knees are fine, but I'm not sold on it. He has already declined an invitation to the Beijing Olympics to avoid the wear on his knees. He has looked healthy before and then suddenly needed surgery.
Bottom line, I cringe every time Amare hits the floor. I'm sure the Suns coaching staff says prayers and do weird superstitious things like refrain from bringing up the words "Amare" and "knee" in the same sentence. If Stoudemire's knee(s) go bad for any length of the season, Phoenix will need those prayers.
He led the Suns in scoring three of the last four seasons and his versatility is irreplaceable in the Suns' lineup. Without swingman Shawn Marion, who was the only other Sun to lead the team in scoring in the last four seasons, the Suns will have nobody to go to.
It's like when your girlfriend dumps you, and you've let your friends go because of her. Now you're miserable and alone, and calling all of those past friends.
Unfortunately for Phoenix, there's nobody to call. Kevin Johnson or Charles Barkley won't be coming through that front door.
Unless the Suns build a gambling casino.
That wasn't right, Sam.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/35403-is-the-sun-setting-on-phoenix
by Samuel Bell Jr
If you were one of the people that thought the Phoenix Suns would compete for a NBA Championship last season, in the words of Michael Jackson, "You are not alone."
In the wake of the Shaquille O'Neal experiment, there are many more questions than answers.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
When Phoenix followed the "big trade trend," and brought The Big Cactus in from Miami for Shawn Marion, the first thought that crossed my mind was what happened when the Big Fella arrived in Miami.
Championship.
Besides, the Phoenix Suns could not emerge from the Western conference superpower San Antonio Spurs shadow.
Many people blamed Tim Duncan for that, but huge moments defined many of those series that didn't go the Suns way.
Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw being suspended for leaving the bench in Robert Horry's infamous NHL-like hip check on Steve Nash.
Joe Johnson, then starting SG for the Suns, being injured and nearly losing his eye, and his effectiveness.
This season though, we expected the Suns to get over the hump. We hoped Shaq would stop Tim Duncan and give Phoenix the inside presence they lacked. We wanted Raja Bell to live up to the defensive hype and contain Manu Ginobili.
What happened was an epic Game One in which the Phoenix Suns had won, and fell victim to timely three-point shots by Tim Duncan and Michael Finley. Along with countless slices to the basket by Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Once again, fate slapped Phoenix around like a nerdy third grader and San Antonio were again bullies of everything purple and orange.
Phoenix never recovered, and eventually lost in just five games.
Just like that, the playoffs were again a memory for Phoenix and they again were on the losing side. A year older, but seemingly not a day wiser.
Suddenly, the trade of a 20-something All-Star for a 30-something aging All-Star seemed all wrong. Whether right or wrong, the roll-of-the-dice garnered my respect.
Unfortunately somebody forgot to tell Duncan and the Spurs.
After a NBA Finals where the Eastern conference dominated the West, supposedly when the power was said to have "shifted" and we witnessed a scintillating race for eighth and playoff position in the West, more questions arise.
One being, "Is the sun setting on Phoenix?"
The Suns have been one of the most successful teams of the millennium. Using a patented "run-and-gun" style, PG Steve Nash joined with former head coach Mike D'Antoni to score a lot of points, early and often.
Despite all of the offense and success, the Suns failed to win a championship in the 2000s as I discussed in another Phoenix article. (Check "Addition by Subtraction: Phoenix Suns Say Farewell to Mike D'Antoni)
With all of the changes and issues facing the Suns, can they continue to be an elite team? We can't close the door on their feet yet, but here are three issues that face them next season.
An Aging Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal
When Steve Nash arrived in Phoenix, he wasted no time making them a formidable opponent and improving squad in the West. When Shaquille O'Neal arrived in Phoenix, he wasted no time slowing them down and looking like an aging former All-World center.
He played respectable basketball, averaging 12.9 PPG and 10.6 RPG, but that's a far cry from a career average of 25.2 PPG and 11.5 RPG. Phoenix didn't need him to average 25 per game, but they needed more than 13 and 10. Now a year older, can Shaq play anywhere near 82 games and improve on those numbers?
Furthermore, if he can't who will step in? Drafting Robin Lopez from Stanford may help in the future, but nobody else other than Amare Stoudemire is able to play center.
Amare is a true PF, and we saw what he can do playing there. With Steve Nash 34 and turning 35 during next season, can he sustain the rigors of an 82-game season, and who will relieve him? Leandro Barbosa is the only worthy G who the Suns have to backup Nash, and he's more of a scoring SG.
If the Suns don't get active during the free-agent period, they may find the heat warmer in Phoenix.
Emergence of Other Western Conference Teams
After watching Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tony Parker in the playoffs last season, Steve Nash must be shaking in his Nike socks. Each team made it through the first round, and the Hornets gave the Spurs all they could handle, unlike the Suns.
Phoenix has to wonder, are they falling behind?
Although the Suns won 55 games, just one shy of New Orleans, they didn't look good doing it. Riding into the playoffs on a soft schedule, the Spurs brought them back to Planet Earth. Let's face it, Chris Paul and Deron Williams dominate Steve Nash, and so does Tony Parker.
With the possibility of San Antonio getting a bit younger by signing either Corey Maggette or J.R Smith, and the Hornets and Jazz having relatively young nuclei, the Suns should be biting their fingers in nervousness.
I know Shaq is somewhere planning his next police act for his soon to be post-NBA career. Unfortunately, his rap about Kobe may have Black Mamba rapping to his teammates next season, "Now Shaq, tell me how Bynum's a** tastes!"
Will Amare Stoudemire's Knees Hold Up?
Amare Stoudemire has had knee problems for most of his NBA career. He wants us to believe that his knees are fine, but I'm not sold on it. He has already declined an invitation to the Beijing Olympics to avoid the wear on his knees. He has looked healthy before and then suddenly needed surgery.
Bottom line, I cringe every time Amare hits the floor. I'm sure the Suns coaching staff says prayers and do weird superstitious things like refrain from bringing up the words "Amare" and "knee" in the same sentence. If Stoudemire's knee(s) go bad for any length of the season, Phoenix will need those prayers.
He led the Suns in scoring three of the last four seasons and his versatility is irreplaceable in the Suns' lineup. Without swingman Shawn Marion, who was the only other Sun to lead the team in scoring in the last four seasons, the Suns will have nobody to go to.
It's like when your girlfriend dumps you, and you've let your friends go because of her. Now you're miserable and alone, and calling all of those past friends.
Unfortunately for Phoenix, there's nobody to call. Kevin Johnson or Charles Barkley won't be coming through that front door.
Unless the Suns build a gambling casino.
That wasn't right, Sam.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/35403-is-the-sun-setting-on-phoenix