Which Suns team was the best?

[Johnny RIngo]

If you had watched the series, which I doubt you did, you'd know that there was nothing the Suns could have done. Truth be told, there was nothing any team could have done. Even in the Knicks series when Jordan went for 30's per game, tempo played a large role in his overall PPG.

In the '96 Finals Payton held Jordan to 26.5 ppg on 39% shooting(games 3-6). Jordan shot 29 ppg on 41% shooting overall against the Sonics(games 1-6).

Seems like Payton and the Sonics did a much better job guarding Jordan then KJ and the Suns.

And, AGAIN, when you bring up regular season, remember that the Suns were without KJ for 30+ games (2nd-leading scorer, assists leader) and Dumas (3rd-leading scorer and sixth man). I don't care to check because I've already done enough of your research for you, but I'd be willing to bet that one or the pair missed at least one of those Seattle games.

Actually, KJ and Dumas only missed one of the reg season games against the Sonics(Suns won that one). Suns lost three of the remaining four with KJ and Dumas in their lineup.

[Obstructed_View]

The suns went down 0-2 to the Lakers that year and Barkley guaranteed they were going to win three straight. They did. That Lakers team was loaded with experienced players, so it's not surprising to me that they didn't go down without a fight.

[Obstructed_View]

In the '96 Finals Payton held Jordan to 26.5 ppg on 39% shooting(games 3-6). Jordan shot 29 ppg on 41% shooting overall against the Sonics(games 1-6).

Seems like Payton and the Sonics did a much better job guarding Jordan then KJ and the Suns.

Gary Payton was as good a defender as there ever was in the NBA. That Jordan did what he did against him speaks volumes. Comparing his defense to Dan Majerle's is ridiculous. That Suns team wasn't known for defense anyway. They lived by the three that entire year. Appropriate that they died by it in the Finals.

[JMarkJohns]

Gary Payton was as good a defender as there ever was in the NBA. That Jordan did what he did against him speaks volumes. Comparing his defense to Dan Majerle's is ridiculous. That Suns team wasn't known for defense anyway. They lived by the three that entire year. Appropriate that they died by it in the Finals.

And it was three years later. The 2nd-retirement Jordan was much more of a jump-shooter than the previous version. Not saying Jordan relied entirely upon his midrange jumper/fadeaways, but 91-92 and 92-93 was the absolute prime years for Jordan. It was the intersection of his physical prime and skills crossed. While his skills always improved from then on, the returning Jordan wasn't nearly the same athlete the leaving Jordan was.

[SpursDynasty]

The 2004-2005 Suns without a doubt were the best version. Amare was a monster back then. IMO that was their best chance of getting. Since then they're whiny b****es.

[mavs>spurs2]

The 2004-2005 Suns without a doubt were the best version. Amare was a monster back then. IMO that was their best chance of getting. Since then they're whiny b****es.

Hey I actually agree with this guy