Phoenix Suns
2008-09 Record: 46-36
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Steve Nash
SG- Jason Richardson
SF- Grant Hill
PF- Channing Frye
C- Amare Stoudemire
Key Reserves: Leandro Barbosa, Earl Clark, Jared Dudley, Louis Amundson, Goran Dragic, Robin Lopez
Biggest Strength: Nash and Amare
These two guys are still really good. I have never been the biggest fans of either but I recognize their ability to produce. So long as they are both healthy they are good enough to carry this team to the 8th spot considering there is less competition for the spot with Houston losing Yao.
Biggest Weakness: Depth
Look at their reserves! I mean we all know Barbosa can score points off the bench. I am confident Lopez can defend and rebound. Earl Clark is talented but still rookie with questions about his heart. Their bench looks pretty piss poor. Any injuries and this team is done. Their bench is the reason they won’t make the playoffs. They need guys to step up.
Biggest Question: How many titles would they have won if they weren’t cheap?
The Suns have a habit of selling draft picks and letting their own players walk. It’s actually quite insane how good they could be right now. In 2004, they traded their 1st round pick instead of selecting Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala or Al Jefferson. In 2005, they did the same, passing over Jason Maxiell and Nate Robinson. 2004? Rajon Rondo. 2007? Rudy Fernandez. They also let most of their free agents walk, most notably Joe Johnson, who they traded for picks they could trade away and Boris Diaw. So how would the Suns look if they spent money like the Knicks?
PG- Steve Nash
SG – Joe Johnson
SF – Andre Iguodala
PF – Jason Maxiell
C- Amare Stoudemire
Key Reserves: Leandro Barbosa, Rajon Rondo, Rudy Fernandez, Earl Clark, Channing Frye, Grant Hill
Hmmmmm…. looks like a title contender to me.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Steve Nash, 2006-07
18.6 ppg, 11.6 apg, 3.5 rpg, 53.2 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 89.9 FT%
The best shooting season ever in my opinion. Only player ever to shoot 53% from the field and 45% from 3. The 90% from the line and 11.6 apg don’t hurt either.
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 3rd place, Pacific division / 9th place, Western conference / 15th place, NBA
With my pick of the Clippers to make the playoffs, one team that most people have in had to fall out. For me, that was the Suns. They are still talented and Steve Nash can still carry them, but I don’t think he can as much as he used to. Stoudemire is great but unreliable and Jason Richardson has never been much of a winner except for 1 year in Golden State. Add to this that their depth is so poor that an injury or two could turn their season into a nightmare.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 2nd place, Pacific division / 8th place, Western conference / 15th place, NBA
Phoenix’s starters are good enough to be the 8th playoff team. But that is their absolute ceiling. Their bench sucks. Two of their key players are aging quickly (Hill and Nash). And they still will rely on pushing the pace and outscoring everyone. One injury in the starting line-up and they are cooked. Even if that doesn’t happen the Clippers, Rockets and Warriors could surpass them.
See all 2010 NBA team previews
Greatest strength(s):
-Offense
-Starting Five
-Back to Uptempo Game
-Alvin Gentry gets another chance
-Nash/Stoudemire pick and roll is back
Greatest weakness(es):
-Not enough depth
-Defense
-Possible competition for 8th seed (Clippers and even the Rockets)
-Age factor
With that said, the Suns will be 2nd in the Pacific, 8th in the West.
As stated earlier, the Suns will be in quite a competition with the Clippers for the 8th seed. But factors could be looming. The Suns lack of depth v.s the Clippers health. Which one will prevail? (And don’t forget about the Rockets toughness and no-excuse approach.)
(On a side note, the Sixers will split the season with the Suns (1-1) with each team winning one on their respective home floors. Both teams gave us a glimpse of what the regular season matchups will be like–high scoring, uptempo, but who will make the stops? Marresse Speights likes to shoot the Suns down, no pun intended. If the Sixers frontcourt can dominate and they play defense, look for them to sweep the Suns.)