(a sorta) League Preview: Phoenix Suns

The sorriest and the lottery likelies are more or less jockeying for ping ping balls. The Raptors, Wizards, Clippers and Thunder may actually have the clearance to run the interference. Recent history gives us reason to doubt this grouping, but star talent says the possibility of post season success is real. Meet the 2^nd best team in the West’s Pacific Division.

Phoenix Suns

PG Steve Nash Goran Dragic

SG Jason Richardson Leandro Barbosa

SF Grant Hill Jared Dudley Alando Tucker

PF Amare Stoudemire Louis Amundson Earl Clark

C Channing Frye Robin Lopez

Have the mighty Steve Nash Suns already set? Since their flirtation with contender status some 3 seasons ago, Phoenix has seemed a team in disarray. Losing Marion, gaining Shaq, losing D’Antoni, changing styles, and then losing Shaq, only to return to the D’Antoni style: Not exactly a stellar start for GM Steve Kerr. But as much as missing the playoffs with 46-36 record is a real let down for a team with aspirations, the Suns still have a very talented squad. Had Phoenix played in the East, they would have been the five seed, even with Amare Stoudemire missing 29 games because of injury. This season, they could win 49-50 games and be a dangerous playoff team.

Getting rid of Shaq and returning to the running game was a great move for Phoenix. Even with the Big Daddy in the paint, the Suns were not stopping anybody. With Nash pushing the tempo and Jason Richardson and Amare out on the wings, defense becomes less of an issue. Grant Hill looked great last season. A steady veteran, he still has wrinkles in his games that reflect his former greatness. Bigs Channing Frye, Robin Lopez and Louis Amundson are all unproven as rotation players. Yet each of the three is well fitted for open court, high octane Phoenix attack. Frye is a shooter who stretches the floor. Lopez grabs the defensive boards and starts the break. Amundson is an athletic, energy player who flies around the rim on both ends.

The key to the Suns season will likely be the health of Nash and Stoudemire. Nash is getting older. He is in excellent physical condition, and showed little indication of slowing down last year. His numbers were down, but much of that was due to the change in style. Nash is a bit suspect on D. What’s new? Allowing him to get back out in the open court will do wonders for game. As for Amare, he has battled with injuries – some quite serious – for most of his career. When healthy, he is a beast. Amazing explosion, impeccable hands, sweet touch, dazzling agility, Amare has it all. He and Nashty do things that make any fan jump out of her seat.

Jason Richardson is an excellent running mate for Nash and Stoudemire. Though watching Shawn Marion thrive in Dallas is going to be painful for Phoenix, Richardson may help heal some of those wounds. He floundered a bit last season in the slow-down style. Whole new story with a full season pushing the pace. Richardson is just 28. An excellent three point shooter and blue chip athlete, if he is willing to apply himself to some of the junkyard work formerly carried out by Marion, he may have his best individual season.

With Hill, Barbosa, the three young bigs, and wings Tucker and Dudley, Phoenix has decent supporting cast and reasonable balance. Goran Dragic as the back up point seems flimsy. But a Hill-Barbosa tandem give Phoenix the flexibility to cover that hole. What is with the Suns’ love the lesser twin? Robin Lopez--when he returns from his injury—is surprisingly solid for a young player. He will see big minutes for the Suns this season. Taylor Griffin, on the other hand, is fighting for a roster spot.

This is not the best Nash –Stoudemire team we have seen. Even so, with health and little more luck than they have had in the past Phoenix could be a monster in the playoffs. Amare is now in his physical prime. If he can get on a roll in April, look out. Unless both the Clips and the Thunder are racking up big win totals, no way Phoenix misses the playoffs.