For Phoenix Suns Fans...

[Durbansandshark]

I need to bring this up about former Suns legendary PG Kevin Johnson. Kevin Johnson, running for mayor of his hometown of Scarmento, California as a Democrat, had a 47-42 lead in the Democratic mayoral race against incumbant Heather Fargo. But because of the fact KJ didn't have a clear majority in his winning. A runoff has been decalred for the fall.

Dan Majerle is the head coach for the Phoenix Suns Summer Pro Basketball League team that features draftee Robin Lopez out fo Stanford.

[Da Houndawg #55]

If KJ were your typical mud-slinger I'd bring up Fargo's shady background, including the disappearance of Steve Buscemi and the mysterious wood-chipper which appears to be dripping tomato sauce...

[Durbansandshark]

Been a little quiet here for a while with me being so incredibly busy. Anyway here's stuf that i'll delve into when I get more time soon:

Phoenix just signed Louis Admunson to a contract from the NBDL to shore up their frontline even more.

2008-09 Suns Dance lineup already announced

Boris Diaw goes to Senegal

Ryan Lopez becomes a Sun in the NBA Draft.

[Durbansandshark]

A fuller update is coming tomorrow.

[Durbansandshark]

When the Phoenix Suns drafted Ryan Lopez recently, it was more on the ideas that Shaq was going to be gone after his second year would be up and that frees up the Suns salary cap, was the best player available, and to groom Lopez for a more prominent role in the near future. Now, I think getting Brooke's twin is actually a good move for them for he doesn't really need to be a star (there already is enough star power built into this team) but to be a steady low-post defensive oriented presence under Terry Porter's system, something they need in the postseason against the NDCELE and San Antonio. Ryan isn't as talented as Brooke, which is why the latter was drafted higher as a lottery pick, but that's OK. What's wrong with just another team in the Western pack for now? There could be an element of surprise by the postseason.

[bucky]

ROBIN The guys name is Robin Lopez. Way to drop the ball mate

[Durbansandshark]

Former Phoenix Suns guard Jay Humphries from the 80s will guide the new NBDL team the Reno Bighorns in the franchise's first season.
Visit the NBDL thread for more on that...

[Durbansandshark]

Well, the Suns have just completed their little training camp in Tuscon, Steve Kerr's old University of Arizona stomping grounds. Everything there wrapped up with an intrasquad game Saturday morning at the McKale Center. Amare suffered an injury during his time in Tuscon.

[dvda]

KJ should run a political ad with his epic dunk on hakeem saying can any of the other candidates do this?
He'd get my vote.

[Durbansandshark]

Maybe he should--I can't think of any other way.

Tonight the Phoenix Suns in all their new-look for the season are in San Antonio to face those Rotten Ass Cheaters that have acted as a very disturbing and obscene barrier (and not a very good one, I must add) to their outright championship aspirations, something even the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire never really (and very thankfully) did in recent years. Terry Porter makes his regular season debut tonight succeeding Mike D'Antoni, now at New York. Clearly the days of that uptempo "seven seconds or less" are now long gone as they conform to the pro-defense standards admired by Steve Kerr and Porter and time-honored by many championship contending teams. Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Grant Hill, and Shaq all got a lot of mileage even in themselves, so how much longer will they go high-octane? They can't now at their ages.

Reading all of the NBA previews, a good number of them like The Sporting News, SLAM, and Sports Illustrated have the Suns barely making the playoff field in the West. Garbage! :x I think they'll surprise people. A lot of these publications project a second-place finish in the Pacific under the NDCELE, a team many view as eventual NBA champs (PLEASE! :evil: ),if it weren't for some of the post-trade Shaq struggles, Phoenix would've avoided those Cheaters--no, they didn't cheat in the playoffs that time like they did in 2007--and may have faced New Orleans, a team that could upset them, and got a Number One seed. The West is loaded even more so now.

Guess what, Phoenix face the Rotten Ass Cheaters again on Christmas Day.

[Durbansandshark]

I like where Phoenix is right now early in the season. They're currently 6-3 right now, but I would like to see them overtake the wrongly undefeated Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire in the Pacific Division. Yes, it's very early into the season, so there's still time. I had a chance to read Ebehoops' post about the Phoenix Suns' struggling for an identity. Admittedly, you really can't play the "seven seconds or less" and the halfcourt games together. Not with the pro-defense coach that is Terry Porter running the show. Too bad they lost to the Rockets last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlnwHWhv_q8
Have you seen this already? I've witnessed far worse melees involving the Suns than this one like in 1993 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO5OQAmG8gY) when Kevin Johnson and Doc Rivers went at it at halftime and Greg Anthony ran out on the court wearing street clothes, that Parker Lewis-like shirt, duking it out on KJ. Give it to the coaching staffs on both sides of the Rockets-Suns game ensuring it didn't got to that level. Matt Barnes was wrong to give a dirty shot to Rafer Alston and deserved to get suspended for that. Yes, I did see Nashie push a bit, Yao knocked McGrady to make sure he didn't go swinging, and Shaq was like the big strong giant that is pushing and shoving to get to Alston. Oddest thing of all was seeing Ron Artest on the bench, and staying there, not getting involved, because the coaches know what of course happened four years ago. Good thing they made sure the bench players stayed (though I still don't neccesarily agree with the rule if they were honestly simply peacemakers and keep order or diffuse). Look for fines and suspensions to be sure, especially on Barnes and Alston.

Only 96 more days until NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.

Congrats to Shaq for making in into the Top 10 in the NBA's alltime scoring list.

[Durbansandshark]

Belated congrats are in order to former Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson! :D About a month ago he was elected as the new mayor of of his hometown of Sacramento, California, home of the Kings and state capital of California with a population of 475,000 where unemployment is up to 7.4%. Plus, the city budget deficit is way up at beyond $58 million and morale is way, way down. Johnson defeated incumbent and fellow Democrat Heather Fargo in a runoff on November 4 by a 15-point margin. I didn't know this until I was reading from SI but during the campaign, KJ was hounded with allegations that he sexually molested a 16-year girl in 1995 and sexually misconducted (inappropriately touched) on another high school girl last year. Though he wasn't charged in either one. He paid the first with a $230,000 settlement. Apparently, it clearly didn't stop him from winning.

As a product of a black father and white mother like Obama, Johnson's philanthropic roots came from his influences of his white grandfather, as he talked about his community endeavours in his NBA days like his St. HOPE Academy. He has plans to revitilizing his old neighborhood he grew up in, Oak Park. Also like a certain President-elect, Johnson as Sac-Town's first black mayor successfully ushered in his campaign the theme of change, and his victory speech came an hour after Barack Obama's.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_exvF9TARos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_exvF9TARos)

[Durbansandshark]

Interesting thoughts on the big Jason Richardson-Boris Diaw/Raja Bell trade coming up. Could this be like the Kevin Johnson/Mark West-Larry Nance/Mike Sanders trade in 1988?

[Durbansandshark]

I was hoping to go in-depth but time has restricted me at this time. Meaning I'll have to delay my thoughts on that major trade. Right now, there's just a need to get more consistent.

For point guard depth, Phoenix signs Dee Brown today.

This just caught my eye: the Phoenix Suns Locker Room online won an Emmy recently.

Close game against Denver last night. But Terry Porter wasn't there because to attend the Portland jersey retirement ceremony. So Alvin Gentry ran the store in his absence.

On Xmas Day afternoon, the Suns play those Rotten Ass Cheaters, and you know what I think of them these days.... :evil:

[Durbansandshark]

Good win for Phoenix last night, but it's against Dallas, or Allas for there's no D in them, even with the defensive mastermind Rick Carlisle running the show. I'll delve more next week.

C'mon Phoenix, we got a Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire that's on top to overtake in the Pacific Division and stay kicked off of that to get home court advantage in the playoffs!

[Durbansandshark]

Wow! What a win last night at the A against the Hawks thanks to a three from Leandro Barbosa to seal it for them! :D

Now, if they can get an additional win tonight on the last leg of the East Coast trip against a disappointing Washington team (only because of the injuries is why it's disappointing) to go above .500, I'll be happy.

Phoenix's NBA All-Star Weekend 2009 website (http://www.nba.com/suns/news/2009_allstar_index.html) can now be clinked on. What do you mates think of the 2009 NBA All-Star jerseys? I think it's a nice, clean look with a little nod to the southwestern US region (the West most notably) as opposed to what we had in recent years with those garish styles. Could use a little more those colo(u)rs, though. Phoenix can surely host events, especially now--and its third NBA All-Star gathering! Also visit Eastbay's NBA All-Star Weekend selection for the gear (http://www.eastbay.com). But so far, it's disappointing me. Congrats to Amare for getting into the starting lineup. Shaq's doing well at this point, so I'd like to see him in as a backup by the coaches.

[Durbansandshark]

Man, what an shakeup (I know it's been discussed here on these boards) and there's always something interesting involved like it was last year at this time. I hope to gather my thoughts on it all tomorrow if I can.

[Durbansandshark]

(delayed because of the down boards...)

:( :( :(

Reflections on this disappointing season for us Suns fans will come next week.

[Durbansandshark]

Makes me and other fans very mad not to see the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs. They SHOULD be in there instead of the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire and the Rotten Ass Cheaters right now and are more deserving than those two. Phoenix SHOULD be fighting against Houston, Denver, or Dallas to make their way to the NBA Finals. Enough about that.

Yesterday in a move that won't surprise anyone, Alvin Gentry is now the permanent head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Gentry, as you know, is the last link to the popular Mike D'Antoni years. So Kerr, who I'm questioning a few of his decisions as a GM, obviously realized his mistake in hiring Terry Porter (more next time). Now in this offseason with some final years of the contracts from Nash and Shaq, Gentry will need to stress the defense to his players or hire an defensive-oriented assistant to be competitive in the ultra-tough West. I can (faintly) hope the Suns could get lucky in the Lottery. By that, I mean getting a high lottery draft pick in the top six, not really a #1.

[Durbansandshark]

No surprise the Suns didn't get a high draft pick in the Lottery pick.

It's stuff like watching the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire in the NBA Finals that makes you wish the Phoenix Suns, a far better team, were in their place instead! >:(

Here's a little treat for you, since this is an Aussie-centric basketball site: a foursome of diehard Antipodean Phoenix Suns fans--three Aussies and one Kiwi--saved enough money and planning for 6 months to see their Suns in action from London to Toronto to Atlanta to New York to Boston to Washington and finally to Phoenix, seeing their office, meeting the players and management, and becoming mini-celebs in the process. Watching 30 hours of NBA basketball in the process. What a super time they had! If only the wins were more plentiful. Maybe if they could check their sister team, the Mercury, for they of course have some Aussie repping there since its inception. All four met on Planet Orange. I don't know if any of the four are actually posters on Ozhoops here. But if you are, please send a shout out.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDwTc_3pT4g

[Durbansandshark]

Our Nashie signs a contract extension with the Suns that will essentially keep him a Phoenix Sun for the rest of his NBA career. More to come and others...

[Durbansandshark]

My scheduling conflicts with work have prevented me from much about the Phoenix Suns for a while. The new season is fast approaching us and I will get with that and a look back at the disappointing previous season where they should've been in the playoffs.

[Durbansandshark]

Wow, isn't it great to see the Phoenix Suns playing like they really should be playing to start the season surprising the league? :) It was even better to see them atop the Pacific Division over the much and eternally and deservedly hated Evil Laker Empire, as they should always be and deserved to be. That's not such the case right now thanks to New York and former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni becoming the first team this season to contain Phoenix to below 100 last night, costing the Suns first place. Let's all hope they regain it very soon and ultimately win that title.

For his efforts, Alvin Gentry deservedly earns NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month accolades.

Now, tonight they face former Sun Shaq tonight in Cleveland. And that's going to be tough.

[Durbansandshark]

Now they're slumping. Cleveland gives the Suns their first home loss of the season last night.

[Durbansandshark]

Congratulations to Steve Nash on being named CBCSports.ca's Canadian Athlete of the Decade! Much deserved! :)

[Durbansandshark]

As it stands right now, the Suns are fifth in the Western Conference seedings--they really should be atop the West right now instead of that Evil Laker Empire (or at least one of the top three seeds), who should be exactly where the Nets are right now! :evil: Three weeks to go into the regular season, and with Phoenix playing great lately, they can move up and get the all-important home court advantage away from the Jazz, currently at 4th and the holders of the last home court advantange spot. The schedule is favorable with at home SA, Denver, and Houston. with only two spots to visit in Salt Lake City and Oklahoma City. So, like Dallas, they can move up. Things can surely change a lot at the last day. And they can surprise! :)

Had a great game last week at the US Airways Arena over Minnesota 152-114. The kind of Phoenix Suns basketball we all know and love. Oh, and that road game thriller versus the Golden St. Warriors, undergoing another lost season 133-131.

This season's campaign is "R U Orang?", a play on the text messaging/Internet language commonplace these days and of the Planet Orange. The player intro is not quite what I liked from recent years, even with Rihanna on the soundtrack. But here it is:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJa0SJlEZRk

[DoubleA]

Wow, add me to the list of Phoenix Suns fans!

I recently met with their Vp of Digital and he gave me complete access, courtside seat, merchandise and basically a memory I will never forget.

I write a blog www.sportspiel.com.au that focuses on sport and social media, and I was in te States for a fantasy sports conference so a week ago I wrote to him, and said I'm Australian heres what I do, I love your work, can I meet with you?

He was able to squeeze me into a very busy schedule, so I went to Phoenix on Friday and my god it was one of the best experiences of my life

I tweeted a whole lot about it at twitter.com/anthonyalsop

Behind the scenes photos and videos are on there, you'll just have to click 'More' a few times at the bottom of my page coz as you can see, I tweet a lot.

I'm a Hornets fan at heart, but I now bleed blue AND ORNG.

Im going to write a full blog about it in a few weeks and Ill post it here. If you've heard of Peter Robert Casey, a basketball blogger, I'm also meeting him tomorrow here in NYC.

[Durbansandshark]

Suns clinch a playoff berth last night with a win over Chicago on the road. Currently 4th in the Western Conference with the all-important home court advantage in front of a slumping Denver.

[Durbansandshark]

Wow! That was a nice for Phoenix in their last home game for the regular season against the slumping Denver Nuggets! Again playing Phoenix Suns basketball at its finest. What makes it even better is clinching home court advantage in the playoffs. Should they beat the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, they can get the third seed in the crazy, wild, wild Western Conference. Now go work on that title! :)

The best and coolest team in the NBA since the All Star break recently had their first-ever Facebook Night last month, presented by Showcase Honda, to continue a theme that DoubleA observed here in terms of social media. 300 fans purchased tickets to the Suns' home game against the aforementioned Jazz. Clearly, this is a team that knows how to embrace and utilize social networking--remember those Antipodean fans who all met on Planet Orange and did Phoenix Suns road trip last season! In that Facebook Night, Suns assistant Dan Majerle conducted a postgame Q&A for the Facebookies also including an exclusive Suns/Facebook T-shirt at their adjacent practice court. (in case you're wondering, no, I'm not on Facebook or MySpace yet. Hope to soon. I'll announce that when it happens.)
www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=157636&id=45898408995

Speaking of Thunder Dan, he plans to open another of the popular Majerle's sports bar and grill in Scottsdale. When I ever go to the Valley of the Sun in Phoenix, I want to stop at Majerle's.

GO Suns!

[DoubleA]

I just wrote a review on all the Suns web/digital history, from an interview I did with their VP of Digital last month when I was there. Talks about their players on twitter, old website, tweetups, etc

http://su.pr/20vuh5

[Durbansandshark]

Thanks for that DoubleA. I want to read that over and over!

Tough loss Sunday night at home against Portland 105-100. Still, there's no time to hit the panic button. Phoenix will come back and even the series tonight, especially since BROY is not with the Trail Blazers right now. I guess it's because Portland has been in the playoffs last year and the Suns were unfortunately absent and thus rusty. Partly because of that, they were admittedly a little stagnant on offense and couldn't force a fast movement. Phoenix must find a way to contain Andre Miller (He had 31 points and they must do likewise to the support staff and stop them from crashing the boards) and support STAT, particularly in the paint, where he needs the ball. Hitting the open looks would be nice too. Understandable for the first loss, since Portland is NOT the Evil Laker Empire!

Jared Dudley wins the Majerle Hustle Award this season, succeeding Lou Admunson from last season.
www.nba.com/suns/playoffs/dudley_rd1_gm1_100418.html

[Durbansandshark]

Now that was a good win to even the series with Portland before heading up there!

Kudos to Grant Hill for covering Andre Miller. J-Rich stepped up with his 20 points.

LA the Rugged Man and Nicholas Batum became ineffective thanks to the Suns. Batum strained his shoulder. Now the Suns must keep that defensive intensity when they're in Rip City and steal a game. Not going to be easy there, even without BROY.

[Durbansandshark]

Another great win from Phoenix! Suns are that much deeper than Portland. J-Rich, 42 points?
Alright!! :) Just dominant Suns basketball!
www.nba.com/suns/playoffs/playoffs2010_r1g3.htm

[Durbansandshark]

Portland's "gone finishing" thanks to Phoenix. Old news, yes, that will be recapped. Anyway, the focus is on those Rotten Ass Cheaters (www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_84g5cdrs). More tomorrow.

Yes, I'm still very bitter over that! :evil:

[Durbansandshark]

Tonight in a matter of hours, we would have the Western Conference Finals featuring the best team in the West and a corrupt, rotten, evil franchise that has really no damn business being there, let along calling itself the best and all those titles it amassed or flat out respect. Oklahoma City should've stopped them. And it all starts at the Evil Laker Empire's domain. You know, looking at what just happened to Cleveland, I don't think they would even beat the Suns with their matchup in the NBA Finals. I think the frontcourt Phoenix would surprise the Cavs' counterpart. Would the Phoenix froncourt matchup well with the Evil Laker Empire, despite the supposed size descripancy? I'd say yes. Matter of fact, they're athletic and can shoot from the outside when needed. What you're witnessing is the Suns playing some defense in the playoffs to tag along with their high octane offense. they're justly famous for under Alvin Gentry.

Steve Nash will run circles on Derek Fisher just like Russell Westbrook did. And Nashie's in his mid-30s! You think a young player would be gassed after that? The Evil Laker Empire had their luck card expired after a few games so it's going to run out in this series. A Phoenix Suns sweep over the Evil Laker Empire would be much deserved and greatly appreciated by everyone who detests that corruption. But realistically, it won't happen that way. Few people actually pick Phoenix to do some damage. But they will.

Phoenix in 6!

[Cussy]

Or not...

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix was not gonna sweep that morally corrupt, wicked, oppressive, tyrannical arrogant Evil Laker Empire ( :evil: ), we all know that. But at least they could've made more of a game out of Monday night than the end result suggests.

Two players really need to step up tonight. Amar'e Stoudemire must make his presence known in the paint and block the Evil Laker Empire shot attempts; when they shoot, Stoudemire steps aside to allow them. We understand he wants to stay out of foul trouble and be in the game as long as possible for the Suns to succeed for Alvin Gentry and his coaching staff. But he's got to take charge. Jason Richardson started hot in the early going, scoring 6 points, but then he disappeared. When Jason Ricardson scores at least 20 points in a game this season, Phoenix are 30-4 and 5-0 in the playoffs. Monday night he produced less than 20 points. Furthermore, the Suns must grab more rebounds and those second-chance shots.

Why is Grant Hill defending the Head Emissary of Evil? We all commend him for his perservence through all the injuries. But he got embarassed by that ankle breaker move.

Phil Jax says the amount of points of the Evil Laker Empire won with was "uncharacteristic" for them in the post-game press conference. You know what this means: he's working on ways to clamp down on the best team in the West even more so to not get them going even further tonight. :evil:

Have faith Suns fans and haters of that wretched evil worldwide, Phoenix still has a shot at taking home court advantage away from them and winning the West in the process. Don't forget that back in 1986, the Houston Rockets lost the first game in the Western Conference Finals and then roared back for the last four, culminating with that Ralph Sampson shot in the end of the series. And the Chicago Bulls lost Game 1 to them in the 1991 NBA Finals, and they ended up winning the title with the next four. Clearly Phoenix must win a game in the House of Evil.

[Dunkin' Dan]

Have faith Suns fans and haters of that wretched evil worldwide ...
As a Suns fan, about the only thing I have faith in is that the hoop gods are so amused by your relentless evil empire rants that we are destined never to actually defeat them in a playoff series for as long as you have access to an internet connection ;)

[Prodigal]

the hoop gods are so amused by your relentless evil empire rants


Or maybe they're like me and just got so bored by the wanker's monotony they tuned out months ago

[bucky]

I'm a Phoenix Suns fan and I have tickets to games 3 and 4 of the WCF.

Just thought i would share that. :)

[Clips]

I'm a Phoenix Suns fan and I have tickets to games 3 and 4 of the WCF.

Just thought i would share that. :)

A mate of mine who is a big suns fan caught the first 2 games v lakers and most of the suns home playoffs. His next game is game 6... Poor guy.

[Durbansandshark]

Good news is Phoenix scored more points than in Game 1; Jason Richardson netted 27 points; the Suns tied the Evil Laker Empire at the end of the third period; Amar'e Stoudemire played better; the bench stepped up; Grant Hill produced 21 points; and the Suns held Kobe to 21 points. Bad news is they let Kobe dish out 13 assists and that evil empire still won with a 2-0 series lead! :evil: (all of you know I hate them)

But they're back home now in Phoenix with hope of some home cooking starting Sunday. Now the Suns are back home, how can Alvin Gentry, his coaching staff, and his players try to wrap their heads on how to stop them. Gentry says they may have to let Kobe score 80 and then contain the rest. They try and keep plugging away but they still fell short. They won't give up. Right now, let's focus on evening things up before they get into an even bigger hole or try to win the series as they try to shoot the lights out.

[Durbansandshark]

Nice home cooking was the order of the day when they played back home at the US Airways Center. It was a game that went up and down with Phoenix ultimately winning with no small contributions from Amar'e and Robin Lopez. They even played zone that threw the Evil Laker Empire off.

Tonight we need more of the same from Amar'e and Robin as well as hopefully getting Channing Frye and Jared Dudley making 3's to even the series. More later. :)

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix, the best team in the West, kicked major ass last night with the bench performance in front of that lovely sea of orange! :) That Goran Dragic had an out of body experience with is performance at home. It wasn't double figures (8 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and no turnovers), but he was his usual ferocious self when attacking the basket, especially with that circus shot in the fourth quarter (what Hubie Brown declared on ESPN Radio's NBA coverage as the Play of the Game)! I think Nash has a worthy successor for him when he hangs his sneakers. And finally, that bench, one of the league's deepest when it's on, really came on. Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, and Leandro Barbosa were all raining threes at last for the first time this series! Louis Admundson also contributed well. When it's in the second half, normally the starters set the tone for success, but Alvin Gentry made a gutsy move when he decided to go with his bench for an extended period. Something like that would blow up in front of a coach's face, but it worked out so well that the starters, being the good teammates that they are, cheered and saluted them for their performances on the sidelines before going back.

Had it been shooting a bit better in the first quarter and shooting their free throws more, last night should have been a bigger (and more deserved) rout that it was over the Evil Laker Empire. Amar'e still went to the charity stripe as a reward for his rekindled aggressiveness in the low post.

The Evil Laker Empire, outside of Kobe ( :evil: ), were just still clueless over how to cope with Phoenix's zone they employed. Let's hope it continues in LA. Gentry said to his teammates it's OK to let the Head Emissary of Evil get his. He tried to pass and it worked and made a game of it for the most part. But the frontcourt was simply and thankfully troubled; the Phoenix bench outscored the Evil Laker Empire's, which is nothing, by 24. We need that from them again come Game 5 in the House of Evil. Because of how home court advantage was set up, Phoenix must steal a game, preferably Game 5, in Los Angeles and then win it all back home. Zone play must continue for Phoenix and tighten up the defense, because I'm worried over how the refs might call the game tomorrow in the Evil Laker Empire's (dis)favo(u)r. Phoenix have to score at least 100 points to assure themselves of winning.

They can certain win the next two despite what lots of people think. Clip's friend won't have to worry about Game 6....

[Durbansandshark]

All I gotta say about Game 5 on Thursday is...

DAMN YOU, ARTEST!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

You better win tonight and the next one, Phoenix! :evil:

[Dunkin' Dan]

All I gotta say about Game 5 on Thursday is...

DAMN YOU, ARTEST!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Well, for the first 3 quarters of game 6 you could have said exactly the same thing.
In the 4th, it'd be Kobe - just too damn good.

[Wallitron]

In the 4th, it'd be Kobe - just too damn good.

In D&D terms, he rolled a 20 for Dexterity, and a 1 for Charisma.

[Cram]

That really was an amazing display by Kobe there. Amazing.

I really wanted to see the Suns make it. Go Celtics? Ugh.

[Durbansandshark]

When we last them, our heroes, the best in the West if all of the NBA, got criminally eliminated by that morally corrupt, arrogant, wicked, oppressive, wretched, and tyrannical Evil Laker Empire on their own home floor en route to another oppressive and obscene NBA title that is always richly undeserved. Everytime this happens to Phoenix by them it's criminal. Matter of fact, because of what subsequently happened, Phoenix IS the best in the NBA (don't ever let any misguided worshipper of that wretched evil empire tell you otherwise! :evil:). Phoenix deserved to win that series! If it weren't for what Ron Artest did, Phoenix would have done it. Clips, I feel terrible for your friend who had to witness that Game 6. Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa, Robin Lopez, Jason Richardson, Channing Frye, Louis Admunson, Jaron Collins, Earl Clark, and Jared Dudley are all far more deserving to be at the NBA Finals and win titles in their lifetimes than Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Alexandar Vujacic, Andrew Bynum, Adam Morission, Luke Walton, and D.J. Mbenga! Steve still has the only NBA player with the dubious distinction of being the NBA MVP and not make a trip to the NBA Finals. This is very, very wrong. A 1976 NBA Finals rematch with Boston and Phoenix this summer would have been much more satisfactory and more enjoyable for everyone who love the NBA. Would Phoenix win it all if that were the case? Probrably not, but at least the Evil Laker Empire, who Oklahoma City should've stopped, would be constrained.

(You! Must! NEVER! Lose! To! The! Evil! Laker! Empire! :evil:)

Now significant changes are afoot with Phoenix. Steve Kerr just resigned last month, so the team was working with a leadership vacuum fro a brief period. Lawyer and ex-agent Lon Babby is now Phoenix's VP of Basketball Operations. I, like a lot of people, don't really know much about him. So what's his basketball team philosophy?

Phoenix needs size and athleticism to rival that of the Evil Laker Empire. We all know that STAT has rejected Phoenix's offer, as was expected by many, and went to New York for $100 million for 5 years. However, Amar'e needs a PG like Nash or a power position for him to be effective wherever he goes since, though he did get better defensively and was productive in the playoffs, his defense is still suspect. The Suns did resign Channing Frye on a 5-year $30 million contract and bring aboard Hakim Warwick for $18 million on 4 years. This could be the end of the run and gun style Phoenix is justly famous. Then they go out and acquire in a trade Hidayet (am I the only one who can say his full name rather than Hedo?) Turkoglu and his big contract following an unhappy and disappointing season in Toronto (in exchange for Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones) and Josh Childress, whom the Hawks held the NBA rights to, fresh from Greek EuroLeague finalist Olympiakos Pireas. Hopefully both can use a change of scenery; their respective sizes up front can help Phoenix. Still for us, we need to see how this team is shaping up come tip-off on October 26.

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix's 2010-11 NBA schedule (www.nba.com/suns/schedule/) is now up and downloadable. The best team in the all of the NBA start their 2010-11 season on the road with two games involving the Northwest Division. They start the season in Portland against the Trail Blazers on October 26 and then head to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz on the 28, their US national TV season debut on ESPN. Their home opener at the US Airways Arena is on the following Friday and the Suns will face...wait for it...that morally corrupt, arrogant, and utterly disgraceful Evil Laker Empire who flat out never deserve those titles! :evil: Ideally, that night or earlier in the upcoming season, it should be really be that long-anticipated one where the Suns would celebrate their title with the Larry O'Brien Trophy there, and David Stern would very happily hand over the rings at center court to Steve Nash and his teammates and coaching staff with then the Suns would raise their first-ever championship banner to the rafters to rub it in in front of those rotten and evil emissaries for all the years they were an shameful obstruction to glory. That game will be shown on ESPN. Other games between the Suns and the Evil Laker Empire are November 14 and March 22 (on TNT) at that House of Evil. The other home game against them is January 5, also on ESPN. A season sweep on them would be very, very nice. Playoffs would be even better should they face other. Phoenix ends the season at home on April 13 against San Antonio.

Because Steve Kerr couldn't come to agreement with Robert Sarver on the terms to a new extension on his GM deal, he decided to return to TNT as analyst, a spot numerically left vacant by Doug Collins returning to coaching. So the Suns got a new guy to succeed him in Lance Blanks. I don't know much about him, but if he can get some size and strong defensive presence for Phoenix that won't interfere with the running offensive style, it'll be great. Kerr, to me, is a mixed bag in his time with Phoenix. His blunders was actually getting Shaq that clogged the "seven seconds or less" style that was so entertaining to watch, despite finding the fountain of youth in the 2008-09 season, which they should've made the playoffs, and his hiring of Terry Porter as coach. The latter of which he admitted as such. Don't get me wrong. Porter is a solid coach; he was just a bad fit for Phoenix. I'll deal with those issues and the season outlook with the new guys like Turkoglu and Childress next time.

[Durbansandshark]

Tonight the Phoenix plays their annual outdoor preseason game at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The Dallas Mavericks, featuring Steve Nash's good friend and former teammates back then Dirk Nowitzki, will come join and play some ball with them. Again, TNT will broadcast the preseason game, which will also mark the return of Steve Nash as its analyst after his time as Suns' GM.

Kerr talks to Suns.com's Stefan Swiat soon after his resignation on the eve of tonight's game to reveal what's he has been up to since his resignation.
www.nba.com/suns/news/kerr_oneonone_101009.html

More will on the upcoming season with plenty of retrospection will hit next week

[Durbansandshark]

15 days to the start of the Suns' home opener with the hope to "Beat LA"...

Please come visit the Suns Shop to get your Suns and Mercury merchandise here
http://store.shopsuns.com/

Staying with his love of soccer, Steve Nash gets himself prepared to challenge with Landon Donovan for EA Sports FIFA 11 with some hilarity along the way.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEb1iV3o4bc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-nstZzw3JQ

Steve Nash, a proud Canadian, and Ezra Holland got together to produce a doc for ESPN's 30 for 30 series about the inspirational and heartbreaking Canadian hero Terry Fox, a 21-year old from Vancouver, British Columbia (actually the nearby towns of Port Coquitlam and Surrey) who, after losing his right leg to cancer while a Simon Fraser student, started his nationwide Marathon of Hope in 1980 by running and hobbling with an artificial leg from St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 at the easternmost part of Canada to hopefully Victoria, British Columbia to raise C$24 million (one dollar for each Canadian at the time) for cancer research. It started with little fanfare, lonely, and spotty donations, but as word got around of his deed, people and the money poured. Canadians were deeply moved by his run from ordinary Canadians to hockey stars to the then-PM Pierre Elliott Tradeau. Sure Fox had breaks and rest days in between his lengthy runs; even on his 22nd birthday he ran despite the marathon and the physical conditions taking a toll on his health. But the run had to be abandoned near Thunder Bay, Ontario on September 1, 1980 when Fox suffered an intense coughing fit, shortness of breath, and chest pains past 3336 miles (approximately the distance between Miami and Seattle or 5373 km) after 143 days; the cancer had returned and spread to his lungs. By that point he raised C$1.7 million. A 5-hour subsequent and impromptu TV telethon was aired on CTV that raised C$10.5 million. Fox died in June 1981 with his family by his side. I remember watching HBO's Terry Fox Story, the first original movie for a premium cable channel (was released theatrically in Canada and in the UK though), in 1983 and was in admiration for him as a child.

Steve Nash's personal statement:
"I remember being a six-year-old boy and waking up every morning and rushing to the TV to see where Terry was that day. To see him running or hobbling across our country for the spirit of community and looking out for others was something that has stuck with me ever since. To see his face hiding the pain and to hear his words disguising the sacrifice was as motivating and as educational an experience as I've ever had. To be able to tell this story again, to Americans who love an underdog and a story of overcoming and struggle, is something any new filmmaker would love."

Sounds like Nashie's got a future in filmmaking.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcj_9SgVxeo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIL6Ke7z7IM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0rNZvViJD0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyjxpyT3bEw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW8FBbr7-sU
www.youtube.com/watch?v=29ltX_4vXFk

How could you not be moved by his heroism? Imagine how many lives Terry Fox saved from cancer with this. I understand relations recently between Canada and Australia aren't the best right now as Commonwealth cousins (don't know about Canada and NZ). But it's worth watching. This would be something good for Antipodeans to watch to kow more about Canada.

[Durbansandshark]

Tomorrow the Phoenix Suns start their new season of course in Portland. Let's all hope for a good start to the new season for them that will propel them to greater and better heights later in the postseason.

My personal look at the team will come later as the season gets underway.

[Team DMD Basketball]

I have to agree to Nash's opinion, they won't make the playoffs.

[Da Houndawg #55]

Playoffs is what I'm hoping for.

We're on a downward swing, fortunately we draft well - so we shouldn't be out of it long if the Suns do wind up with early holidays this year...

Hopefully the team will recognise this and keep some picks and do something with them.

[Team DMD Basketball]

The Suns are done.

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix will make the playoffs; a lot of the prognosticators like SI and The Sporting News have them at the high end of the West's lower half of the top 8 (usually the 6th seed) as they finish second in the Pacific Division. I personally think they can finish higher.

A question arises: who's going to be the Robin to Nash's Batman now that Amar'e left?

[Durbansandshark]

It's OK. Portland's hungry to succeed this season. Not upset at seeing them win over Phoenix. This is a season not a sprint.

As I said back in 2007, we Phoenix Suns fans, the best in all the vast NBA landscape, greatly despise that Evil Laker Empire (back when it was deservedly crumbling) in all of its moral corruption, wickedness, arrogance, tyranny, wretchedness, and oppression...and its equally-conceited, shameful, and misguided fans with every fiber in our bodies! :evil: They have been a deeply hateful traditional obstacle (and still is to this day) for us on the road to true NBA glory. Tomorrow night in the Purple Palace on ESPN, the Suns will face that Evil Laker Empire for the first time this season to open the home season in that rematch from the Western Conference Finals, in which Phoenix should've won and went to the NBA Finals instead for a much more entertaining bout with the Celtics...and hopefully destroy them. Needless to say, the history between the two has never been nice for us, with some recent exceptions. Had they made and won last season's NBA Finals, there would be a nice pregame ceremony to give out rings and raise their first championship banner. :sad:

Boo loudly and harshly on them, Suns fans!

Now I'd like to take to look back on those moments when Phoenix was facing the Evil Laker Empire. Particularly 1990 when the Suns finally beat them, when they were shamefully called in the era "Showtime". Essentially an oral history with Tom Chambers, Mark West, Jeff Hornacek, Dan Majerle, and Kurt Rambis, who has the unique perspective of playing for both teams (albeit with playing for the expansion Charlotte Hornets sandwiched between them), there's lots of great memories when Phoenix finally conquered them in the playoffs, since both were athletic (can you believe it was 20 years ago?). Because of his duties as Sacramento mayor, Kevin Johnson could not take part in this.
www.nba.com/suns/video/2010/05/12/po1090suns100512avi-1316319/index.html

Other flashbacks of the rivalry can be found here. Go Phoenix go!:
www.nba.com/suns/news/beatla_2010.html

Another brief article on how the Phoenix Suns lead the way in social networking:
www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/business/2010/10/suns-nba-leading-the-way-in-social.html

[Durbansandshark]

My (belated) reaction to Phoenix wrongfully losing to the Evil Laker Empire in both the home opener and in the Western Conference Finals:
:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

If they can show their resolve more like this against Memphis Friday night in double OT, I think will shock some people even more. Yes, the season is still very young and they lost last night to a revenge-seeking Memphis at the FedEx Forum ending their three-game losing streak. But with good health and chemistry gelling, Phoenix can get hot. As long as that Evil Laker Empire is scandalously oppressing (or even aspires to do so to) the rest of the league, Phoenix must never rest. A new winning streak awaits.

[Durbansandshark]

Congrats to the Suns for beating the Evil Laker Empire on Sunday night in LA with a franchise record of 22 3-pointers! Should've done that too at the home opener, but we'll take it.

Tonight's going to be really interesting. Phoenix, who should've been in the NBA Finals instead last season with Boston, is now in Miami about to face Miami Thrice (James, Wade, and Bosh) and their supporting cast as the Suns' three-game winning streak is on the line. Ithink things are starting to gel with the Suns players as they're getting to know each other as teammates with the newbies like Turkoglu, Warwick, and Childress. Right now, the Suns bench is third behind Philadelphia and Cleveland in scoring, nearly doubling their season average from last season at 39.3 ppg. In Steve Nash's last three games, he made 34 assists while only committing 3 turnovers. That's a sure sign they are winning. Also, he's two 3s away from the active players' 1500 FGM club. Goran Dragic and Hakim Warwick nearly have double figures each in scoring as nearly the first reserves off the bench, and Warwick's got 17 dunks, thus ranking him 2nd in the NBA. Jason Richardson, who could the Robin I was referring to earlier this season, is the only Sun to score double figures in all of their games so far. Actually, they may have a shot here with all that (Miami have won four out of five against Phoenix. Different Heat makeup in those times though), but they will have to adjust and grind it out because...

Robin Lopez, the starting center, is out with a strained MCL and PCL in his left knee and will be out for several weeks. :( He's an important player as a center for he IS their depth and matchup in the paint, especially when they face Superman next in Orlando Thursday. Could Phoenix continue the increasing scrunity from the inconsistency, particularly on the defensive end, upon the Miami Heat with a win out of the American Airlines Arena with the Heat's high expectations?

[haggard]

. Phoenix, who should've been in the NBA Finals instead last season with Boston,

Why is that?

[Durbansandshark]

The new Phoenix Suns player introduction intro for the 2010-11 season. It's a little more serious than the previous one from last season, especially with the bell tolling at the beginning. This does incorporate downtown Phoenix more, not just the US Airways Arena, with the players, including the new ones like Hedo Turkoglu and Josh Childress at various spots.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfURkhxmsTk

Phoenix's southern swoon through Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, and Houston was, shall I say, not unexpected. I expected Miami and Orlando beating them, particularly in the interior game with no Robin Lopez to act as a pillar aginst someone like Dwight Howard. Without Steve Nashty on a sore groin made things worse in their time in Florida, causing decisive defeats. But Charlotte was the surprise. The mediocre and still largely young Bobcats managed to beat them at home. I did not see that coming! On top of that, Stephen Jackson managed to earn the first triple double in Charlotte Bobcats history against Phoenix. Houston is still adjusting and struggling, so they were easy.

Chicago with Tom Thibedeau and the frontcourt of Noah and Boozer will be too bruising tonight, so I'm picking another loss for my Suns, as the latter look for their fourth straight win. After Chicago tonight, the next several games will play against largely non-quality teams Phoenix surely can beat with two at home. This season so far has been up and down like a yo-yo with streaks good and bad. Get well soon, Robin!

[Durbansandshark]

There is another NBA game going on tonight in the midst of the Lebron's return hype! The Phoenix Suns are in Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors later tonight on the west coast. :)

[Durbansandshark]

Isn't it interesting that the Suns will serve as the first Jazz opponent in the post-Jerry Sloan area when they visit Salt Lake City tonight? What makes it even more so from Phoenix's point of view lies in the fact that the new (interim) Jazz coach happens to be an old familiar face to lifelong Suns fans: Tyrone Corbin. Corbin was an important part of the resurrection of the Phoenix Suns following the major trade that also brought KJ and Mark West to Phoenix from Cleveland in exchange for Larry Nance and Mike Sanders in the late 80s with his defense until he was left exposed in the 1989 expansion draft when the Minnesota Timberwolves plucked him. Corbin did play for Phoenix in 1987-88 before going to the Cavs as a FA.

Phoenix's NBDL affiliate, Iowa Energy, makes a Versus TV appearance on Sunday hosting the Dakota Wizards.
www.nba.com/suns/news/versus_110211.html

Longtime Suns voice Al "Shazam" McCoy, another Iowa Suns' tie, gets another honor. He's in the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, also on Sunday. But the Suns are on the road and McCoy can't take part in the enshrinement. But there will be a ceremony in their next home game during the second timeout in their game with the Jazz Tuesday. It's quite an enshrinement class this year!
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/mccoy_halloffame_110210.html

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix again beats former player Tyrone Corbin as he still looks for his first win as Jazz coach. Nash said to Fox Sports Arizona immediately after the win the game was "ugly" and even he along with his teammates that they were tired and didn't want to go through all of this. But they dug deep and got the W to go above .500.

No Phoenix Suns players will repped in the All-Star Game in LA this time. Not even Nash-ty :( Yes, he's still very productive at his advanced age of 37, but right now there are just too many good and far younger guards out in the West not to be selected.

Right now, the priority is make a better second half of the season and get a good seed in the playoffs and then advance deep like last year. Memphis is fading fast, so that could help.

[Durbansandshark]

Real nice start to the second half of the NBA season for Phoenix to win four games, including two game-winning shots from Channing Frye! I knew it wasn't going to last when our heroes visited a rejuvenated Boston team last night. But they will have an easier time in Milwaukee on Friday night. OKC will be tough, of course, but they may have a chance. Houston could give them problems with their new faces on the roster, but not enough, I think, to prevail over Phoenix.

Meanwhile, Fox Sports Arizona signs a new deal, effective next season, to become the Suns' exclusive TV provider, which means an increase in the road games. An increase to at least 75 games annually in its eighth year of its relationship together.
www.nba.com/suns/news/foxsports_110223.html

Got some Tom Chambers blasts from the past!

His 1991 appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show with his coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. Remember when I wrote in my tribute about Cotton in 2004, I made a mention of this as one of my fave memories of Cotton, especially the bit of him proclaiming TC on Arsenio's show the "best player I ever coached" despite of him not being the best rebounder, not always the best passer, or best defender. Tom, early on, says Cotton was the best thing ever for him because "lets you play your best basketball". This was also when the New Kids On The Block were the headliners on that show (notice the young ladies screaming)! Been waiting for ages to see this up on YouTube! But where's the dunking intro leading up to this. Gotta love the intro music for them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r88Q3qBh9U

A 1990 CBS Sports NBA At The Half featurette on Chambers presented by Leslie Visser that exemplifies how he was misunderstood by many of his teammates in his playing days. But everything was better when he moved to Phoenix as the first ever unrestricted NBA free agent. Sure, Seattle was starting to win again with him back in 1986-87 and won the All-Star MVP title for the West. But he was winning more consistently later!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m3HUBBFPC8

Brief bit of him in a 1990 Nike Force sneaker commercial from Foot Locker.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jgOu0u4Fo

I personally like to see ESPN do a 30 for 30 presents documentary on the 1987 Phoenix Suns drug scandal. Why were they doing it and wrecking the clean-cut image of the franchise? Why the immunities? How they held themselves accountable?

[Durbansandshark]

SLAM magazine here just released a special collector's issue of the 500 greatest NBA players of all time. And Phoenix is nicely represented here! With trades and free agent aquisitions over the decades, some Suns lasted more so than others and thus made greater impacts. But as long as they ever donned Suns' purple, orange, copper, white, gray, and sometimes black, I'll include them all. The highest ranking Suns on the list is Shaq at #4, but that's far more attributed to his time in Orlando, the Evil Laker Empire, and Miami than it was about his short stint in Phoenix. The Sun who had the greatest impact on the team high on this list is 1993 NBA MVP Charles Barkley coming in at #20. Back-to-back MVP Steve Nash, the only Canadian on there, is at #50. Jason Kidd is at #28. Players who lifted the Suns out of the mid-80s doldrums and into success up to the mid-90s are in the top 200 (KJ, TC, Thunder Dan, Horny). Walter Davis, DJ, Truck, Paul Westphal, Charlie Scott, Connie, and Larry Nance are all there too. Glad to see Don Buse, Clem Haskins, Mike Bantom, and John Shumate get their dues here.

5. Shaquille O'Neal
20. Charles Barkley
28. Jason Kidd
50. Steve Nash
53. Dennis Johnson
56. Connie Hawkins
66. Gus "Honeycomb" Johnson
98. Grant Hill
99. Vince Carter
102. Kevin Johnson
104. Walter "The Greyhound" Davis
120. Tom Chambers
130. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
132. Charlie Scott
135. Maurice Lucas
138. Paul Silas
141. Paul Westphal
144. Amar'e "STAT" Stoudemire
152. Shawn "The Matrix" Marion
165. Larry Nance
184. Joe Johnson
195. Sam Cassell
197. Stephon "Starbury" Marbury
205. Alvan Adams
212. Danny Manning
230. Jason Richardson
240. Len "Truck" Robinson
242. A.C. Green
263. Dan "Thunder Dan" Majerle
265. Jeff Hornacek
272. Clifford Robinson
281. Xavier "X-Man" McDaniel
283. Eddie Robinson
287. Michael Finley
291. Tom Gugliotta
307. Joe Barry Carroll
311. Dick Van Arsdale
312. Tom Van Arsdale
317. Wayman Tisdale
320. Danny Ainge
344. Jim Jackson
361. Armen "The Hammer" Gilliam
363. Jalen Rose
366. Ricky Sobers
367. Mike Bantom
369. John Shumate
372. Antonio McDyess
405. Cedric Ceballos
420. James "Buddha" Edwards
423. John "Hot Rod" Williams
436. Rex Chapman
454. Hidayet "Hedo" Turkoglu
468. Don Buse
473. Clem Haskins
474. Gar Heard

[Durbansandshark]

Our heroes will not make a playoff appearance this year, as Nashty said at the beginning. That triple overtime loss on the road to that morally corrupt evil empire on TNT??!! That's unacceptable by any means! :evil: It started a losing streak. Nothing ever comes positive after losing to them. And they just lost to Oklahoma City tonight at home. :( But they do hope to finish strong for the rest of the year. They had a lead against Sacramento only for the Kings to win.

Phoenix not being in the playoffs is never fun and, in turn, makes things less fun there. Oh if they made the NBA Finals last season.

[Durbansandshark]

Thankfully the 1990 NBA Western Conference semifinal series between the Phoenix Suns and the Now Deservedly Even More Crumbling Evil Laker Empire is now on You Tube! I'm glad that it is as this was the first time ever the Suns beat that morally corrupting disease in a playoff series. Let's start with Game 3 at the Arizona Veterans' Memorial Coliseum! Gotta love the Phoenix Suns Gorilla looking like Pat Riley! Remember seeing this game live on TV that Saturday afternoon pumped seeing that rocking arena. Don't forget the arena organ.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj4m4Vzq1-Q
www.youtube.com/watch?v=anvZKNkAOio
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiXb9jpIdsw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnN1LA4iPpI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCOz0454VYU
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c5ZgPnf8Ds
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl2zLVF6xvA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu2kZr0jvJM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO6_42cLLpI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDTn0C3AJxI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY6t5C695F8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTwg9C3lIgE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7qj4EEh6Jo

[Durbansandshark]

We're not going to have a little NBA lockout dampen our enjoyment of Phoenix, can't we? :)

Nominations for the next Naismith Hall of Fame induction in 2012 involve former Suns Paul Westphal, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and Paul Silas. I have to admit this is tougher. It would be nice if all three were going to be inducted, but it won't happen. I think Cotton has the best shot of them all. Maybe Paul Silas.

Westphal and Cotton are already Ring of Honor members. If Paul gets in, I'd like to see him wear that tie in tribute to Cotton, like he does at the start of every regular season game.
http://www.nba.com/suns/halloffame_nominees_111116.html

[Durbansandshark]

KJ is actually on the Naismith Hall nominees list too
http://www.nba.com/suns/kj_halloffamenominee_111_23.html

[Durbansandshark]

Our favo(u)rite NBA team in all the land, The Boys From Planet Orange, have their abridged and compressed 2011-12 66-game schedule out (http://valleyofthesuns.com/schedule/). Let me tell you, it is not a very good schedule. They start the season with two home games starting on Boxing Day at home in the Purple Palace when the New Orleans Hornets arrive in town and maybe without Chris Paul, if the trade rumours are confirmed (but not to the NDCELE, more on them later) and then on Monday with Philadelphia.

What is interesting about this lies in the fact the Suns will not face the premier teams out East at home--Miami, New York, Orlando, Chicago, and Boston. The Suns will visit them, several as part of a brutal road trip in January, but not in return. So that means Amar'e Stoudemire won't return to Phoenix with his Knicks. Phoenix won't even visit Steve Nash's home nation of Canada to face the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Their compressed 3-game stretch--every NBA team has one of those this season--falls on February 13-15 when they visit Golden St. and Denver before touching back to face Atlanta and on March 14-16 for visits with the Clippers and Utah and then host the Pistons. Phoenix will will 17 of those at least back-to-back games in the schedule this season. Scorecasting.com says NBA teams wins back-to-backs 36% of the time, imagine how players would end up getting tired during them.

In 16 of the Suns' first 21 games, they face teams that made the playoffs last year. The morally corrupt and arrogant NDCELE is sadly one of them (starting in January 10 at the House of Evil). Other dates with them are Feb. 17 (road), Feb. 19, and April 7 (home). San Antonio ends the season with the Suns at the Suns' home on April 25. Their big home stretch will be from Feb 19-March 18 with 12 of their 14 games then in their friendly confines. Ryan Weisert warns this (http://valleyofthesuns.com/2011/11/28/scheduling-conflict/) about not facing the finest what the opposing conference has to offer. It is a shame that some of the elite players there will not be there to visit the Valley of the Sun like the Boston Three Party, LeBron, and DWade, Melo, MVP D-Rose, and the aforementioned former Sun STAT, depriving Suns fans the opportunity to see them live (Warriors and Thunder will). The Clippers will face them 3x in March alone. Overall, this could help in the win-loss column, but the teams they face that are good (not the NDCELE) but are detrimental to their winning prospects.

Better get on a hot start and win consistently. As long as that NDCELE still exists, Planet Orange MUST remain vigilant and hopefully gain the Pacific.

[Durbansandshark]

9 points in the second quarter last night??!!! Are the Phoenix Suns becoming offensively deficient? How come they let Marcus Camby get 20 rebounds when he even didn't score a basket? I know, scoring isn't really Camby's strong suit. Portland blew away Phoenix largely because of the Suns only scoring 9 points.