Phoenix Suns Blog [Category - Brad G. Faye]

Suns-Spurs Rivalry is a Long-Standing Tradition

Sat, 19 Apr 08 15:15:00 UT

I was going through some old photos the other day when I stumbled across one which, to be honest, kind of grossed me out a little.

Brad wears a Michael Finley jersey in better times - when Finley didn't play for the Evil Empire.

There I am, maybe 15 years of age hanging out in Sun City in a Michael Finley Suns jersey. Surprisingly, the key statement there isn’t the fact I was in Sun City (boy, those were some crazy times), but rather the now-throwback jersey I was wearing of a guy who currently calls himself a Spur. It got me thinking about just how deep the roots to the Suns-Spurs Western Conference are and just how long I have loathed the NBA’s Evil Empire.

The first time these two ballclubs ever squared off in the postseason was back in the 1991-92 season – a time when grunge dominated the music industry, Terminator 2 dominated the box office and a certain forward by the name of Grant Hill was helping his Duke Blue Devils to two straight NCAA Championships. Phoenix swept San Antonio in three games, led by young up-and-coming superstars Cedric Ceballos, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle.

The following year the two teams met again, with the workload being carried this time by new Sun Charles Barkley. In the series clinching victory, the Round Mound of Rebound and 1993 MVP would contribute 28 points and 21 rebounds. The Spurs, meanwhile, were led by their future MVP David Robinson, who in 1996 would have his revenge, dispatching the Suns in four quick opening round games.

Finley was a rookie with the Suns that season, while I was in the early stages of being an NBA fan. The Suns were the most entertaining team in the league that 1995-96 season, boasting a great combination of veterans (Barkley, Johnson) and rising, young stars (Finley, Wesley Person).

The Spurs also had a Person on their squad at that time, a sharpshooter by the name of Chuck, who wasn’t the only crafty veteran on the team’s roster. The Spurs that season were led by Robinson but had a plethora of talent surrounding him like Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson, Vinny Del Negro and Doc Rivers.

Different as night and day, the two teams have been acquainted a lot over the years. Since that first postseason meeting in 1992, the Suns and Spurs have met in eight of the 14 seasons in which both teams qualified. For many NBA fans, it appeared the book regarding the rivalry closed with the departures of Barkley and Robinson to retirement and the smooth, front office transitions of guys like Johnson, Rivers and Del Negro. A new chapter was opened in 2002, however, when the Suns drafted a certain high school phenom by the name of Amaré Stoudemire.

STAT enjoyed a memorable rookie campaign during the 2002-03 season, earning himself Rookie of the Year honors en route to helping Phoenix return to the postseason. After a one-year hiatus from the playoffs (a rarity for the Suns organization), Phoenix was back as an eighth seed, and who better to be waiting for them than the San Antonio Spurs?

I was working my old job at the call center the night when Game 1 of that best-of-seven series tipped off. A number of co-workers and I were huddled around a friend’s computer keeping track of the action via a little play-by-play update he had set up on the bottom of the screen.

We read with excitement as Stoudemire’s banked 3-pointer from the top of the key forced overtime, having to contain ourselves as much as possible to avoid alerting the supervisors. By the time Stephon Marbury nailed the game-winner in overtime, our shifts had all ended but there we were, celebrating in the middle of the call center.

When the series returned for Game 3, I was there, watching Stoudemire receive his Rookie of the Year honors and unfortunately watching his 17-point performance come on the losing end of a 99-86 ballgame. That opening round would see the two teams play six games with the Spurs ultimately advancing all the way to yet another championship.

The Suns and Spurs would not meet again until the 2005 Western Conference Finals, with both teams having undergone some major changes by this time. Phoenix had brought back star point guard Steve Nash (his first of two-consecutive MVP seasons in the Valley), while San Antonio had replaced key role players like Stephen Jackson and Steve Kerr with Robert Horry and Brent Barry. What had not changed, however, was the intensity each team displayed when taking the court.

While the final results may have been the same, I’m far less fond of my memories concerning the 2005 series than I am the one in 2003. I was visiting New York at the time and to make a long story short, staying up until two o’clock in the morning to watch your team come up on the short end of a 4-1 series is not a good time.

But for all the good times and the not so good times which have taken place over the past decade between the two teams, the Suns-Spurs rivalry was truly cemented last year in the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals. I have never heard an arena as loud as the US Airways Center was for that dramatic Game 5, and like many other Suns fans, I will always wonder what could have been. Although now that I think about it, there is one solution to finally putting that series behind me. The cure could come in an opening round victory against the Spurs en route to the organization’s first-ever NBA Championship.

On May 22, 2007 I posted a blog about how in my eyes, the results of last year’s series almost guaranteed a Suns title in 2008. I mentioned how everybody had to do the impossible to finally get over the hump, from Peyton Manning’s improbably second-half comeback against the Patriots in 2007 to the Boston Red Sox bouncing back from not only Aaron Boone’s Game 7 homerun in 2004, but a 3-0 series deficit to the Yankees in 2005.

While the latter of the two still turns my stomach to this day, there’s no denying that getting over the hump takes every ounce of determination imaginable and for those who seem to want it most, it always seems to require doing the impossible against those who have always denied you. For the Suns, the path this season could require going through the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers. That path doesn’t concern me in the slightest. I mean, do you think the Suns have ever been more determined than they are now? As a fan who has watched this rivalry almost from the beginning, I can definitely tell you where I stand.

Big Cactus is Bringing Energy Back to the Valley

Fri, 14 Mar 08 06:54:00 UT

When the Suns traded for Shaquille O’Neal last month, I felt like a 9-1-1 operator fielding calls from panicking friends and family worrying that his addition would slow us down.

Shaq jumps back onto the court after a dive into the crowd during Sunday afternoon's win over the Spurs. (NBAE Photos)

My response was always an honest one. I said I didn’t know whether or not the trade was going to alter our style, but I guaranteed the season was about to be a lot more fun.

The Diesel has since proven me right, bringing an energy to the Valley words just can’t describe. Since his arrival it isn’t just the contests against the Spurs or the Lakers which fans are anticipating, it’s each and every game. But that’s what happens when you’ve got a guy like O’Neal always providing the unexpected.

Before the match-up against the Golden State Warriors, FSN Arizona broadcaster Gary Bender and I talked to Mike D'Antoni in his office about O’Neal – specifically the play against the Spurs which saw him diving into the second row of Section 113. Bender suggested that could be the kind of play that turns around a season and the coach in no way dismissed the possibility.

D'Antoni broke his gaze from the Cavaliers/Wizards game on TV and said, “You know, it really could be.”

Later, KTAR’s Kevin Ray stopped in to discuss the play against Memphis where Shaq nearly repeated Sunday’s dive – this time into the Suns’ bench. While chasing down a loose ball towards the home team’s bench, the Suns reserves and coaches jumped out of their seats, expecting the 7-1, 320-pounder to come crashing through. This time, however, Shaq managed to put on the brakes and laughed at his sprawled out teammates.

“We all watched the replays of what happened on Sunday a few times so I wasn’t surprised to see their reaction,” D'Antoni said. “I don’t know what Linton Johnson was doing though. He was wrapping up a 10-day contract. If I were him I’d have taken the hit and spent the rest of the season collecting my checks.”

For years the Suns have been the most fun team in the league to watch, but now they have also become the most fun to talk about. When you think about it, the comedic moment during the Grizzlies game was actually just a play that never happened. Yet here we are two days later still talking about it. But that’s the kind of excitement O’Neal has brought with him from Miami and I don’t think things here could be any better.

Perhaps I’m a bit biased, having followed O’Neal’s career since he first came into the league. I finally had my chance to speak to the four-time NBA Champion earlier this week following a Suns’ practice. I needed to film O’Neal for a quick Suns.com video (look for that soon) and to be honest, I was a little nervous. I mean here was a guy – along with Reggie Miller, Grant Hill and Charles Barkley – I consider a founding father in my history as a basketball fan. Those players are why I started following professional basketball to begin with. In fact, yesterday I stumbled across a photo of me at the 1995 NBA Jam Session wearing a Suns t-shirt while posing with an O’Neal cardboard cutout. Having gone from 15-year-old Suns fan to 27-year-old Suns employee, I can now say the real thing is much more imposing.

As I approached the Diesel, I kept repeating in my head how great a guy everybody in the organization says he is but still I couldn’t seem to relax. I introduced myself, told him I was with the Web site and I just needed a second of his time. It was then I realized I was actually stepping on O’Neal’s shoe. Not enough for it to be really noticeable, but I could feel his shoe just under mine nonetheless. I thought to myself, “How in the world am I stepping on this man’s shoe if I’m standing five feet away from him?” and removed it as smoothly as possible.

Just like everybody had told me, O’Neal was great and meeting him definitely met my expectations. Even better for the team, however, is that he’s also exceeding expectations on the court. Pitching in 18 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, Shaq followed that performance up with a 20-point game against the Jazz and a 16-rebound contest against the Spurs.

I honestly feel, however, with him continuing to get healthier and more comfortable, the best is yet to come. There were two major things taking place on the court for O’Neal and the Suns those first few games following the trade. For starters, the team had to learn how to play with a guy who’s among the most dominant big men of all time. At the same time, O’Neal had to play in an offense which ran through its point guard rather than him.

With their third-straight win coming against the Warriors, it appears the message is loud and clear: For the Suns, the learning period is slowly coming to an end. The timing couldn’t be better as the playoff positioning in the Western Conference is as tight as ever. In just a week’s time a team can go from hosting an opening-round series to being out of the playoffs completely. But while the race in the Western Conference may be no laughing matter, I’m still confident no fans are going to have more fun closing out the 2007-08 campaign than those right here in the Valley. Enjoy.

A Day at the Track

Sun, 06 Jan 08 05:41:00 UT

Just after my family and I had moved to Phoenix several years ago, my parents went to the local horse track – Turf Paradise – to have a relaxing day out.

Me, Allan Greene and my favorite Gorilla of all time hanging out at Turf Paradise.
(NBAE Photos)

Being too young to go myself, I stayed at home, most likely playing Tomb Raider and picking fights with my younger sister. When my parents got back, they said they had a little surprise and handed me a betting stub. Always the polite son, I pretended to be happy about the lackluster gift and it wasn’t until turning it over I saw what all the hype was about. The souvenir featured the autograph of Cotton Fitzsimmons, who at the time was serving as the Suns' chief color analyst on KTAR and KUTP-TV broadcasts alongside Al McCoy. The item went up on my wall and needless to say, has been an important keepsake ever since.

When I first moved to the Valley back in 1994, the only thing about Arizona I was familiar with was Phoenix Suns basketball. I had never heard of a swamp cooler, thought roadrunners only existed in cartoons and soda to me was soda, not “pop”. New to the area, Suns broadcasts quickly became my best friend and the one-two punch of McCoy and Fitzsimmons was a gigantic reason for that.

The accolades McCoy has received over the years have obviously cemented him among the greatest of all time, but it was Fitzsimmons who helped me learn the game itself. Always candid, Cotton held no punches, which was what helped make him so effective. He gave his commentary based on what took place on the court, not what was in the best interest of the organization and the New Yorker in me appreciated that. I went from Suns fan to Suns fanatic during that 1994-95 season, and through Cotton learned the way the game of basketball was meant to be played.

Hard to believe that Fitzsimmons was probably an even better coach than he was a commentator. But with 832 wins and two NBA Coach of the Year Awards, that may have just been the case. It’s been said, however, that what Cotton was best at was being a good person. My parents are two people who say their brief encounter with the Missouri Basketball Hall of Famer led them to believe this to be the case.

With Cotton’s passing in 2004, I regret that I’ll never have the chance to find out for myself. Today though I did have a chance to witness how many more people share the same sentiments as my parents, as life again proved to come full circle. Now as an employee of the team I grew up watching, I had the opportunity to attend the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile, an annual race created in Cotton’s honor at what some say was his home away from home, Turf Paradise.

A number of Cotton’s friends and family were in attendance, as were a number of familiar faces. Guys like Dan Majerle and Steve Kerr, all sharing their memories of the beloved Cotton. The afternoon also gave me the opportunity to meet Cotton’s widow, JoAnn, for the first time. Having never met Cotton, I can’t give my personal impressions of him, but I can say without hesitation that JoAnn is a great woman who instantly made me feel as if I’d known her for years. She is an absolute joy to be around.

Just before the big race, our party was escorted down to the track where we’d have the opportunity to watch the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile run up close and personal. Waiting for the elevator with Steve Kerr, I commented on how I couldn’t resist betting on the number eight horse – a horse with a jockey named Larry O’ Brien. Kerr laughed and said he too bet on the 30-to-1 long shot, whose jockey shared the same name as the coveted NBA Championship trophy. Upon boarding the elevator, Kerr made a revelation which quickly removed the smile from his face.

“Come to think of it, our whole party probably bet on that horse,” the General Manager said. “We probably just messed up the odds for everybody at this track.”

After the race – which unfortunately saw We Brothers come up short – our party had our picture taken in the winner’s circle. As our photo was snapped with the horse that had cost me a year’s worth of comic books, I regretted not taking the betting advice of Web and Publishing Manager Josh Greene and his father Allan more often on the day. Regardless, the experience at Turf Paradise today was more than worth a week without lunch money (especially when Ramen noodles are an option).

While meeting JoAnn and talking omens with Steve Kerr was great, perhaps the best part of today came in seeing Suns legend Connie Hawkins, who has not been around much lately while dealing with some health issues.

I first met “the Hawk” prior to my days as a Suns employee. Having gone to a number of Suns games as a fan, I received an invitation to a Suns season tip-off party being held at the then-America West Arena. Coming off a 29-win season the prior campaign, the assumption was the organization was just desperate to get people inside the building. I brought my friend Filippo and had absolutely no idea what to expect. The party was great and gave season ticket holders the opportunity to have their pictures taken on the court with several players.

Although we were not season ticket holders, Filippo and I still enjoyed ourselves, thanks in large part to guys like Mike D'Antoni and Cedric Ceballos, who were kind enough to pose for pictures with us just off the hardwood. At one point, the two of us were sitting in our seats looking over the autographs we’d collected when a voice asked why we weren’t down on the court with everybody else. The voice belonged to Hawkins who I recognized instantly. Being a basketball historian from Brooklyn, New York, how could I not know who Connie Hawkins was?

I explained to the All-Star that since we weren’t season ticket holders, we weren’t permitted to go onto the court. Almost as if instinctively, Hawkins told us to follow him down to the court.

“Are you sure they’ll let us?,” I asked.

The Ring of Honor member smiled. “I’m Connie Hawkins.”

We followed Hawk down to the court where he organized a photo of Filippo, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and I to be taken. Just before the photo was snapped, I called out to Hawk - who had taken a seat on the sideline - to join in. He was hesitant, commenting on how we didn’t want the “old man” ruining the picture. Shawn Marion called out, “Come on Hawk, old school, new school baby” and the picture has been a personal favorite ever since.

The next time I hung out with Connie Hawkins, I was at the 2006 Phoenix Suns Summer Camp up in Prescott. I had just wrapped up my internship with the organization and was coaching a team of young, aspiring NBA players. The team was off to a slow start and before we knew it, were the only winless team at the camp (you can point to coaching, but I point to a number of key injuries).

Our team was on a bye hour, spending the time enjoying refreshments, when one of the counselors approached with Hawkins. Apparently Hawk had heard about our struggles and wanted to know if he could spend some time with the team. Over the next hour, the Hall of Famer – who could have very easily have been spending the time relaxing himself – coached the team on everything from dribbling to shooting.

Our team went unbeaten in two of its last three contests and left camp with their heads held high. Part of it I credit to the drills Hawk had them run, but most of it I feel was the confidence he had given them. Regardless of what it was, the kids certainly felt the camp feeling a lot better about themselves then they would have had the team gone winless.

You always hear about the Suns family and how it includes not only the players, but the coaches, the front office, the employees and the fans. The organization does its best to prove this each and every day not only with its play on the court, but its work in the community.

I don’t think it will ever cease to amaze me that I am now an employee of the Phoenix Suns. In three seasons now with the organization, the US Airways Center has officially become my second home. As far as being a member of the Suns family, however, it seems it’s been so long now, I can’t envision life being anything but.

Thanks Cotton.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Thu, 01 Nov 07 20:40:00 UT

For most college students, the end of summer vacation comes once school starts in the fall. For the past few years, mine has officially concluded at the ending of Suns training camp. With the team ready to tip-off the regular season tonight in Seattle, I guess I’m a little late hitting the books.

Among the highlights of the offseason was the luncheon for Suns Chairman Jerry Colangelo. (NBAE Photos)

Having been a college student now for what seems like 35 years, it seems like I find myself learning more outside of the classroom than inside it. Not to take away from the importance of school, but my job with the Suns has taught me much more about journalism, videography and life itself.

Take this past summer for example:

READING - didn't do as much of it as I'd have liked, but that usually ends up being the case for me over the summer. I read a couple of novels (counting CliffsNotes), some Suns blogs and of course, comic books.

WRITING - for the Suns I did quite a bit. When the organization drafted Wisconsin's Alando Tucker, I had the opportunity to discuss the move with not only Tucker, but new General Manager Steve Kerr and Head Coach Mike D'Antoni. Both are confident the guard has plenty of potential, not only for his ability on the offensive end of the floor, but his ability to "badger" opponents on defense as well. What the front office like best is the fact both he and second-round pick DJ Strawberry have plenty of collegiate experience.

ARITHMETIC - One Team. One City. One Goal. Mathematically, it added up for Phoenix's first ever WNBA Championship. I'm obviously a bit biased, but don't think it could have gone to a more deserving group. Everybody you speak with from the front office to the players themselves is a class act, and it's no wonder why so many people were pulling for them (other than the fact it involved rooting against Bill Laimbeer that is).

CHEMISTRY - While the Mercury were busy perfecting their chemistry on the court, the Suns did their best to improve their chemistry off of it. The signing of All-Star forward Grant Hill is a move which just looks better by the day. He's looked great in practice and many are predicting he'll be making his eighth All-Star appearance when the game is played in New Orleans later this season.

You can't seem to talk to anybody about Hill without some discussion of the person he is when away from the game of basketball. I’ve had the chance to talk to him a few times now and couldn’t agree more. But to be honest, what’s really impressed me throughout preseason is his decision-making ability. Whether he has the basketball in his hands or not, he seems to do the right thing each and every time on the break. With he and Steve Nash on the court together, Phoenix’s assist-to-turnover ratio could be tops in the league this season.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION - I don't think I ever regretted a workout more than when Jeramie McPeek and I decided to take on Steve Koek and Josh Greene in a little two-on-two. Still in our work attire, we decided to play a "quick" contest to seven points, the winner having to win by two. That little stipulation cost us dearly as we played and we played and we played deep into the afternoon. McPeek and I emerged the victors (although I felt like anything but for the remainder of the work day) but it was Koek who delivered the best line. Passing by the air hockey table, an out-of-breath Steve asked, "Air hockey, why couldn't we just play air hockey?"

STATISTICS - Having been a fan since the day the organization drafted him, going to San Diego with Amaré Stoudemire for the motion capture process was indeed a surreal experience (although I've learned in my time surreal is just another way of admitting I'm getting old).

It was my first time traveling to San Diego and playing video games for “business” and it’s an experience I highly recommend. Speaking of San Diego, I had another great time at Comic-Con this past July. Fellow blogger Adam Beechen and I caught up on old times and Jim Lee sketched me a picture of the X-Men’s Rogue (those of you who appreciate comics can really appreciate the coolness in that).

HISTORY – It was in the making when the Suns.com Newsroom was unveiled on August 8. A number of celebrities were in the house including Stoudemire, D'Antoni and Suns owner Robert Sarver. The organization has been very good to us web guys over the years and the team is definitely enjoying their time in the new digs.

GRADUATION - We’re just a few hours from tip-off now and I am definitely ready to roll. My Suns predictions include a new franchise record of 63 wins, an All-Star appearance for Grant Hill and, of course, an NBA Championship.

Fantasy Draft Day Is In the Books

Thu, 18 Oct 07 23:08:00 UT

I've got good news and bad news. The good news is the NBA fantasy draft has been completed. Ironically enough, the bad news is also that the NBA fantasy draft has been completed.

STAT says he dedicated a lot of the offseason working on his defense, primarily to help our fantasy team with some steals and blocks of course.
(NBAE Photos)

Don’t worry, I think the Suns.com team did a fine job representing and like the real Suns will be a team to reckon with come the start of the regular season. But like with any fantasy draft, you can’t help but look back and think of the things you’d like to have done differently.

But before we get into that, let’s take a look back at how today’s draft unfolded:

7:00 I wake up and see Micah Hart of the Atlanta Hawks has already sent out an e-mail informing everybody of the draft order. Yesterday I discussed the simplicity of picking early in a draft, the benefits of picking later and the stress of picking in the middle. The Suns.com Newsroom Team will be selecting sixth out of twelve. No comment.

8:30 On my way to a video shoot for class and weighing my options. I discussed my desire to draft Amaré Stoudemire yesterday, and while I feel he would normally slide a bit later, I don’t have much of a choice as he definitely will be gone come the second round. On the way down I’m going to complete the one-two punch ideally with an Allen Iverson-type player.

10:55 Not a good sign. I’m literally getting to my desk five minutes prior to the draft. I think I’m having a bit of a panic attack from the rush here and the thought the computer would auto draft Greg Oden for me.

11:01 Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are the first three names off the board, no surprises there. With just three teams ahead, I’m starting to wonder if Shawn Marion will drop my way forcing me to make an interesting decision.

11:02 And just like that, the Matrix is off the board with the fourth overall pick. The only person left even debating taking instead of Stoudemire is big Dirk Nowitzki…. But there he goes.

11:03 And with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 Fantasy Basketball Draft, the Suns.com Newsroom selects… Amaré Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns. Understandable I would want to make sure to grab a key Suns player, but I’m sure people are wondering why it wouldn’t be their two-time MVP Steve Nash. For starters, I think the scoring system in this league is going to favor STAT over Nash. I also think Boris Diaw is going to bounce back and have a solid season and Grant Hill will return to All-Star form. With other playmakers around him, I don’t think as much will be demanded of Nash and I wouldn’t be surprised if his numbers fell a little (to the benefit of the team of course). Finally, Stoudemire has center eligibility and good centers in the NBA are hard to come by these days – especially ones who could potentially average up to 30 points-per-contest this season.

11:05 Steve Nash is selected eighth overall. You’ve got to love an NBA team which has three players selected within the first eight picks. Dwight Howard (who I’m a huge fan of) follows and the first round closes out with two solid point guards, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul, followed by Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala.

11:09 Coming back my way again and believe me, my fingernails are paying for it. Carmelo Anthony just went off the board which gives me a tough decision to make. I’d love to have partnered Anthony with Stoudemire, but I still have Iverson available to complete the one-two scoring punch. Tim Duncan is still out there, but I refuse to give in to temptation. My other options are Yao Ming, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

11:13 Went the route of Allen Iverson. I’ve learned from past drafts that switching things up on the fly generally doesn’t result in much more than aggravation (i.e. Tom Brady). I worry about the wear-and-tear on Iverson’s body, but love the fact I can play a guy at point guard who can explode for 50 points on any given night. The guys in the Suns.com Newsroom are quite disappointed in me, but I doubt they’ll have complaints when we’re hoisting that Championship trophy above our heads… there is a trophy, right?

11:15 Jeramie McPeek is really lacing into me about the Iverson selection. Says he doubt the guy will even show up for our fantasy practices. Practice?!? I stand behind Iverson and while he may miss a few games here and there with injuries, the second round is too early to take a guy who isn’t a sure thing. Yao Ming and Ray Allen are both as susceptible to injuries as Iverson, and Pierce is a question mark in terms of where he’ll fit in with KG and Jesus Shuttlesworth. I expect great things from Pierce and should he be available come round three will be doing back flips over it, but Iverson is a guarantee and in round two that’s what I’m looking for.

11:25 With our third overall pick we’ve gone the route of Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, who happened to be my first non-Sun NBA interview by the way. He’s a great guy and will make a great addition to this team… Plus, Stefan Swiat vowed to take the heat if he gets injured which is an added bonus.

11:28 Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor just went off the board to the Grizzlies.com team. I like Okafor and think he’s due for a breakout season. Thought his injury problems would allow him to slip a little but guess not. At this point in the draft all your explosive scorers have pretty much gone off the board and I’m pretty comfortable with our trio of Stoudemire, Iverson and Redd. Jermaine O’Neal is still out there as is Kevin Durant. Those forwards can definitely light it up, but I’m not too big on O’Neal’s injury history or the fact that Durant is a rookie with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I would happily grab either though were they still available come our next pick.

11:33 This is it. All the superstars are off the board and this is when fantasy titles are won or lost. If you go with those can’t-miss players early like I suggested, you know what you’re going to get out of them. Now is the time for gambling and those guys who could potentially put your team over the top. I’m realizing I haven’t been in a fantasy draft with this many teams before. O’Neal would be a steal if he falls to me with six teams choosing ahead-- and there goes O’Neal to OrlandoMagic.com followed by Rashard Lewis. There’s something wrong with that picture.

11:35 We now have our fourth player in the form of Washington’s Antawn Jamison. You’ve got to be happy with getting an All-Star in the fourth round. Jamison is a great all-around player when he’s healthy and can score from both the inside and outside while also contributing rebounds. Leandro Barbosa was selected just before him which was kind of a surprise. I thought with him being a sixth man, teams would wait on him a little longer. Speaking of surprises, our selection was followed by Ron Artest who I think is suspended the first eight games of the season.

11:42 Although I did not agree with the pick, we’ve gone with Sacramento’s Kevin Martin here in round five (thanks to Swiat). Martin was great for me a couple years back when my dad suggested I grab him towards the end of the draft, but round five just seems way too early for the guy. I scrolled down to look for Grant Hill who is ranked #149. That is a huge mistake for whoever pre-ranked these players. I know the other guys drafting won’t sleep on him that long, but I am very interested in seeing how late I can allow him to slide. If I could draft him come the seventh or eighth round, that would be the kind of pick that really carries a team.

11:46 Jason Richardson has been drafted to close out round five. As we prepare for round six, I’m seeing names like Randy Foye, Andrei Kirilenko, Corey Maggette, Andrew Bogut and Eddy Curry. This is a big round in my opinion as those guys can go one of two very different directions this season. In a league with standard settings, Kirilenko would be the guy hands down. I’m not sure how his type of statistics would work with this kind of scoring, however. Maggette meanwhile will be playing without injured All-Star Elton Brand for a large chunk of the season and will probably be much more productive in Los Angeles.

11:53 Wow, what a series of events which just took place in the Suns.com Newsroom. During a heated debate between the possibilities of Kirilenko, Maggette and Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, the computer auto selected Danny Granger for us. Should Granger live up to his potential and play like he’s capable of playing, we may have just secured that championship… by complete accident.

12:00 Made my pick intentionally this time, Los Angeles Clipper Al Thornton. I’m going to put my stock in Hill being available in the next round and went with our first rookie. I remember watching Thornton when he worked out here in Phoenix over the summer and was more than impressed with his game. With Brand out, he’s definitely going to get some opportunities to shine alongside Maggette and former Sun Tim Thomas.

12:10 The trigger has been pulled, Hill is finally a member of our fantasy team. Maybe a little early in terms of how long we could have waited, but definitely a steal nonetheless. I said I wanted to wait until round seven or eight to grab the five-time All-Star and patience has paid off (maybe I’ll apply that lesson to life sometime). Hill is going to contribute here in Phoenix and expected averages of 15 points, four assists and three rebounds are more than you can ask now that we’re past the midway point. Right now, we’re hoping Jameer Nelson can slip to us so we can grab him as our backup point guard.

12:15 Nelson went the pick just before us to the Bourbon Street boys. I made a controversial move of sorts in selecting Houston’s Steve Francis over Daniel Banks’ suggestion, Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson. Banks was working with the Spurs last season and got the chance to watch Gibson up close and personal in the NBA Finals. Banks says he likes the fight in Gibson and I’m not opposed to the sophomore, but Francis to me has tremendous upside. Don’t get me wrong, I acknowledge he can be a complete bust, but back in Houston and playing alongside Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, big things could be ahead for Francis. And if you can get big things from a guy selected in round nine, you’re team is probably doing big things.

12:29 We were busy debating between Mike Dunleavy and Daniel Gibson when Hawks center Zaza Pachulia was selected for us. I’m not complaining too much as I had all three of them in the queue and had no idea where to go anyway. Each of those three players is so completely different, how can you choose?

12:35 Round 11 now and I’m looking in the direction of Memphis’ Hakim Warrick next. The Newsroom seems to agree and the fact we’d be in unison about anything is definitely a concern. Too bad Chicago is so forward-heavy right now, otherwise Tyrus Thomas would be a solid-- And as I type that, there he goes.

12:50 Warrick it is. Hopefully Memphis’ new Head Coach and former Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni will hook up that run-and-gun system and make him the go-to man for that ballclub. I’ll have to get the message to their new Director of Media Relations Dustin Krugel (AKA Meat) and insure that’s the case.

12:55 Round 12 and I’m very, very hungry. Right now anybody is looking like a good choice as long as they get us to the end of this draft. Derrick Zimmerman of New Jersey is still available, isn’t he?

1:00 Just grabbed Dunleavy who was still available. We’re in agreement that we’re going Acie Law IV next and are currently debating how to close things out here. DJ Strawberry or Sean Marks? I’m in Marks’ corner, but it appears I’m outnumbered. Marks has center eligibility, but the consensus is that Strawberry will make more of an impact with the Suns this season.

1:16 Just waiting to wrap things up. I’m going with Strawberry as our final pick.

1:18 Strawberry is off board and following the selection of Dallas’ DeSagana Diop (Mavs.com, what a surprise) the draft is complete. Here is our roster as it stands:

Amaré Stoudemire
Allen Iverson
Michael Redd
Antawn Jamison
Kevin Martin
Danny Granger
Al Thornton
Grant Hill
Steve Francis
Zaza Pachulia
Hakim Warrick
Mike Dunleavy
Acie Law IV
DJ Strawberry

3:51 Following lunch and a few assignments, I’ve had some time to reflect on our team now. I think if I can accept the fact this is a 12-team league and therefore teams aren’t going to be as loaded with talent, I’ll be more than happy with our squad. My projected opening day starting lineup consists of Allen Iverson, Kevin Martin, Grant Hill, Michael Redd, Antawn Jamison, Hakim Warrick, Al Thorton, Amaré Stoudemire and Danny Granger. All guys with heart (something which the Boston Red Sox could definitely use right about now) and all guys I’m confident will contribute throughout the 2007-08 campaign. I also like the fact that we’re not relying heavily on guys like Steve Francis, Zaza Pachulia, Mike Dunleavy, Acie Law IV and DJ Strawberry, but have them on standby should their services be needed.

Barring any huge, blockbuster trades, I’ll check back in to update you come the start of the 2007-08 season. Go Suns and go Suns.com Newsroom Team (we’ve definitely got to shorten that name).

Sleep Not a Priority as Fantasy Draft Approaches

Wed, 17 Oct 07 21:59:00 UT

It's the most wonderful time of the year... well one of the most wonderful times of the year anyway. Time to start thinking about building that fantasy basketball dynasty and taking your team to the top.

The smörgåsbord of All-Stars, Shawn Marion, is a hot commodity in fantasy leagues with his ability to do it all.
(NBAE Photos)

For me that process has come a little early this year. Usually my friends and I like to reserve our draft for the most last second, most inconvenient time possible. Say five hours before the first game of the season tips off for example. This season, however, the Suns.com staff was asked to participate in an NBA-wide fantasy basketball league – with opponents coming everywhere from houstonrockets.com to orlandomagic.com. Kind of like a “who’s who” in the world of NBA Web sites if you will.

The draft is a day away now, and already my mind is weighing out all the possibilities. During class, all I could do was think of which options are best depending on where we end up selecting. With 12 teams participating, the margin for error is slim. Obviously there aren’t any mysteries with the first four or five selections. Unlike Alex Rodriguez, athletes like Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant are considered can’t-misses when it comes to October. Picking at the end of the first round, meanwhile, has its advantages as you can get yourself a nice one-two punch say in the form of Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson. But where do you go if you’re dead in the middle? Is it too early to pick Amaré Stoudemire or do you chance waiting for him to come around again?

The scoring system in the league is unlike any I’ve experienced before, but it has made my strategy simple. The system gives you a point for every player’s point scored, three-pointer made, assist dished, rebound grabbed and blocked shot… um, blocked. Field goal percentage and free throw percentage are also factored in somehow, but that’s way too much algebra for me.

Anyway, while I am far from an expert in math, there is something which jumps out at me immediately. Most leagues I do are about balance and finding ways to be strong in a number of different categories. For example, you’ll have five different categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals) and win based on the amount of total categories you beat your opponent in. This is obviously where a guy like the Matrix comes in handy. The Swiss Army knife of the NBA can help a fantasy team in a number of ways, from scoring to rebounding to blocking shots and grabbing steals. The scoring system we’ll be using in this league, however, makes guys whose strong suit is putting up points much more valuable.

If you get one point for each statistic, guys like Michael Redd and Ray Allen are much more valuable than in other leagues. Normally I would select Dwight Howard well before these scorers because he’s going to contribute fairly good numbers in a number of different categories. But here, I’ll take 30 points, three rebounds and three steals from Redd over 17 points, 12 boards and two blocks from Howard. Not to mention the fact that Redd is also going to help a lot more in the three-point category as well as free throw percentage (however that works).

So now you see what I’ve been dealing with all day and why a number of times during today’s class I found myself looking over statistics rather than my notes. Tomorrow morning is the draft and I’ll be sure to give you the breakdown of how things play out. Then over the course of the season I’ll keep you updated in terms of how things are going throughout the league as the Suns.com Newsroom Team tries to capture that all elusive fantasy championship.

If anybody has any suggestions in terms of where to go tomorrow, don’t hesitate to throw in your two cents.

Great Expectations

Thu, 27 Sep 07 16:44:00 UT

Both in sports as well as life, I’ve had a reputation for being very good at seeing things well before they develop. Some might even go as far as to call me a bit of a prophet (they don’t, but what better time to start, right?).

Amare Stoudemire and Brad Faye try out NBA '08.
(NBAE Photos)

When the Phoenix Suns drafted Amaré Stoudemire back in 2002, I received a number of calls from friends and family asking my opinion on the selection. For anybody interested in my two cents, my analysis of the youngster was simple – if he could ever develop a consistent shot from about 15 feet out, he would go down in history as a better power forward than Karl Malone. So far, he’s made me look pretty good. The two-time All-Star has scored 6,016 points and grabbed 2,732 rebounds five seasons into his NBA career, despite missing all but three games during the 2005-06 campaign. It’s hard to imagine that had STAT spent four seasons playing college ball, the 24-year-old would have just wrapped up his rookie season last year.

But for all the predictions I’ve been able to make over the years, there’s no way could I have foreseen what would take place just a couple weeks ago. With Stoudemire slated for the cover of the soon-to-be-released NBA ’08 video game, Sony invited me out to San Diego for a front row seat to the motion capture process involving STAT.

For anybody not familiar with the process, it records the movements of a participant – in this case Stoudemire – and maps them to a 3-D model created by a computer artist. In the case of video games, it allows more realistic and fluid motions from the characters being controlled. Quite a long ways from Super Mario and those Dig Dug guys, right?

The technology behind motion capture definitely pays off when playing these games, as you can see the difference between a player of Stoudemire’s size, stature and ability when compared to that of a Chris Paul. It not only makes for a better look to the game, but also makes things much more realistic.

When I arrived, I met up with several people in the video game industry who were there for a sneak peak. While I haven’t been in the video game loop like I used to be, it was definitely comforting to see I wasn’t as ancient as I thought. There were still references to Double Dribble and when playing NBA ‘08 against the experts, I didn’t do nearly as poorly as I expected. Not only did I spare myself embarrassment, but I was even able to emerge victorious in one of my two contests played (thanks in large part to a Raja Bell shot at the buzzer).

While a room filled with video game experts and a web guy would already seem to scream cool (to some, anyway), things managed to go up a notch when Stoudemire made his arrival. The big man hung out, talked a little hoop and did some gaming before calling it an early night.

I also called it a night early (minus some ESPNEWS) as I knew it would be a long day ahead tomorrow. The hotel room was great and minus the radio alarm randomly sounding off at 5 a.m., definitely had no complaints.

The following morning a couple of us enjoyed a breakfast buffet before heading over to Sony Computer Entertainment headquarters where the motion capture process would take place. Although it was early, Stoudemire was his usual approachable self, chatting with Sony representatives about everything from his gold-medal-winning play in Las Vegas to his knee surgery of a couple years ago (I really wonder if seven more All-Star appearances from now that will still be brought up).

Stoudemire then went to work, and an array of jumpshots and slam dunks later, the process was nearly complete. As the animators began piecing things together, STAT and I went head-to-head on the PlayStation 3. Taking over for game designer Steve Boldener midway through the first quarter, I was forced to use the Seattle SuperSonics while Stoudemire utilized himself and the Suns. With the game already out of reach, I just had a little fun, at one point beating both the video game Amaré and the real Amaré to the other end of the court with former Sun and current Sonic Kurt Thomas. Stoudemire questioned the realism of that specific play, but other than that, the game was met with nothing but positive feedback.

Speaking personally, I can honestly say this was maybe the best basketball video game I have ever played. The graphics are unmatched and the actual game play is as smooth and as fun as any I’d experienced in a long time. I think video games went through a period where designers spent so much time worrying about the graphics that the gameplay lagged. That definitely was not the case with NBA ’08 (and no, I am not being sent out several cases of PlayStation 3’s for saying that).

My only complaints came in the fact that when playing at the US Airways Center, the team photographer in the game looked nothing like our own Barry Gossage, and the pre-game introductions were not conducted by Suns game emcee Cedric Ceballos. I mentioned this to Boldender, the game’s designer, and he commented on how difficult it would be to get that specific for each and every team in the league. I stated that it didn’t need to be done for every team and that in the grand scheme of things only the Suns mattered, but the comment wasn’t taken as seriously as I’d intended.

Following lunch, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Stoudemire. Assuming he was going to be burnt out on talking about the motion capture process and the game, I went more the route of STAT’s summer recap and 2007-08 expectations. Needless to say, the All-Star is fired up and expecting big things to come out of Phoenix this season. He was excited about the addition of Grant Hill and says the forward is in the best shape he’s been in for ages. Stoudemire quickly credited our awesome training staff for that and says a new, rejuvenated Hill should be taking the court for the new season.

I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool things as an employee of the Phoenix Suns, but I may be going out on a limb here by saying this was the coolest. As somebody who has played video games since the days of Commodore 64 (thanks Mom and Dad), and for ages has been a basketball fan, there aren’t many better assignments than flying out to San Diego and hanging out with a guy whose career you’ve followed from the very beginning.

In fact, I can still remember the night the news broke that Steve Nash would be returning to Phoenix to rejoin the Suns. I actually told a friend, “The guy I predicted to be the next Karl Malone now has his John Stockton.” Never could I have foreseen that I’d someday go from discussing my expectations of Amaré and the Suns to discussing the expectations of the Suns with the man himself.

When the Chips Are Down

Thu, 16 Aug 07 21:25:00 UT

John Paxson. Mario Elie. It's stung for Suns fans in the past, but never quite like this.

Jeter and Manning have been on both ends of monumental victories and defeats.
(NBAE Photos)

Phoenix's elimination to arch-rival San Antonio for the second time in three seasons was tough, but it doesn't mean there isn't reason to be optimistic.

I know what you're thinking - here we go with another "rah rah" Suns.com blog justifying why next season will be different. I'm not here to predict anything but I did want to stop by and share a few stories with you.

It's hard to call Peyton Manning the most underrated player in football. After all, how do you call a league MVP underrated? It's simple, Manning carries that team and orchestrates that offense like no player we've seen this past decade. He makes reading an NFL defense look easy, and better than any player in the NFL (including running backs) allows his defense to rest on the sidelines for extended periods of time.

For whatever reason, however, Manning just could never seem to take his team deep in the playoffs, particularly when it involved getting beyond the New England Patriots. Even in 2005, after Manning shrugged off his 0-7 record in New England to help improve Indianapolis to an 8-0 regular season record, the Pro Bowler couldn't appear to get over that postseason hump as the Colts fell, this time to the eventual World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

I'll never forget the night Manning was officially able to get over the hump. It didn't come in the Super Bowl, but rather the AFC Conference Championship Game against those Patriots. I was working a Suns game that evening and was unable to watch the memorable gridiron contest. I did, however, receive a number of calls from people who wanted to rub it in that my favorite quarterback on my favorite team was again about to come up short to a team which plays near a city I can't stand. On this evening, I did make a guarantee. To everyone who called to update me on the Colts' 18-point deficit, I spoke of the events which would follow.

In my best rendition of Paul Westphal's 1993 Opening Round Series guarantee, I said, "We're going to win the ballgame. We're going to overcome the deficit and tomorrow everybody will talk about how Manning was finally able to get over the hump after doing the impossible."

Manning indeed pulled off the comeback, riding the momentum to an eventual Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears. The guy who just couldn't seem to beat Tom and his Brady Bunch did so when absolutely nobody gave him a shot - well almost nobody.

The tables were turned in 2004 when it was Boston doing what many felt was a mission impossible. Trailing their long-time rival Yankees in the American League Championship Series 3-0, all sports fans heard about was that fun little statistic discussing how no team in NBA or MLB history has ever climbed back to win a series when trailing 3-0. As if that wasn't enough for the Red Sox, to mount a comeback would mean mounting one against the Yankees, the team which had provided them with a lifetime of wedgies and swirlies.

With the series suddenly tied at three games apiece, I again remained confident. Perhaps biased by my New York blood, I claimed that this was all a marvelous setup, constructed by the Yankees themselves. The team had seemingly ripped out the hearts of Sox fans in every way possible, why not get creative? What better way to hurt a sports fan than by taking one who has gone from hopeless to hopeful and punching them in the stomach?

On this night, however, it wasn't meant to be as the Red Sox destroyed the Yankees in the house that Ruth built - Yankee Stadium. It was the first and only time in my life I actually had people calling me to see if I was alright due to the result of a sporting event. It should have been a sign that I had become too emotionally involved in the world of sports, but of course it didn't.

Life as a sports fan is filled with hard times, but it's those hard times which make climbing the mountain worth it. And there's no better feeling than doing it when it appears you've had your last chance, just ask Peyton Manning or any of the players who were forced to wear Red Sox jerseys in 2004.

A lot of people feel the Suns had their best shot at winning a championship in 2007, but a lot of people also thought Manning could never get past New England and that the Red Sox could never get past the Yankees. When the clouds are darkest are when the great ones rise - and who better to rise next season than a team which calls Phoenix home?

Worth More Than a Hill of Beans

Wed, 18 Jul 07 23:31:00 UT

A lot of Phoenix Suns fans - myself included - were rather disappointed with the way the 2006-07 season ended. This past month, however, I think we've all gotten plenty or reminders as to just how lucky we truly are.

Hill’s first All-Star appearance was right here in Phoenix back in 1995

Hill’s first All-Star appearance was right here in Phoenix back in 1995. (NBAE Photos)

The biggest reminder came in the signing of six-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill. Hill, who was reportedly suited by more than 10 NBA teams, took a significant pay cut to play here in the Valley. The two largest reasons for Hill choosing the Suns – a shot at playing for an NBA Championship and an enjoyable system which fits his style of play. There are a number of teams out there who would love to have just one of those two attributes, let alone both.

“Style of play.” It’s a term I’ve heard a lot since the summer began, particularly from prospects who made their way to the US Airways Center for workouts. It appeared every potential rookie I interviewed brought up the fact that the Phoenix Suns utilize a system which fits their style of play. It’s precisely why Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry have worn smiles from ear-to-ear since being selected by Phoenix on Draft Day.

People want to play for the Phoenix Suns, everyone from aspiring young rookies to All-Star veterans. I think that speaks volumes about not only the organization, but the city and its fans as well. Anybody willing to put up with summers as hot as the ones in Phoenix are, must really like everything this team and this city has to offer.

For players to turn down offers for more money, and from teams in which they would “be the man”, to play for the Suns should make fans as well as the organization very proud. Don’t take this out of context as a direct comparison, but it really is reminiscent of what players have done for years to play for the New York Yankees (considered by many, the powerhouse of sports organizations worldwide). Players taking pay cuts (although you wouldn’t know it by the Yankees’ payroll) to play for a team they can be proud to say they represent is something not done for many organizations.

As far as the moves the Suns have made this offseason, I definitely say so far so good. Hill is not only an All-Star and an Olympic gold medal winner, but a class act as well. He will be great in the locker room and I think will reap the benefits of having other All-Stars around him. With the exception of Joe Dumars early in his NBA career and a young, inexperienced Dwight Howard later on, Hill has never consistently had other All-Star players around him. Now he’ll have three, including a two-time MVP in Steve Nash. As fans, how can you not be excited about a guy who has played in six All-Star Games joining a team as arguably their fourth option??

I think Mike D’Antoni put it best during last week’s press conference when he said, “Arizona just got better, the Suns just got better, even if he doesn’t play a minute. If you’ve been around him and his family, we just got better.”

My favorite moment of the press conference came shortly thereafter when D’Antoni added, “I think he’s a young 35 and we’re looking forward not only to his leadership, but his playing ability.”

A smiling Grant Hill interjected that he is only 34, to which D’Antoni responded, “See, he’s getting younger all the time.”

Obviously D’Antoni isn’t adding Hill with the aspiration the star won’t log any playing time. But it speaks volumes that a guy can potentially make an impact for a team before even stepping onto the floor. Everything Hill does beyond that will be icing on the cake.

I know a lot of people are concerned with Hill’s age, but weren’t a lot of people expressing similar concerns about Nash a few years back? Hill pointed out that the excellent training staff enjoyed by the Suns also played a part in his decision-making process. Also keep in mind this is a guy who played in the All-Star Game just two seasons ago and was a top candidate to partake in the game just this past winter.
Perhaps I’m so quick to defend the age of the veteran because when people talk about him being “over-the-hill” it makes me feel a bit older too. I first moved to Phoenix from New York in August of 1994, and in desperate need of a hobby, began following the game of basketball. I had first expressed interest in the game during the early 90s after Phoenix had acquired Charles Barkley from the 76ers. Although I knew nothing about the sport, I proceeded to tell everybody in New York I was a Suns fan. As you can imagine, that didn’t go over too well.

When the Knicks qualified for the NBA Finals in 1994, the whole city of New York was in a frenzy. I couldn’t help but get caught up in the hype and quickly found myself going from basketball novice to basketball thinks-he-knows-it-all. It was a great series which went the distance of seven games, and while my home team came up short to Houston, the NBA had definitely captured my interest.

I moved out to Phoenix shortly afterwards and the 1994-95 season was the first I planned on following from the beginning. While I appreciated the veterans of the game in Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing, it was the young up-and-comers who most sparked my interest. I loved watching the future of the league in guys like Anfernee Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton. Perhaps it was because I had never really gotten to see guys like Magic, Bird and Michael (at least not at this point), I liked to believe I was watching the quintessential in these younger renditions.

To me, the 1994-95 season produced two of the most anticipated rookies in memory (perhaps due to the fact it was my first season following basketball, I’m not sure) in Duke’s Grant Hill and Cal’s Jason Kidd. Hill was so popular in fact, he became the only rookie ever to lead any sport in All-Star voting (for a game which ironically enough took place right here in Phoenix). While Kidd didn’t qualify for the contest, in no way did he take a backseat to Hill in terms of spotlight. Night after night, the two produced some unbelievable highlights and their play ultimately helped them to co-Rookie of the Year honors.

For Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry meanwhile, their NBA journey is just beginning. And if summer league is any indication, their marriage to Phoenix should be a beautiful one. Having seen Tucker play, I can honestly say he’ll be among the most exciting rookies to watch this upcoming season. He plays hard and does a great job of getting ahead of the pack which makes the Suns even better in terms of their ability to run (which to me is like somebody saying “Yeah, he’s kind of like Superman only stronger”).

As long as the Suns can find ways to consistently rebound underneath the basket, Tucker will often find ways to show off his speed. Is he as fast as Leandro Barbosa? No, but not many are. I think Tucker makes up for that, however, with his ability to think fast. He’s got great reaction speed and in this system, that’s equally if not more important than being fast physically.

Strawberry meanwhile surprised many in the 2007 Summer League, but surprising people is anything but new to the former Maryland guard. The son of former Major League All-Star Darryl Strawberry first began turning heads as far back as the workouts in Orlando, Florida. His defensive toughness matched with his quickness is not a combination seen often in this league. While he’s still obviously a ways away from the overall ability of Shawn Marion (not to mention the All-Star appearances), his play reminds me of the Matrix nonetheless. If Strawberry plays at the two-guard position, his long arms are going to provide many headaches for opponents. It’ll be kind of like when Marion had the task of guarding Sam Cassell in the playoffs a couple years back. The only question right now is whether or not Strawberry’s feet will be able to keep up. On offense, those feet have not been a problem, particularly in Phoenix’s contest against Portland where the New York native contributed a game-high 27 points.

As a Mets fan, I’ll be the first to admit I may be a little biased when it comes to Strawberry. But I’ve seen first hand how dominant those athletic genes can be, especially in Major League Baseball. It’s actually the son of former slugger Cecil Fielder currently leading the National League in homeruns. Just behind him is former Mariner and current Red Ken Griffey Jr. who is of course the son of former star Ken Griffey. Where the children of former Major League Baseball stars rank in terms of NBA stardom, I’m not too sure. Guess we’ll just have to wait until the 2007-08 season to find out.

Summer School Set to Begin For NBA Newbies

Tue, 03 Jul 07 21:50:00 UT

Yesterday marked the first day of the Suns Summer Camp, and while I certainly enjoyed my time out there shooting video, it sure feels good to get out of the heat.

Stoudemire’s summer sessions in 2006, helped him to another All-Star appearance in 2007.
(NBAE Photos)

Making their way out as guests to the camp were the newest members to the Phoenix Suns roster, rookies Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry. It worked out well as you couldn’t have asked for two guys more excited to be spending time with the kids. Of course I’m sure it also felt good for them to get away from the press conference podiums and back around basketball as well. I’ve had time now to talk with each of the two rookies and think both will be great fits for the organization.

Strawberry, while soft spoken, got along really well with the kids once he got more comfortable in his environment. As time went on, he got pretty vocal whenever one of the kids took Tucker to school. I joked with Steven Koek, “I thought we got this guy cause he could play defense.”

While we did draft Tucker in large part because of his ability to guard perimeter players, there is certainly more to the Wisconsin Badger than meets the eye (you knew I was getting a Transformer reference in there at some point). Tucker is quick, smart and experienced. He is also a lot better a shooter than people realize.

On Friday, I had the opportunity to speak with Tucker one-on-one for an article I was working on for Suns.com. I’d done a lot of research on his collegiate career and asked him about the improvement his shooting saw throughout the years. To be honest, I was hoping maybe he could refer me to a specific cereal or magical refreshment beverage which could improve my game, but I wasn’t so lucky. Tucker’s response was simple:

“When I came from high school I was a perimeter player, but when I went to Wisconsin, I felt it better to play a four down low. Because of that, I spent so much time in the post that it ended up being a struggle adjusting when I was back on the perimeter. As I continued playing outside, though, the more and more confidence I got and the better I felt. Of course, it always helps putting in a lot of practice off the court, too.”

Practice is something I don’t see being a problem for either rookie as both are in love with the game of basketball. I’ve never been big on watching the Summer League, but will definitely be tuned in the upcoming weeks to see how these guys do.

Of course there is also some interest in seeing this Greg Oden guy I keep hearing about (I think he’s a center or something, I’m not sure) and some guy named Kevin Durant (who probably only did as well as he did in college having Vince Young as a teammate). All jokes aside, Corey Brewer who went to Minnesota and Al Thornton who will be playing for the Clippers will also make things interesting as far as rookies go.

The Summer League isn’t reserved for only NBA freshmen, however. Orlando’s Dwight Howard and Phoenix’s Amaré Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa have participated as non-rookies and things turned out fairly well for them. Howard is obviously one of the league’s top players, while STAT used the 2006 Vegas Summer League to rehab the knee injuries which forced him to miss most of the previous season. The “Brazilian Blur” meanwhile participated in both the 2004 and 2005 versions of basketball summer school and eventually sped his way to the 2007 Sixth Man of the Year Award.

For the most part though, the summer league is about the rookies. And with a draft class consisting of names like Oden, Durant, Tucker and Strawberry; it certainly should be a lot of fun to watch.

Kerr Brings Winning History Back to Valley

Thu, 07 Jun 07 00:47:00 UT

I've attended my fair share of Phoenix Suns press conferences these past couple of seasons, but none that I can remember had the buzz that today's had.

Kerr was able to capture five NBA Championships as a player with both Chicago and San Antonio.
(NBAE Photos)

Everybody in the Suns family appeared to be down on the practice court to welcome new general manager Steve Kerr to the organization, from employees to coaches to TNT broadcaster Doug Collins. All were on hand to see a very good guy receiving a very good position with a very good franchise.

Standing with Kerr following the press conference, I began having flashbacks of all the times he’d aggravated me as a player in the past. I thought about how he had helped two of the teams I like least in the NBA to title after title after title. Sure guys like Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan contributed, but make no mistake - it’s no coincidence Kerr is the only non-Celtic in NBA history to win four consecutive NBA Championships. In fact, Kerr is only the second player ever to win back-to-back titles with two different teams.

A lot of people will state guys like Steve Kerr and Robert Horry were able to enjoy so much success in their careers simply because they joined teams that were already champion contending teams. Not once do they usually point out, however, that it’s no coincidence champion contending teams wanted guys like Kerr and Horry involved with their organization for a reason.

Talented players who double as good, hardworking teammates don’t grow on trees. Kerr may not have been putting up the numbers that All-Stars and future Hall of Famers like Jordan and Duncan were, but he was a key component nonetheless.

The former University of Arizona Wildcat, who was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1988, began his title reign in Chicago with three consecutive championships. None of which gained him more personal accolades than in 1997 when he nailed the game-winning jumper in the decisive Game 6 against Utah. Following the dismantling of the Bulls, Kerr ventured to San Antonio where the Spurs were able to capture their first title in franchise history. After a stint in Portland with the Trailblazers, Kerr returned to San Antonio prior to the 2002-03 where he would again be instrumental in the postseason - this time in the Western Conference Finals. After having dropped Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs would come from 15 points down in the fourth quarter of Game 6 thanks in large part to Kerr’s four shots from beyond the three-point arc. San Antonio won the contest 79-71 and advanced to and won their second NBA Finals in franchise history. For Kerr it was his fifth and final NBA Championship as he retired at season’s end.

Winning is often an attitude well before it is a result. The Chicago Bulls teams Kerr was a part of were still to this day as good a team I’ve seen in any professional sport. The Gregg Popovich-coached Spurs may not match the Bulls in terms of dominance, but they share the same exact attitude - the attitude that if we play as a team, there isn’t anybody on this planet that can stop us.

Kerr now brings that winning attitude to Phoenix, and while the last impression you get of him is that he’s arrogant, how can you not be a little cocky when you’ve got as many championship rings as fingers on your shooting hand?

He may not have been the best player on the court during those NBA Finals games, but Kerr perhaps said it best when the Suns drafted him nearly two decades ago:

“I think I’m obviously a good shooter, that’s what everyone notices when they watch me play. What they don’t notice probably as much is the fact I know the game of basketball. I’m a good passer; I tend to make good decisions all the time on the court.”

Now with a front office position with a team on the verge of winning its first championship in franchise history, I’m sure Kerr is already thinking about making those good decisions off the court as well… Not to mention getting to work on decorating that other hand.

Rooks and Kings

Tue, 05 Jun 07 23:25:00 UT

People always ask what we at Suns.com do during the summer when the team isn't playing. As much as I would like to tell them about the Monday afternoon movie and the hopscotch tournaments, I usually just reply "rookie stuff."

There isn’t a rookie guard out there who wouldn’t love the opportunity to pick Steve Nash’s brain.
(Barry Gossage/NBAE Photos)

“Rookie stuff” began today at the US Airways Center as NBA hopefuls worked out for Mike D’Antoni and the coaching staff, new general manager Steve Kerr and a host of other front office employees.

I had the opportunity to speak with each of the four young candidates who put forth their efforts (a task which made me feel incredibly old), and saw the glimmer in their eyes when I mentioned the possibility of running with this Suns team. It’s a style anybody in good shape would love to play, particularly young guards such as USC’s Gabe Pruitt and Nevada’s Ramon Sessions. When I asked Sessions how he would feel about picking Steve Nash’s brain, the 20-year-old replied, “To learn from him would be learning from the best.”

Sure it’s a lot easier to dream of being the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when you’re a kid, but you’ve got to admit, going number 24 certainly has its advantages. Unlike the team picking in the one slot, you’re most likely going to a title contender. And odds are the team picking first overall in the draft doesn’t have a player of Steve Nash’s caliber to learn from.

The best part of day one workouts was no doubt when Boris Diaw made his way onto the practice court just after things had finished up. “Am I too late to try out?,” he asked with a smile. Diaw wasn’t trying out of course. By the looks of it, he was there to get in a little bit of summer practice which is always good to see from players. It’s easy – especially at the beginning of summer – to procrastinate working on your game. Diaw has apparently wasted little time in showing how dedicated he is to returning to the form which helped him win Most Improved Player honors in 2006.

IT’S GOOD TO BE KING

I’ve made a lot of changes in my way of living these past several months, among them a personal promise to stop being so thick-headed all the time. That decision certainly paid off during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tired of keeping my arms folded and pouting about how I didn’t want to watch the Playoffs anymore, I kicked back and watched Cleveland’s LeBron James put on an unbelievable show in Detroit.

From about the eight-minute mark in the fourth quarter through both overtime sessions, no player other than James hit a field goal for Cleveland. You see a statistic like that and think, “No way were the Cavs able to beat the Pistons.” But that’s just how good King James was on that night, finishing with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

It was an MVP-type performance and definitely raised an interesting question as to why James wasn’t more seriously considered for the award. I’ve said all along and I truly believe that Steve Nash was the 2006-07 NBA MVP. At the same time, I didn’t disapprove of Dirk Nowitzki taking home the honor. I didn’t buy into the, “But his team got kicked out of the first round” philosophy because to have done so would’ve been hypocritical. I didn’t like people not voting for Nash because he had yet to win a Championship because postseason accolades aren’t supposed to affect voting. Many felt the same way but quickly changed their tune after seeing the Dallas Mavericks eliminated in the opening round by the Golden State Warriors.

While I had no problem with Nowitzki winning the award – his numbers were spectacular – I will always have a problem with why I believe he won the award. With statistics as close as he and Steve’s were, I believe voters used Dallas’ 67-win season as an unofficial tie breaker.

If you’re undecided between two MVP candidates, how in the world do you base your vote on the fact one player won six more games during the regular season? For starters, Nash missed that precise number of games for Phoenix (the Suns going 2-4 in the process). Were the award called “the best player on the team that finished the season with the best record”, Nowitzki would be the winner hands down (the award would also have to be much large to fit all that on it). But the award is Most Valuable Player and I don’t believe because one player wins more games with his team than another, the interpretation should be that he is therefore more valuable.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won 50 games during the regular season. Not a win total to sneeze at, but it was only good enough for second place in an Eastern Conference Division. But while 50 wins may not earn you any number one seeds, can you imagine where this team would’ve finished without James running the show?

LeBron James was hailed the “next Michael Jordan” when he made the jump from high school just a few years ago. Strange that I couldn’t help but wonder during rookie workouts today, “Maybe one of these guys could end up being the next LeBron James.”

2006-07 Season In Review

Tue, 22 May 07 16:07:00 UT

You'll excuse me if this blog isn't up to regulation standards, I wasn't quite expecting to do a 2006-07 recap of the 2006-07 season until later in June.

Jessica Alba is a Warriors fan, hence she can’t be part of the “Fun-tastic Four.”
(NBAE Photos)

That said, I’m going to forge ahead anyway, and I’ll do so without trying to paint a pretty picture avoiding the fact we failed to reach our ultimate goal of winning an NBA Championship. I will, however, take a page from Mike D’Antoni’s book and state that the season was anything but a waste because of that.

Again, there isn’t a Suns fan or employee on this planet who didn’t want to capture a title. But at the same time, there isn’t a Suns fan or employee out there who can say they didn’t enjoy the ride this season.

SEPT. 30 – The Suns enjoy their first practice in Treviso, Italy. Europe was the home for training camp in 2006, the team bonding greatly because of it. Friendships were born and it was kind of like one of those buddy films only instead of two guys you had like 14. The trip had more highlights than lowlights, but the worst moment perhaps came in a Steve Nash-planned trip to a Milan soccer game. As Sean Marks stated, “Unfortunately we were on a bus that's top speed led little to be desired and I am sure that a Suns fast break would have passed it by.” The group arrived at halftime to watch a game which ended in a 0-0 tie.

OCT. 17 – The Suns are back in their rightful home of Phoenix, Arizona for a contest against the Clippers. With D’Antoni preparing for the team which took them the distance in last season’s Conference Semifinals, I have the task of updating him on the Mets-Cardinals playoff game taking place. I ultimately have to tell him the disappointing news that the Mets fell in Game 4 by a final of 4-2. There is no joy in Mudville for Mets fans, and even worst, the Suns fall to the Clippers.

OCT. 31 – The Suns opened the regular season against the team they opened last season’s postseason against, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were without their star Kobe Bryant and as expected, the Suns took advantage early. A late comeback, however, was led by forward Lamar Odom and Los Angeles found themselves 1-0 on the season. The Suns meanwhile were 0-1 but quickly came back the following night against the Los Angeles Clippers and captured a 112-104 victory.

NOV. 9 – Trouble in paradise. Following a 112-119 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Suns quickly find themselves 1-4 on the season. D’Antoni is irate during the postgame press conference and states, “I guarantee the next game we will have some passion and every game out.”

NOV. 17 – As predicted by the Head Coach, the Suns improved their play instantly - a big win coming without the services of Nash against Philadelphia. It is during Phoenix’s 106-94 victory I take notice of Leandro Barbosa. The “Brazilian Blur” is a different player than he’s been in the past, confident and most importantly, poised. He scores 26 points and a la Wilt Chamberlain grabs 10 rebounds in the win.

“I have been playing with a lot of confidence right now,” said Barbosa after the game. “I’ve been comfortable. Everybody has been helping me. The coaches have made me comfortable and I think it’s been good for me.”

NOV. 20 – The Suns play a huge contest against the Golden State Warriors. No, not huge because the California team has found a way to reunite Chris Webber, Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullen. Huge because it is a chance to prove they will bring it each and every night regardless of the opponent - something they’ve failed to do against subpar teams in the past. In a tied ballgame, Nash hits a tiebreaking three-pointer with just 4.1 seconds remaining. Phoenix hangs on for a 113-110 win in ORACLE Arena.

``Our record isn't where we want it to be, but it's only 10 games, and we're still learning how to play with this mix,'' the two-time league MVP said after the win improved Phoenix’s record to 4-6 overall.

DEC. 7 – Boy those Suns sure do learn fast, don’t they? After Nash’s comment about learning to play with this new mix of players, the team wins its next six straight contests and is looking to stretch their win streak to eight in New Jersey. Again it is Nash carrying the Suns on his back, finishing with an incredible line of 42 points, 13 assists and six rebounds. It was a performance reminiscent of Reggie Miller in my NBA Live 96 video game, back when I would go out of my way to have one player do everything. As if the statistical line wasn’t enough, Nash would also hit a three-pointer which would force the first of two overtimes in East Rutherford. In a score which was also reminiscent of something you’d see in a video game, the Suns outlasted the Nets for a 161-157 win.

DEC. 8 – Ignoring my request to give the Suns a night off following the double-overtime affair, the NBA keeps the Suns-Celtics contest slated for the very next evening. Unsure of how the team will perform, Shawn Marion shoulders the load and finishes with 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Suns are again victorious. His big shot with approximately 40 seconds remaining, sparks an argument between my friends and I about what point in the ballgame a shot can truly be called “clutch.” Either way, the Suns are looking good, and unless the league can clone the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, it doesn’t look as if they will be challenged any time soon.

DEC. 20 – A night after winning a franchise-record 15^th-consecutive ballgame, the Phoenix Suns have their contest against the Denver Nuggets cancelled due to snow.

DEC. 22 – Just hours after returning from Denver, the Suns face off against the Washington Wizards and fall in overtime. I make the mistake of heading to the Suns’ tunnel in the third quarter to watch some of the game and eventually find myself standing there a lot longer than I’d anticipated. The results stink, but I do get one of my favorite quotes of the year from assistant coach Phil Weber. Writing a story about both the streak and the team being stuck in Denver, I ask the coach about his time in the Mile High City.

“We were definitely stranded and I got to know our hotel like none other,” the coach laughed. “We never left, stranded at the Westin Hotel and there was definitely no Ginger.”

The quote was definitely a lot better than the one I got from Jalen Rose, who looked at me a little funny when I asked whether or not the trip was a “bonding experience” for the team.

JAN. 2 – With the winning streak over, the Suns begin a new streak to start the New Year. Who better than Barbosa to stretch the new streak to three after his game-winning three-point shot in Chicago? My favorite memory of the shot was no doubt the look on Barbosa’s face. It was hard to tell whether he was grilling the Bulls or in shock. My first interview after joining the Suns organization in 2005 and an overall great guy, I think it is the latter. Loving the fact that Phoenix is winning ballgames they did not the previous season, something about Barbosa is apparent: The “Blur” is no longer just one of the nicest guys in the NBA, he’s one of the most talented. His efforts would be recognized at season’s end when he is named the Sixth Man of the Year. Another amazing story from this game was the Suns receiving another sold effort from big man Amaré Stoudemire. The All-Star finishes with 24 points, 18 rebounds and four steals and has already made the two separate knee surgeries a distant memory.

JAN. 21 – The Suns are hosting a contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. A win would be their 13^th straight, but all I can think about is the fact I’m missing the Conference Championship matchup between my Indianapolis Colts and some team that plays in New England. With Indy trailing big at the half, a friend calls me to rub it in that my team will again be on the short end of the stick. I tell him in my best Paul Westphal voice, and I quote (hence the quotation marks), “We’re going to win this game. Peyton Manning is going to come out the second half on fire and lead us to victory. Then tomorrow everybody will talk about what a great game it was and how Manning had to do the impossible in order to finally get past New England.” The Colts win the contest, 38-34 and two weeks later defeat the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.

JAN. 26 – The Suns are still enjoying their second amazing streak of the season and are in Milwaukee for what I’m seeing a potentially dangerous contest. I hope the guys keep their focus on the Friday night contest against the Bucks and not on the Cleveland Cavaliers who they’ll play in a nationally televised contest that Sunday afternoon. Shawn Marion pulls down 23 rebounds as the Suns remain hot in the cold Milwaukee weather, winning 98-90.

JAN. 29 – In Minnesota, the new franchise record of 17-consective wins is snapped. Kevin Garnett is unstoppable and scores 44 points in one of the Timberwolves’ few bright moments of the season. Raja Bell leads the Suns with 26 points, including five shots from beyond the three-point arc. He would ultimately go on to tie Gilbert Arenas for the league lead in that category in addition to receiving All NBA Defensive Team honors.

FEB. 1 – A great night as the Suns defeat the San Antonio Spurs 103-87 at home. I rush to the arena following my night class at ASU just in time to watch us put on the finishing touches in the blowout victory. It’s a great occasion as I have always had more venom towards the Spurs than any of our other rivals. I guess it’s a case of Yankees-Red Sox syndrome of hating the team that seems to put you on your butt more than the others. Ever since Stoudemire and Stephon Marbury raised eyebrows against them a few years back, I have disliked San Antonio more than any other NBA franchise. They wouldn’t end up doing themselves any favors come May of this very season.

FEB. 18 – Three Phoenix Suns represent the team in Las Vegas for the All-Star Game, although Nash is unable to participate due to injury. Marion and Stoudemire help the Western Conference and their coach Mike D’Antoni to a victory, STAT nearly capturing the game’s MVP Award in the process.

MAR. 14 – I watch the NBA’s game of the year at the Rokerij – a restaurant ran by my good friend Clark. With the Mavericks seemingly having the game in hand, Clark grabs his “lucky charm” in the form of a flashing Phoenix Suns hat. The headpiece is beyond ridiculous but somehow manages to get the job done. Nash helps too I guess, scoring 10 points in the final minute of regulation and like he did in Jersey, forces the first of two overtimes with a clutch trifecta in the closing seconds. The Suns go on to win a nail biter 129-127 and the hat is immediately sent off to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Our hope is that it can find a home next to the basketball used the night Chamberlain scored 100.

APR. 14 – In what would prove to be one of the longest days of our lives, my friend Wes and I watch the Suns blowout the Jazz from a restaurant in Tempe. It would also prove to be the last regular season win for the Suns who would drop their final two contests against the Houston Rockets and Clippers. Even with the two-game skid to end the season and the slow start which began it, the Phoenix Suns still finish with an impressive 61-21 record overall.

APR. 22 – The Suns open up the 2007 NBA Playoffs against their long-time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. I’m immediately reminded of what my biggest gripe with the team is – their pushy media. Following the Suns 95-87 win, I wait outside the Lakers locker room for reaction. The doors are open and a member of the Los Angeles media literally shoves two people out of his way to be the first inside. I wear a wide grin as he realizes that all he’s rushed into is an empty locker room as players haven’t finished showering.

APR. 24 – Another win over the Lakers, this one in blowout fashion. Phoenix burns Los Angeles 126-98 and I almost find myself sympathizing with the losing ballclub following the game (I repeat, almost). When I ask Kwame Brown what this Lakers team can do to slow down Phoenix, the center morbidly responds, “I was hoping you could figure that out and tell me man. Hopefully the coaching staff will figure something out because whatever it is, this isn’t working.” The mood in the locker room leads me to believe this thing will be over in four.

MAY 2 – It ends up taking five games, but the Suns to dispatch the Los Angeles Lakers after a 119-110 victory in Phoenix. The best moment of the day is when Bell – a new proud papa – tells me he enjoyed my Suns.com story about his being named to the All-Defensive Team. I ask him if this means I can have the trophy he received for his three-point efforts. He declines.

MAY 6 – The San Antonio Spurs make their way into town. Perhaps it is my subconscious dislike for the boys in black and silver, but it’s apparent early I won’t become friends with anyone on this team soon. Bruce Bowen gets aggravated at my holding the microphone too close to his mouth while Michael Finley asks me if a question of how to slow down a Suns team clicking on all cylinders is a “trick question.” I wanted the Lakers out of this building because of their media, I want this team out of this building because they’re making me feel like a rookie.

MAY 14 – The game which changes the series in favor of the Spurs comes after a Suns victory (go figure, right?). Robert Horry’s flagrant foul on Nash ends a 104-98 Phoenix victory, but leads to the suspensions of both Stoudemire and Boris Diaw who left the Suns bench during an altercation.

MAY 16 – One of the most heroic displays in NBA history takes place in the US Airways Center during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Undermanned, the Phoenix Suns hold their own with the Spurs through three and a half quarters of play. The game gets away from them late, however, and they fall by a score of 88-85. With a nation now rallying behind this team, it’s as close to a moral victory as one can get in the postseason. Nevertheless, the team now faces elimination.

MAY 19 – I report to the arena after a long night of Game 6. The Suns players will be cleaning out their lockers and it is the last chance for members of the media to get reaction on a season which didn’t meet expectations. The guys are as cool as you can be after being eliminated from the postseason, questions already surfacing on what changes – if any – the team will undergo during the offseason.

Today – I realize the importance of keeping a journal. This way next season’s “year-end wrap up blog bonanza” won’t be as difficult to write. It’s also a pretty good idea because it very well could chronicle a season which sees the Suns win their first NBA Championship.

A while back fellow blogger Adam Beechen issued a challenge to find a nickname for this scrappy, never-say-die Phoenix Suns team. After watching the effort they give while short-handed in Game 5, I think I have one. Comic book characters are notorious for never saying die. They’ll give you every thing they’ve got and even when they do fall short, still manage to make a return issues later (sometimes they do these “clone” storylines which drive me crazy, but that’s besides the point).

Anyway, this Suns team has battled as much adversity as one team can these past three seasons. Joe Johnson missing a crucial part of the 2005 postseason, Stoudemire missing nearly all of last season including the playoffs and the suspensions this year which cost them two of their top players. But the Phoenix Suns never bow out easy, they keep fighting, keep scrapping. And being that Beechen is in the business of writing comic books himself, I think it fitting to name them after a comic book team. To me these Suns will always be “The Fun-tastic Four.”

The Fun-tastic Four - Nash, Stoudemire, Barbosa and Marion - the four players who have remained constants on this roster since the two-time MVP made his way back to Phoenix. Nash is of course Mr. Fantastic himself and like the super team’s leader, never seems to disappoint. Stoudemire is The Thing, at times an unmovable force down low and this season proving to be a rock in terms of stability. Barbosa’s speed make him a Human Torch in his own right, Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson stating the nickname “Blur” doesn’t begin to do his speed justice. Finally you’ve got Marion who in terms of the national media has at times been Phoenix’s underappreciated Invisible Man. When you do something so good for so long, it’s funny how people begin to take you for granted.

But while it’s okay to be disappointed that this team didn’t bring Phoenix its first NBA Championship (yet), let’s realize that at times the grass has been greener on our side. I’ll take a ring in a second, but would you want it done any other way? The recap you just read provided double-overtime thrillers, amazing performances and team with a heart the Wizard of Oz himself couldn’t provide. There are a number of NBA fans who would kill to have that excitement surrounding their team day in and day out, so let’s not take that for granted.

A perfect example of this perhaps coming in the fact the San Antonio Spurs failed to sell out their Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Utah Jazz. While I don’t mean to imply winning a championship any way possible is fun, you can’t fail to see the irony. The Suns sold out every game of the 2006-07 season, but ultimately fell short. The Spurs meanwhile didn’t play in front of a sold out crowd when just eight wins away from the title themselves.

One who loves metaphors, I’ve got one which sums up the juxtaposition between these two teams perfectly. The Spurs are like the movie “The Piano.” Sure it wins all kinds of fancy awards, but does anybody really leave the theatre in ecstasy of what they’ve just seen? Do you call your buddies like, “Dude, you’ve got to see The Piano, you’ll have a blast.” The Suns – for these past three seasons anyway – have been more like Spider-Man. Everybody who sees it seems to enjoy themselves and everybody tells everybody they know it’s a must see. I’d much rather watch the latter.

I knew Peyton Manning would come through for Indianapolis because I know the way it usually works is that the great ones come through only after having their hearts torn out. It seemed to take Michael Jordan forever to get past the Pistons. The Boston Red Sox were crushed after their 2004 defeat to the Yankees and found themselves down 3-0 to New York the following year before getting over the hump. Great athletes never say die. Just like the “Fun-tastic Four.”

Suns vs. Spurs an Epic Battle

Mon, 07 May 07 23:21:00 UT

I don't know about you, but I slept pretty good last night. In fact, I even had to stop my viewing of "Seven Samurai" prematurely because I was so ready to hit the hay.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan is a large, intimidating, serious presence.
(NBAE Photos)

A combination of Spiderman 3 midnight showings and night-after-night of watching the Mets beat the Diamondbacks played a factor, sure. But in large part, my full night of sleep had to do with how good I’m now feeling about this Western Conference Semifinals series. In fact, if anything, I’m feeling even more confident than I was before the series began.

You look at everything that went against the Phoenix Suns and you’ve got to be amazed they were even in this ballgame. Amaré Stoudemire struggles, shooting just 6-for-19 and still finds a way to finish with 20 points and 18 rebounds. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker shoot lights out and finish with 33 and 32 respectively. The Spurs as a whole seemed to come up with every loose ball and a number of critical rebounds which led to second and sometimes third-chance opportunities. And finally you’ve got Steve Nash who found himself finishing a game without a double-double for the first time this postseason – and, oh yeah, missing the most crucial moments of the ballgame with a busted nose.

Everything seemed to be working against the Suns in Game 1 and still the game was undecided with just seconds to go. You’ve got to expect Stoudemire to get better as the series improves. You’ve got to expect Mike D’Antoni to find ways to slow down Duncan and Parker. You’ve got to believe Duncan and Parker will come back to Earth and are not each going to each average 30 points per game for the entire series. And you’ve got to expect Nash to be able to keep his face in one piece. Would just one of those things happened on Sunday, the Suns would find themselves up 1-0 in this series rather than the other way around.

I had the opportunity to take in both Suns practice and Spurs practice today, definitely a cinematic-like experience. The juxtaposition between these two well-run ball clubs is just amazing. The Suns are loose, friendly with the media – even referring to some members by name. Watching the Spurs with their Head Coach Gregg Popovich patrolling the court… well let’s just say the 1980 Russian hockey team came to mind. These guys are the perfect antagonists, I mean, they even wear black. You talk about a series of good versus evil, had Spiderman 3 had half the intrigue as this match up, it probably would’ve made for a decent movie.

Popovich is the no-nonsense coach, somebody you don’t want to ask the wrong question to. D’Antoni meanwhile is accessible and easy-going, there isn’t anybody in the world who doesn’t like him.

Nash is personable, the kind of guy who would help a little old lady across the street – a Luke Skywalker or Peter Parker if you will. He’s also got a lot better sense of humor then most people know. Case in point was during his post-game press conference following Game 1. Walking away from the podium after answering questions, Suns Vice President of Basketball Communications Julie Fie informed the media that Nash had required a total of six stitches. Nash – exiting the room – shouted back towards Julie, “Tell them it was 17.” Keep in mind this was after a loss, you can only imagine the good times following a victory.

Duncan on the other hand is large and intimidating, a guy not known as a jokester. In fact, you’d have a better chance of seeing Russell Crowe doing standup than you would the former league MVP.

There are lots of good guys on this team. Michael Finley – my favorite Sun growing up – has been a standup guy whether in Phoenix, Dallas or Houston. Manu Ginobili is also a personable guy who at times is hard to dislike. But despite all that, the San Antonio Spurs are in my eyes, the Evil Empire of the NBA… Only instead of Storm Troopers and Death Stars they’ve got All-Stars and fancy iced-out rings.

The bottom line is that playoff series are about adjusting, and after watching Game 1 it doesn’t take a genius to realize these two teams aren’t that far off. With that being the case, I think we’re in for a very long series ahead of us. One in which the good guys will hopefully find themselves on the winning end of.