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PHOENIX SUNS 2007-2008 SEASON ANALYSIS
You’d better be prepared to hit up the chiropractor, visit the masseuse, and apply an icy-hot pack because merely watching the Phoenix Suns do their thing is enough to cause some serious whiplash. Side effects may also include dizziness, exhilaration, and excitement. The Suns really ought to flash a disclaimer before tipoff because many first time viewers think they are merely tuning in for a basketball game, when in actuality they are buckling up for the roller coaster ride of their life! The Suns do more running and gunning than O.J. Simpson; the only difference is that they do it legally, on the basketball court. Many pessimistic observers and experts alike sincerely doubted that the Suns could maintain their lightning-in-a-bottle offensive mentality with the addition of Shaquille O’Neal. How wrong they were! O’Neal usually isn’t the first player down the court, but he is the new initiator of the fastbreak. After snaring the rebound, Shaquille flips the ball out to superstar point guard Steve Nash, who immediately surveys the floor with the eyes of an eagle. If someone (often Amare Stoudemire) is open, Nash has thrown the ball before most point guards even notice the advantage. Once again, the Suns will finish this year with over fifty wins and a trip to the postseason where they have as good of a chance as anyone to make it to the Finals. PHOENIX SUNS -- TOP 3 PLAYERS1. Amare Stoudemire — 25.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, .8 spg, 2.1 bpg, 80.5% (FT%), 59% (FG%), 33.9 mpg
With the exception of Dwight Howard, there isn’t a big man in the NBA that is a more explosive leaper than Amare Stoudemire. He is in a class of his own as a finisher; STAT is able to dunk or lay the ball in over any defender. His focus when surging toward the hoop is absurd, and he has no problem taking a hit while scoring the hoop. Amare spent hour upon hour recreating his jumper over the summer, and it has paid off dramatically for him in ’08. Stoudemire can now drain fifteen footers, drive around his man and dunk, or get to the foul line (where he shoots 80.2%). Amare is virtually unstoppable on the block and will only continue to improve as his basketball I.Q. rises.
2. Steve Nash – 16.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 11.1 apg, .6 spg, 90.6% (FT%), 47% (3p%), 50.4% (FG%), 34.3 mpg
One of the most brilliant point guards to ever play the game, Steve Nash is still ballin’ at thirty-four years young. Nash brings so much flair to hoops, that you would think he began his career as a streetball master. For any other point guard to handle the ball and dish the ball in such a stylish manner would look forced and mechanical. The difference between Nash and everyone else is that he snaps behind the back or no-look passes with more fluidity than the average starting point guard can toss a simple bounce pass. Considering all of the dimes Steve Nash has dropped in his career, he should be broke by now (dimes= slang for assists)!
3. Shaquille O’Neal – 12.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, .5 spg, 1.2 bpg, 61.1% (FG%), 28.7 mpg
As I mentioned in the team analysis, Shaquille is no longer a basketball vacuum. He is the man that kickstarts the Suns breakaway opportunities. O’Neal will come in handy for Phoenix when a team like the San Antonio Spurs hits the brakes on the Suns’ accelerator with their textbook team defense. Shaq.’s value to the team will skyrocket as he will body up Tim Duncan and clog the paint with his massive frame. O’Neal still remembers how to punish defenders in the post and finish with outstanding strength. Don’t count out the Shaqster just yet; he has a couple more years of productivity before he calls it quits.
For more outstanding Suns coverage visit Phoenix Suns NBA Blog (click here)
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