I first wish to express my appreciation for the show my beloved Suns have put on over the last three years. I still wish that Joe Johnson hadn’t gotten hurt. I would have loved to have seen what they could have done without so many injuries last year and I must express my pride in what they have done so far this year in coming together and incorporating the many different pieces. I wish to say how much I appreciation all their efforts.
That having been said, I look forward to the rest of this season and ‘what may be.’ My first prerequisite of course is that they have to remain healthy. If they can somehow escape the injury bugaboo, this team has the ability to accomplish some amazing things. For the first time in watching my suns since I was a little kid in the 70’s, I firmly believe this Suns team can beat ‘anyone’, ‘anytime’, ‘anywhere’. That doesn’t mean that they are going to win every game, and I am certainly not happy with the outcome of tonight’s game. However, they are showing me signs of what they can become.
Steve is Steve, Amare’s getting back to his incredible self, gotta love the Matrix, Diaw’s finally back in shape (even though he still needs to get more aggressive), and finally they are showing they have a bench that can compete significantly when needed.
Sorry if I’m drinking the cool-aid, however I do realize the Suns have to make improvements. They have to improve their defense, of course, but they are improving and sorry, but NO team comes together in one year and becomes a great defensive team. While some of the pieces have been here, not all of them have been together consistently. This team has to learn their defensive rotations, and learn to trust one another. The may never be the best defensive team in the league, but they can become a top team. Also, at the end of games, in the crunch they have to rely more on Amare and Steve. Sorry, I love Barbosa and his potential, but until he learns to keep his head up, he is not a ‘cluch’ player and shouldn’t be in during the last two minutes of games. I hope he proves me wrong but, he is a black hole. That’s fine if you’re Amare, and produce or get fouled, but Barbosa is not a superstar, hasn’t proven himself and won’t get the calls when it counts.
Anyway, I look forward to the rest of the season and don’t care who we play. I hope to get Denver at full strength. I want to play the Dallas’s and the San Antonio’s healthy. They need to prove their metal. They may lose some of these games. But were the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and great teams of the past ‘afraid’ to play anyone? No! That’s the way the Suns need to become. Dallas and San Antonio are great teams, but they don’t have a lot of room to improve. The Suns are just tapping into their potential.
If they stay healthy, and of course with the Suns that’s a big if, I think they can get to the All-Star game with a record of 42-10. Every game is winnable, but that Denver reschedule, will be tough. However, instead of being irritated or disappointed, it has to be looked upon as a challenge and opportunity. I hope that’s how they look at the rest of the season. As a way to prove that this team is something special and will be looked back upon as a team of destiny and spirit. After the break I really believe they can go on a real run and go 23-7 or 26-4. This would put them at 65 to 68 wins, which I definitely think would be the best record in the league. If they really play well I honestly think 70 is possible.
Of course a lot would have to fall in place, but for the first time, after watching Amare again show his potential tonight, I look forward to each test and say bring it on. Perhaps this season will again end in disappointment, however, if this team wants to truly achieve the ultimate prize, they have to ‘get to work’ after a loss like this and prove what they’re made of and not let anything get in their way. I enjoy how much fun they have put back into what basketball is supposed to be and look forward to each and every game.
Go Suns, thanks for all your efforts.
That having been said, I look forward to the rest of this season and ‘what may be.’ My first prerequisite of course is that they have to remain healthy. If they can somehow escape the injury bugaboo, this team has the ability to accomplish some amazing things. For the first time in watching my suns since I was a little kid in the 70’s, I firmly believe this Suns team can beat ‘anyone’, ‘anytime’, ‘anywhere’. That doesn’t mean that they are going to win every game, and I am certainly not happy with the outcome of tonight’s game. However, they are showing me signs of what they can become.
Steve is Steve, Amare’s getting back to his incredible self, gotta love the Matrix, Diaw’s finally back in shape (even though he still needs to get more aggressive), and finally they are showing they have a bench that can compete significantly when needed.
Sorry if I’m drinking the cool-aid, however I do realize the Suns have to make improvements. They have to improve their defense, of course, but they are improving and sorry, but NO team comes together in one year and becomes a great defensive team. While some of the pieces have been here, not all of them have been together consistently. This team has to learn their defensive rotations, and learn to trust one another. The may never be the best defensive team in the league, but they can become a top team. Also, at the end of games, in the crunch they have to rely more on Amare and Steve. Sorry, I love Barbosa and his potential, but until he learns to keep his head up, he is not a ‘cluch’ player and shouldn’t be in during the last two minutes of games. I hope he proves me wrong but, he is a black hole. That’s fine if you’re Amare, and produce or get fouled, but Barbosa is not a superstar, hasn’t proven himself and won’t get the calls when it counts.
Anyway, I look forward to the rest of the season and don’t care who we play. I hope to get Denver at full strength. I want to play the Dallas’s and the San Antonio’s healthy. They need to prove their metal. They may lose some of these games. But were the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and great teams of the past ‘afraid’ to play anyone? No! That’s the way the Suns need to become. Dallas and San Antonio are great teams, but they don’t have a lot of room to improve. The Suns are just tapping into their potential.
If they stay healthy, and of course with the Suns that’s a big if, I think they can get to the All-Star game with a record of 42-10. Every game is winnable, but that Denver reschedule, will be tough. However, instead of being irritated or disappointed, it has to be looked upon as a challenge and opportunity. I hope that’s how they look at the rest of the season. As a way to prove that this team is something special and will be looked back upon as a team of destiny and spirit. After the break I really believe they can go on a real run and go 23-7 or 26-4. This would put them at 65 to 68 wins, which I definitely think would be the best record in the league. If they really play well I honestly think 70 is possible.
Of course a lot would have to fall in place, but for the first time, after watching Amare again show his potential tonight, I look forward to each test and say bring it on. Perhaps this season will again end in disappointment, however, if this team wants to truly achieve the ultimate prize, they have to ‘get to work’ after a loss like this and prove what they’re made of and not let anything get in their way. I enjoy how much fun they have put back into what basketball is supposed to be and look forward to each and every game.
Go Suns, thanks for all your efforts.
