This preseason has been very confusing. While the Suns poor record may not be very meaningful, especially with most games being away from Phoenix, some things seem to me unusual. We still have 16 players on our roster. In the past, the Suns by now would be down to 12 or 13 with the rotations more or less set. But this preseason so far only one player, Atkins, has been cut, while the players who are unlikely to make the final roster are still getting playing time. It seems the front office and/or coaching staff is still uncertain as to who to keep.
As for the record itself, I don't like the excuse that we have too many new players to integrate. Back in 2004 the Suns went 7-1 in the preseason after adding two starters, including Nash, in the summer. Next year, after losing JJ and revamping most of the roster again, the Suns went 6-2. The 1-5 record is as bad as I can ever remember the Suns start preseason, and the margin of losses in particular should be a bit alarming. It's true that the starters have played relatively well and that the bench is mainly responsible for the losses. But our bench was key last season and they've only lost Amundson (Barbosa didn't play much last year) so there is no excuse for them struggling this much. On paper, the bench has only gotten better.
I really think that Gentry needs to play the last two preseason games as if they counted and use the rotations he is planning on using during the regular season. There are only three days off between the last preseason game and the season opener, and the transition will be difficult if the Suns are still using the last two games to evaluate players and determine rotations. Also, it is time to cut Dowdell and either Jones or Siler. The next two games are at home, so it's a perfect time to get in regular season mode with the tough schedule coming up to start the season.
