DeAnna
Just A Face in The Crowd
I liked the reference to Tim Duncan 
Suns will win it all, and we can prove it
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 31, 2007 12:00 AM
It's amazing, but the Suns have just had a 17-game winning streak snapped on the heels of a 15-game winning streak, both of which were franchise records at the time, and yet there are haters.
We're serious.
We got a call last week from a skeptic, who didn't leave his name. However, he did leave a rambling voice-mail message about how we're all getting excited about the Suns and "their little streaks" but they're still the Suns and, just you watch, they'll go out in the second round, and then won't everybody look stupid? advertisement
Some people are happiest when they're totally miserable, if that makes any sense.
And if they can make everybody else miserable, well, that's nirvana.
We would rather enjoy this Suns team and just see where it takes us all.
It has its problems, for sure. The Marcus Banks acquisition hasn't worked out as expected, and therefore the bench isn't very deep. Not that Mike D'Antoni would use it, anyway.
They've also played a schedule during the first half of the season front-loaded with Eastern Conference opponents. They are 16-8 against the Western Conference, including a 2-6 mark against the other Western Conference teams among the top six: Dallas, San Antonio, Utah, Houston and the Lakers. Both wins came against Houston.
Several of those losses came early, however, when they were still trying to figure out what they had with Amaré Stoudemire (a lot) and how he would fit in (just fine, thanks).
And they've been in every game they've lost. They'd have beaten Utah both times had Leandro Barbosa not missed a couple of point-blank layups.
Anyway, there is an awful lot to like about this team, and it doesn't look to us like those Suns teams of the past.
Here's why we not only think they can win it all, but will:
• STAT: Stoudemire has given them an interior presence defensively and gets them into the bonus (free throws) earlier. They missed both last season, yet still made the Western Conference finals.
• Dare we say it: Everybody talks about their nonconformist offense, but their defensive philosophy is different, too. They defend the three-point line, and they don't foul.
(Going into Tuesday's games, only San Antonio fouled less than the Suns, and that's because, as we all know, Tim Duncan never commits a foul.)
• Road warriors: Nothing means more in the NBA than the ability to win games on the road. As impressive as those 15- and 17-game streaks were, the 17-1 record the Suns had in the 18 road games before they lost in Minnesota is just ridiculous.
• It means something: In the NBA, regular-season records mean a lot. Since the league expanded the playoffs to 16 teams in 1984, the team with the best record has reached the Finals 14 times and won 12 championships. The team with the second-best record has won another six times in that span.
Second has actually been better lately. The team with the second-best record has won three of the past six titles.
• NBA conspiracy theories: We don't really believe that the powers of the NBA fix stuff, but we figure that if Commissioner David Stern ever was going to pull something hinky, it would be on his nemesis, Mark Cuban, whose Mavericks are in lock-step with the Suns. Come to think of it, weren't they heavily favored in the Finals last season only to lose to Miami?
Hmmmmm.
• Purple finger of fate: Whatever you might think of owner Robert Sarver's methods, he seems to have that Midas touch. And have you noticed him this season? We haven't either. Karma likes a low profile.
• Reward the rules: The league changed the rules to improve scoring and open up the game. The Suns are its shining example of what is possible. Playoff axioms don't necessarily apply.
• MatriX-factor: He scores. He blocks shots. He steals the ball. He rebounds. He sells furniture.
There's only one Shawn Marion in the NBA, and the Suns have him.
• The dues are paid: Often, great teams first must come close and lose before they understand what it takes to win championships. The Suns have lost the past two years in the Western finals. It's their time.
• Steve Nash: The Houdini of the Hardwood will find a way.
Suns will win it all, and we can prove it
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 31, 2007 12:00 AM
It's amazing, but the Suns have just had a 17-game winning streak snapped on the heels of a 15-game winning streak, both of which were franchise records at the time, and yet there are haters.
We're serious.
We got a call last week from a skeptic, who didn't leave his name. However, he did leave a rambling voice-mail message about how we're all getting excited about the Suns and "their little streaks" but they're still the Suns and, just you watch, they'll go out in the second round, and then won't everybody look stupid? advertisement
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Some people are happiest when they're totally miserable, if that makes any sense.
And if they can make everybody else miserable, well, that's nirvana.
We would rather enjoy this Suns team and just see where it takes us all.
It has its problems, for sure. The Marcus Banks acquisition hasn't worked out as expected, and therefore the bench isn't very deep. Not that Mike D'Antoni would use it, anyway.
They've also played a schedule during the first half of the season front-loaded with Eastern Conference opponents. They are 16-8 against the Western Conference, including a 2-6 mark against the other Western Conference teams among the top six: Dallas, San Antonio, Utah, Houston and the Lakers. Both wins came against Houston.
Several of those losses came early, however, when they were still trying to figure out what they had with Amaré Stoudemire (a lot) and how he would fit in (just fine, thanks).
And they've been in every game they've lost. They'd have beaten Utah both times had Leandro Barbosa not missed a couple of point-blank layups.
Anyway, there is an awful lot to like about this team, and it doesn't look to us like those Suns teams of the past.
Here's why we not only think they can win it all, but will:
• STAT: Stoudemire has given them an interior presence defensively and gets them into the bonus (free throws) earlier. They missed both last season, yet still made the Western Conference finals.
• Dare we say it: Everybody talks about their nonconformist offense, but their defensive philosophy is different, too. They defend the three-point line, and they don't foul.
(Going into Tuesday's games, only San Antonio fouled less than the Suns, and that's because, as we all know, Tim Duncan never commits a foul.)
• Road warriors: Nothing means more in the NBA than the ability to win games on the road. As impressive as those 15- and 17-game streaks were, the 17-1 record the Suns had in the 18 road games before they lost in Minnesota is just ridiculous.
• It means something: In the NBA, regular-season records mean a lot. Since the league expanded the playoffs to 16 teams in 1984, the team with the best record has reached the Finals 14 times and won 12 championships. The team with the second-best record has won another six times in that span.
Second has actually been better lately. The team with the second-best record has won three of the past six titles.
• NBA conspiracy theories: We don't really believe that the powers of the NBA fix stuff, but we figure that if Commissioner David Stern ever was going to pull something hinky, it would be on his nemesis, Mark Cuban, whose Mavericks are in lock-step with the Suns. Come to think of it, weren't they heavily favored in the Finals last season only to lose to Miami?
Hmmmmm.
• Purple finger of fate: Whatever you might think of owner Robert Sarver's methods, he seems to have that Midas touch. And have you noticed him this season? We haven't either. Karma likes a low profile.
• Reward the rules: The league changed the rules to improve scoring and open up the game. The Suns are its shining example of what is possible. Playoff axioms don't necessarily apply.
• MatriX-factor: He scores. He blocks shots. He steals the ball. He rebounds. He sells furniture.
There's only one Shawn Marion in the NBA, and the Suns have him.
• The dues are paid: Often, great teams first must come close and lose before they understand what it takes to win championships. The Suns have lost the past two years in the Western finals. It's their time.
• Steve Nash: The Houdini of the Hardwood will find a way.
