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The NBA's biggest early-season surprise?
I'll take Phoenix, just ahead of Seattle.
Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune
Before the season, the Suns appeared to be improved after constructing a new backcourt that features ex-Mav Steve Nash and ex-Clipper Quentin Richardson.
But would undersized Phoenix be good enough to challenge in the Western Conference?
Even coach Mike D'Antoni couldn't get a handle on what others thought about his team. Everyone told him they liked the new-look Suns. Yet, D'Antoni said, "Everybody seems to be picking us 10th."
Not now.
The Suns won 10 of their first 12 games, but could easily have started 12-0. They lost to Sacramento, 113-111. At Cleveland, they lost when the Cavs wiped out a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter and forced in overtime.
Otherwise, the Suns have been Stockton-like in their efficiency.
They defeated their first four opponents by an average of 23 points. Nash, a key to Phoenix' future, has settled comfortably into his new environment and could be on the way to his best season.
Too small?
Yes. On paper, the Suns are small.
No depth?
True enough. The Suns aren't going to go 12-deep and beat you.
But it might not matter.
D'Antoni has settled on a nine-man rotation that includes only one true center - journeyman Steven Hunter - and two natural power forwards in Amare Stoudemire and Bo Outlaw.
"I'm not going to play a whole lot more than that," D'Antoni says.
As it stands, small forward Shawn Marion is often the second biggest player on the floor for the run-you-into-submission Suns.
Said Clipper coach Mike Dunleavy: "They've basically called out all the power forwards in the Western Conference, saying, 'We're going to play Shawn Marion at 'four' and we're going to kick your rear ends. We're going to play faster and we're going to score more points. We think we can make you blink.' ''
With their new look, one NBA scout calls the Suns "a playoff team" that will improve because of their fast start.
"That's a huge mental positive for them," he said. "Just knowing they can do it is huge for such a young team."
Nash and Outlaw are the only players on the roster who are older than 27, making the Suns a Jazz look-a-like in regard to the future.
Now, if they can just play enough defense.
"I'm not real worried yet," D'Antoni said.
Much of the demand for interior defense will fall to Stoudemire, a 22-year-old who reminds everyone of a blossoming Karl Malone.
During a 95-84 win over New Orleans, Stoudemire scored 38 points despite missing eight of his 18 free throws.
"A decent game," he said.
Asked about guarding New Orleans' 260-pound center Jamaal Magloire for long stretches, Stoudemire said, "I'm still not crazy about it. But it's working for us. As long as it's not broke."
It's not broke.
I'll take Phoenix, just ahead of Seattle.
Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune
Before the season, the Suns appeared to be improved after constructing a new backcourt that features ex-Mav Steve Nash and ex-Clipper Quentin Richardson.
But would undersized Phoenix be good enough to challenge in the Western Conference?
Even coach Mike D'Antoni couldn't get a handle on what others thought about his team. Everyone told him they liked the new-look Suns. Yet, D'Antoni said, "Everybody seems to be picking us 10th."
Not now.
The Suns won 10 of their first 12 games, but could easily have started 12-0. They lost to Sacramento, 113-111. At Cleveland, they lost when the Cavs wiped out a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter and forced in overtime.
Otherwise, the Suns have been Stockton-like in their efficiency.
They defeated their first four opponents by an average of 23 points. Nash, a key to Phoenix' future, has settled comfortably into his new environment and could be on the way to his best season.
Too small?
Yes. On paper, the Suns are small.
No depth?
True enough. The Suns aren't going to go 12-deep and beat you.
But it might not matter.
D'Antoni has settled on a nine-man rotation that includes only one true center - journeyman Steven Hunter - and two natural power forwards in Amare Stoudemire and Bo Outlaw.
"I'm not going to play a whole lot more than that," D'Antoni says.
As it stands, small forward Shawn Marion is often the second biggest player on the floor for the run-you-into-submission Suns.
Said Clipper coach Mike Dunleavy: "They've basically called out all the power forwards in the Western Conference, saying, 'We're going to play Shawn Marion at 'four' and we're going to kick your rear ends. We're going to play faster and we're going to score more points. We think we can make you blink.' ''
With their new look, one NBA scout calls the Suns "a playoff team" that will improve because of their fast start.
"That's a huge mental positive for them," he said. "Just knowing they can do it is huge for such a young team."
Nash and Outlaw are the only players on the roster who are older than 27, making the Suns a Jazz look-a-like in regard to the future.
Now, if they can just play enough defense.
"I'm not real worried yet," D'Antoni said.
Much of the demand for interior defense will fall to Stoudemire, a 22-year-old who reminds everyone of a blossoming Karl Malone.
During a 95-84 win over New Orleans, Stoudemire scored 38 points despite missing eight of his 18 free throws.
"A decent game," he said.
Asked about guarding New Orleans' 260-pound center Jamaal Magloire for long stretches, Stoudemire said, "I'm still not crazy about it. But it's working for us. As long as it's not broke."
It's not broke.
