How the Phoenix Suns Will Bounce Back After a Horrendous Season

Okay, the 2008-09 season is over. Let's try our hardest to forget about it. A season plagued with injuries and conflicting coaching styles is over and out of the way.

This leaves one remaining question: how will the Suns respond next season?

I have compiled a list of positives and negatives heading into the 2009-10 season regarding the Suns' chances.

Negatives

Age

No one is getting younger. Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Shaq are all a year older and no matter how well they played last season, it will undoubtedly show at some point this season. The Suns need to depend on young players (i.e. Jared Dudley, Lou Amundson) to bring in the slack.

Strong Western Conference

It will be difficult for Phoenix to dominate the West next season with the aging roster they have now.

Rookies a disappointment

I am not the only Suns fan who have failed to see improvement from our rookies last season. Robin Lopez looks like he could be the least coordinated player in the NBA and Goran Dragic just looks like a confused 5th grader playing on the 6th grade squad.

Positives

Strong Roster

The talent is there. From Shaq, Amare, Hill, J-Rich, Nash, Barbosa, and so on this is a team that can compete. Phoenix needs a magical season with no injuries.

Overachieving role players

I was very impressed with the play of forward Jared Dudley and forward/center Lou Amundson. Dudley showed that he is never flustered and is always in control. Amundson brings energy, I can see him winning the Sixth Man Award some day.

Draft

The Suns need size. Their weakness has consistently been failure to defend the middle and rebound the basketball. I like Earl Clark from Louisville or I would recommend the Suns to trade up and draft 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet from Connecticut.