By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX — Not long ago the Phoenix Suns dazzled the NBA with
a frenetic style that made the game ever so entertaining.
The maestro was Steve Nash, who earned two MVP awards at the
controls of a high-flying team that won 232 regular-season games
over four seasons (2004-05 through 2007-08). They never made it
farther than the Western Conference finals, though.
Now, they are perceived as the setting Suns, with a point guard
past his prime.
Nash, at age 35 in his 14th NBA season, has re-enlisted and the
Suns will be running again, just probably not toward a
championship.
Does he believe his hyperactive game has lost a step?
“I hear rumblings that other people think I have,” he said, “but
if you look at our last 30 games last year, I played as well as
I’ve ever played in my career. This preseason once again I’m
making shots and getting to the basket. I feel as though I’m in
the best shape of my life. Maybe there’s a drop-off in some
areas, but in other areas I think I’m better.”
Probably no one in the NBA works harder at conditioning than
Nash, who must battle persistent back pain. In the offseason, he
plays on two soccer teams in addition to his regular, rigorous
training.
Coach Alvin Gentry recalled a recent preseason game when he
asked Nash to play as if it was a regular season contest in
order to measure where the rest of the team was in its
development.
“And he had 23 (points) and 15 (assists),” Gentry said. “So you
can read into that whatever you want to read into it. I told him
what we needed from him and he gave us 23 and 15, so if he’s
slowed down, I don’t notice it.”
Last season was an awkward transfer from the heady era of coach
Mike D’Antoni, who left for the New York Knicks after the
2007-08 season because of what were described as “philosophical
differences” with Suns general manager Steve Kerr.
Kerr replaced D’Antoni with Terry Porter, who proceeded to try
to transform the up-and-down Suns into more of a halfcourt,
defensive-oriented team. The results were disastrous. Several
players, including Nash, bristled at the concept, contending the
roster was built for speed.
Porter was fired at the All-Star break, and assistant coach
Alvin Gentry replaced him. Gentry, a holdover from the D’Antoni
days, restored the high-octane game.
But the magic was gone. Boris Diaw and Raja Bell had been traded
to Charlotte for guard Jason Richardson. Amare Stoudemire scored
42 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in his second game
under Gentry, but tore a retina in his right eye and had to
undergo season-ending surgery.
Then there was Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq had good numbers – 17.8
points and 8.4 rebounds per game. But the big guy didn’t fit the
high-speed game, and the Suns failed to make the playoffs for
the first time since Nash came to the team in 2004.
“We were torn between two styles,” Nash said, “and that made it
difficult for us to excel at either one.”
Phoenix sent O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a salary dump
in the offseason, and that should open the court for the Suns,
especially for Stoudemire, who will play with protective
goggles.
“The Nash and Stoudemire era is not over yet,” Stoudemire said.
“We’re still here. We’re still improving, we’re still getting
better as a unit and we’re bringing the Phoenix Suns team with
us.”
Yet Stoudemire’s future with the team is uncertain. He is
expected to opt out of the final year of his contract after this
season to seek a maximum deal. The Suns almost certainly won’t
do that, and they could decide to trade Stoudemire during the
season in order to get some value from him rather than see him
simply walk away.
Much of that will be determined by how well the team does before
the All-Star break.
“It’s mainly about improving and winning,” Stoudemire said. “If
we win and if we improve, then nothing should change.”
Grant Hill, like Nash, re-signed with Phoenix and will start at
small forward after playing all 82 games last season. Richardson
is the shooting guard and the center will be Channing Frye, who
looks to resurrect his career after being buried on the bench in
Portland.
With that lineup, rebounding will be a problem. Phoenix was
looking for backup center Robin Lopez to help in that area, but
he will be sidelined for at least a few weeks recovering from
foot surgery.
“We’re just going to have to try to keep emphasizing it and keep
working on it in practice and see if we can get better,” Gentry
said. “But we’re not going to all of a sudden get bigger. We’re
not going to walk in here and be 3 inches taller.”
As always, the team is vowing to play better defense.
Nash signed a two-year, $22 million extension that will keep him
with the Suns through the 2011-12 season. It was a decision many
think sacrifices any chance for him to win an NBA title before
he retires.
“I came back here because I felt a sense of loyalty and
commitment to my teammates, the franchise and the fans,” Nash
said. “You know I could have gone out there and tried to chase a
championship on another team. We’re probably not quite a
championship-caliber team right now, but let’s see what we can
build into.”
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