Three weeks into the NBA season and the "old" and " depleted" Suns are playing for first place in the Pacific division.
Shaquille O'Neal looks like a college kid again, and Amare Stoudemire is an MVP candidate. The two-time MVP, Steve Nash, is still running the point and '06-'07 sixth man of the year Barbosa is back in form. Throw in Raja Bell, Matt Barne's defensive savvy, and a veteran like Grant Hill, and yeah, I'd say that's a championship contender.
Tonight we find out if the Suns are ready to answer to critics: the first place Lakers are in town. Phoenix (8-4) jumped out to a 5-1 start this season, but Los Angeles (8-1) started 7-0. A rivalry that was at its best during the 2006 playoffs will be renewed tonight.
Regardless of the outcome, Phoenix will be a playoff-team this year, and all the doubters will be watching this season, hoping that this "old" and "tired" team doesn't make them look "old" and "tired."
Come on guys, don't ever count out Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal.
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about 1 month ago
the simple fact is the suns will finish second in the division behind the western conference champion lakers and their ever deep bench..first off there is the fact that the suns are in the west..which has only gotten tougher since last year when the suns traded fo the big guy and will only get tougher as teams gel.second no matter how good they look now the fact is shaq is 36 years old and injury prone and w all know grant hill's legacy of pain.with marion gone to miami a sidelined shaq leaves the suns new more half court style offense dead in the water.and returning to the run and gun will only get them as far as it ever has(knocked out of the playoffs),probably even an earlier exit than usual being matrix-free.lets say for sake of arguement that the suns stay healthy and overtake the lakers for the division..in a seven game series i think the suns are overmatched against at least 4 teams in the west and way overmatched once you get to the finals which by all accounts so far looks to be a celtics return...if the suns want to return to the pack leading playoff contender glory the held the last few seasons they need to get younger not older and deeper not shallower..id suggest trading the diesel now before one of his many booboos turns into a retirement announcement..hes still the best center on the court 9 games out of 10.deal him somewhere looking for that 'last piece" and pick up some young talented players or a good role player or 2 to compliment nash and amare better than this shaq stew they have now.
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