Will Phoenix Suns' Run and Gun Power Them Through Tough Stretch?

Terry Porter out, Alvin Gentry in, and with him, an offense with ferocious pace. Two straight victories, amassing 282 points in those games, albeit against the Clippers both times.

With two changes—the coach and the system—basketball "experts" have changed their tune about the Suns. The heavy criticism leading up to and during the All-Star break led Steve Kerr to fire Terry Porter, even while his own seat continues to be hot.

While the critics have changed their tune somewhat, they are quick to point out that the Suns have played one of the NBA's worst teams two nights in a row, and the system still has to be tested.

I agree, and what better way to test it than the Suns' next 12 games. It starts tonight with a Kevin Durant-led Thunder team that is not great, but is improving. I think they can get the win tonight.

Here are the final 11 games of the stretch: home to the Celtics and Bobcats, at the Lakers, home to the Raptors the following day, and then home to the Lakers to close out next week.

Then they start a four-game road trip with the Magic, followed by Miami, Houston, and San Antonio. The Suns will finish at home against the Mavericks, Cavaliers, and the Thunder.

Shaq told a reporter that he believes they can finish the season with five losses at best. If you are keeping track at home that is a finishing record of 54-28.

I think if that happens, and I doubt it, the Suns will be a five or six seed in the playoffs with a legitimate chance to win their first series.

Shaq, in the same interview, said that at worst the Suns will finish with nine losses to close out the season. That would mean a 50-32 record and a higher playoff seed, probably seven or eight. That would almost guarantee a first-round loss.

Now, I must confess that Shaq has been my favorite player since he entered the league when I was in third grade. That also means I know to take any prediction he makes with a grain of salt.

However, when you listen to his statement, he seemed utterly serious and said it with enough conviction that I actually believe he thinks they should finish with less than 30 losses.

This 12- to 15-game stretch coming up for the Suns provides the perfect opportunity to put the new coach and the "new" system to the test. The stretch of games also provides the Suns players with an opportunity to vindicate the two 140-plus point performances of earlier this week.

The Suns play the Eastern and Western Conference leaders three times in their next six games. If they can win the home games out of those three, against the Celtics and the Lakers respectively, I think Suns fans can get excited.

If they go 0-3 over those games, I think Suns fans will know what to expect should they get into the playoffs. I attended last year's Celtics game in Phoenix and the Suns emerged victorious in Shaq's first home start for his new team.

If the Suns can beat the Thunder tonight, I think the US Airway Arena will be rockin' come Sunday afternoon, with or without Kevin Garnett in uniform. Whether or not they come away from the C's game with a win remains to be seen.

I think they'll get it done. In fact, I think they'll be 5-0 under Alvin Gentry when they travel to the Staples Center to face the Lakers next Thursday night.

Even if they're 4-1 entering that game, the Suns have the opportunity to shine (pun intended).

What remains to be seen, however, is whether or not their new coach and new system will prevail against the tough opponents they are set to face over the course of the next few weeks.